Author: Municipal Finance Legal Guidance
This month's Ask DLS features frequently asked questions concerning United States Postal Service (USPS) changes to the timing of postmarks. Please let us know if you have other areas of interest or send a question to cityandtown@dor.state.ma.us. We would like to hear from you.
What operational changes has the USPS implemented that may affect the timing of postmarks?
The USPS implemented Regional Transportation Optimization (“RTO”). Per the USPS, RTO aims to improve the efficiency of the USPS transportation network for Post Office locations that serve ZIP Codes that are more than 50 miles from a Regional Processing and Distribution Center (“RPDC”) by eliminating multiple daily trips between processing facilities and Post Offices to drop off and collect mail and packages. Instead, there will typically be one trip per day.
As a result, some mail and packages will not reach USPS processing machines until the day after they are collected by a carrier or dropped off at a Post Office, impacting the timing the postmark is applied in those processing facilities. Therefore, if a taxpayer places mail in a mailbox, they should not expect it will be postmarked for that day. It may take an extra day or so to reach the post office.
How does this change affect taxpayers in your municipality?
Practically, it may only be an issue for abatement applications during the last two or three days of the abatement application season. If the applications are not postmarked by the due date, then they cannot be considered by the Board of Assessors.
How can taxpayers ensure their mail is postmarked the same day?
Taxpayers wanting to ensure that their mail is postmarked on the day it is provided must bring the mail to the post office counter and purchase a Certificate of Mailing. This will provide a receipt showing that they tendered the mail piece on that day.
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| Date published: | February 5, 2026 |
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