USPS Form 1583 explained: acceptable IDs, online notarization, and CMRA rules
Every virtual mailbox provider, private mailbox store, and coworking mail service in the United States is regulated by the U.S. Postal Service as a Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA). Before a CMRA can legally scan, hold, or forward a single envelope addressed to you or your LLC, you must complete USPS Form 1583 (Application for Delivery of Mail Through Agent), present two specific forms of identification, and have your signature witnessed by the CMRA or a notary public. Under USPS rules updated in 2023, the CMRA must also upload your form and ID scans into the central USPS CMRA Customer Registration Database (CRD). This guide walks through the official USPS rules, the exact acceptable ID lists under DMM 608.10, online notarization, and how to add a business or LLC name.
Short version (USPS DMM 508.1.8 & 608.10, checked October 27, 2026)
📄 What it is: PS Form 1583 is the mandatory USPS authorization allowing a third-party mail agent (CMRA) to receive U.S. Mail on your behalf.
🪪 The 2 IDs you need: one current Primary Photo ID (driver's license, state ID, U.S. or foreign passport, green card, military/federal ID, or Matricula Consular) + one Secondary Address ID proving your permanent residential or business address (lease, mortgage/deed of trust, voter or vehicle registration card, home or vehicle insurance policy, Form I-94, or a second primary ID). Credit cards, Social Security cards, and birth certificates are rejected.
🎥 How you sign: in the physical or virtual (real-time audio and video) presence of the CMRA owner/manager/employee, OR before a U.S.-commissioned notary public (in person or via remote online notarization).
🗄️ Where it goes: the CMRA uploads your PS Form 1583 data and clear images of both IDs into the USPS CMRA Customer Registration Database (CRD) and certifies compliance every quarter.
Why every virtual mailbox requires USPS Form 1583
Under USPS Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) 508.1.8.1, any business that accepts the delivery of U.S. Mail on behalf of another person or entity as a business service—including virtual mailbox companies (iPostal1, Traveling Mailbox, Anytime Mailbox, Stable, PostScan Mail, and LegalZoom Virtual Mail), office business centers (OBCs), and retail pack-and-ship stores—is classified as a Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA).
When a letter carrier delivers mail to a CMRA, the Postal Service's legal custody of that mailpiece ends at the mail center's counter (DMM 508.1.1.7). Because the CMRA is acting as your mail agent rather than the end recipient, DMM 508.1.8.3 requires a signed written agency authorization—PS Form 1583—for every customer before the CMRA may hand over, scan, or remail your mail.
If mail arrives at a CMRA for an addressee who does not have a valid, current PS Form 1583 on file, DMM 508.1.8.4e gives the operator no discretion:
"If the CMRA has no Form 1583 on file for the intended addressee, the CMRA must return that mail to the Post Office responsible for delivery with this endorsement: 'Undeliverable, Commercial Mail Receiving Agency, No Authorization to Receive Mail for this Addressee.' This mail is returned to the Post Office without new postage. The CMRA must return misdelivered mail the next business day after receipt."
Acceptable Primary and Secondary IDs (DMM 608.10)
Under DMM 508.1.8.3a and DMM 608.10, every applicant completing PS Form 1583 must present two forms of current (non-expired) identification: one Primary Photo ID to prove identity, and one Secondary ID traceable to the bearer to validate the permanent residential or business address entered on the form.
| ID category | Purpose on Form 1583 | Acceptable documents (DMM 608.10) | Unacceptable documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Primary ID (Photo ID) | Confirms the applicant is who they claim to be; must include a clear photograph of the bearer and be current (not expired) |
|
Expired photo IDs; NEXUS card (DMM 608.10.3 notes NEXUS is accepted for money orders rather than CMRA applications) |
| 2. Secondary ID (Address ID) | Verifies the validity of the permanent residential or business address shown on PS Form 1583; must match the address on the form with no discrepancy |
|
Never accepted (DMM 608.10.5): Social Security cards, birth certificates, credit cards, debit cards, and other items that do not validate identity/address under 608.10 |
Crucial address-matching rule (DMM 508.1.8.3a3–a4): The CMRA owner or manager must verify your documentation to confirm that you reside or conduct business at the permanent address shown on PS Form 1583. DMM 508.1.8.3a3 states: "The address is verified if there is no discrepancy between information on the application and the identification presented. If information on the application does not match the identification, the CMRA must deny the application."
How to sign: online remote notarization vs. CMRA witness
You do not have to fly to your virtual mailbox city or walk into a local bank branch to get PS Form 1583 notarized. Under DMM 508.1.8.3a3, USPS explicitly allows two ways to execute the signature—and both can be done either in person or over live video:
"The mail addressee (the applicant) must sign or confirm his or her signature in the physical or virtual (in real-time audio and video) presence of the CMRA owner or manager, or authorized employee, or acknowledge his or her signature in the physical or virtual (in real-time audio and video) presence of a notary public commissioned in a United States state, territory, possession, or the District of Columbia."
- Option A — Remote Online Notarization (RON): Most virtual mailbox providers integrate directly with online notary networks (such as Proof/Notarize or NotaryCam). After you select your mailbox plan, you join a 5-to-10-minute live audio/video session on your phone or laptop, hold up your Primary Photo ID and Secondary Address ID, and sign PS Form 1583 electronically.
- Option B — Live video or in-person witness by the CMRA: Because DMM 508.1.8.3a3 permits signing in the "physical or virtual (in real-time audio and video) presence of the CMRA owner or manager, or authorized employee," you can sign in person at the mail center or complete a live video call with an authorized CMRA staff member if your provider offers it.
- Option C — Traditional paper notary: You can print the pre-filled PDF of PS Form 1583 from your provider's dashboard, take it with your two IDs to a local U.S. notary public (at a bank, shipping store, or town hall), and upload the signed and stamped scan back to your provider.
The USPS CMRA Customer Registration Database (CRD) rule
Before 2023, paper copies of PS Form 1583 often sat in filing cabinets at local Post Offices. Under the DMM revisions announced in USPS Postal Bulletin 22624 and codified in DMM 508.1.8.3c and 508.1.8.3i–j, USPS now enforces strict digital recordkeeping:
- Mandatory CRD upload: The CMRA must enter the information from each customer's PS Form 1583 and upload a clear, legible copy of both identification documents into the central USPS CMRA Customer Registration Database (CRD).
- Local digital retention: The CMRA must maintain at least a digital copy of the completed PS Form 1583 at its business location for inspection by Postal Service representatives and Postal Inspectors. Once clear ID images are uploaded to the CRD, the CMRA is not required to keep local copies of your ID images.
- Quarterly compliance certification: Every CMRA must certify inside the CRD four times a year—on January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15—that every PS Form 1583 is current, all closed mailbox termination dates have been recorded, and no uploaded identification documents have expired.
- Expired IDs trigger non-compliance: Under DMM 508.1.8.3i, "Any expired, illegible, or unclear identification or address documents uploaded into the CMRA Customer Registration Database will be considered not in compliance." That is why your virtual mailbox provider will email you when your driver's license or passport expires to upload a renewed ID.
Adding an LLC, business name, spouse, or minor
How many PS Forms 1583 you need depends on who receives mail at your Private Mail Box (PMB):
- Spouses and adult individuals (personal use): Under DMM 508.1.8.3a1, "A separate PS Form 1583 must be completed for each addressee of a Private Mail Box (PMB) for residential or personal use. Spouses must each complete and sign a separate PS Form 1583 to both receive mail at the same PMB. Each spouse must provide acceptable primary and secondary forms of identification as specified under 608.10.0."
- Minor children: Under DMM 508.1.8.3a2, a parent or guardian may receive delivery of a minor's mail by listing each minor's name on their own PS Form 1583 (block 11).
- Adding an LLC or corporation: If you are using a virtual mailbox for an LLC, your company name must be listed on PS Form 1583 and supported by your mailbox plan tier. For example, iPostal1's $9.99/month Personal plan does not allow a company name—you need its $14.99/month Virtual Business Address plan (which includes 1 company name and up to 6 recipient names). Traveling Mailbox and Stable allow business names on their entry plans. Some mail centers also ask for your Articles of Organization or EIN letter when adding an entity name.
Block-by-block walkthrough of PS Form 1583
Most virtual mailbox providers auto-populate PS Form 1583 from your signup screen. Note that under DMM 508.1.8.3b, a CMRA must never alter or modify the official USPS form structure, or the form is invalid. Here is what goes on the form:
- CMRA Delivery Address & PMB Number: Your assigned street address and box number formatted with
PMBor#(for example,10 MAIN ST PMB 234). The CMRA writes the complete delivery address in the designated CMRA blocks. - Applicant Name & Permanent Address: Your full legal name and your verified permanent residential or business street address. This address must match your Secondary Address ID exactly.
- Authorized Remail / Forwarding Address: Where the CMRA will forward your mail—including during the mandatory 6-month post-termination remailing window under DMM 508.1.8.4b.
- Business / Organization Details (if applicable): Your LLC or corporate name, business type, business address, and the names/titles of members or officers whose mail will be received.
- Primary Photo ID & Secondary Address ID Details: The ID numbers, issuing authorities, and expiration dates recorded by the CMRA or notary from your two DMM 608.10 documents.
- Applicant Signature & Notary / Agent Witness Signature: Signed in the physical or real-time audio/video presence of the CMRA representative or U.S.-commissioned notary public.
How virtual mailbox providers handle Form 1583
Every legitimate provider below is a registered CMRA and requires PS Form 1583 before activating your mailbox. However, their monthly prices, included business names, and scanning fees differ significantly. See our head-to-head guides on Traveling Mailbox vs. iPostal1 and Anytime Mailbox vs. iPostal1 for deeper breakdowns.
| Provider | Entry plan | From (per month) | Included | Opening & scanning | Registered agent add-on | Source (checked) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traveling Mailbox | Basic | $15.00 | 40 incoming envelopes + 35 page scans / month; 3 recipients | Page scans included in plan (35 on Basic); $0.50 per page over allotment; $0.25 per extra envelope | Not offered / not stated | Pricing page October 22, 2026 |
| iPostal1 | Virtual Business Address (30 items) | $14.99 varies | 30 mail items / month; 1 company name + up to 6 recipient names | Not included: $2.25 per scan order (up to 10 pages), then $0.25/page; prepaid bundles from $10 for 5 orders | $99/year add-on with any business plan, in listed states only (AK, AL, AZ, CA, CO, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, MA, MN, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NM, NV, NY, SC, TX, UT, VA, WA, WY as of check date) | Pricing page October 27, 2026 |
| Anytime Mailbox | Varies by location (each mail center sets its own plans) | $9.99 varies | Set per location; shown before signup | Plan- and location-dependent | Not offered / not stated | Pricing page October 22, 2026 |
| Earth Class Mail (now LegalZoom Virtual Mail) | Starter MailBox | $39.00 | 5 mail items digitized / month (junk excluded); 2 recipients | Included up to plan limit for documents of 20 pages or less | Not offered / not stated | Pricing page October 22, 2026 |
| Stable | Grow | $59.00 | 30 pieces of mail / month (360/yr on annual); 1 user, unlimited recipients | Free open & scan on request or automatically | $25/month per state, all 50 states + DC + Puerto Rico | Pricing page October 27, 2026 |
| PostScan Mail | Starter | $10.00 varies | 30 items / month; 1 recipient (monthly) | $2.00 per envelope up to 10 pages, then $0.25/page (Standard plan includes 5 free open & scans) | Not offered / not stated | Pricing page October 22, 2026 |
How banks, Stripe, and states treat a Form 1583 address
Completing PS Form 1583 makes your virtual mailbox a 100% legal USPS mailing address, but it also registers that address in USPS's CMRA database and Delivery Point Validation (DPV) CMRA table. That is why banks under 31 CFR 1020.220, Stripe Issuing/Treasury, and state registered-agent statutes accept a CMRA for mailing fields while rejecting it for physical operating or registered office fields:
| Institution | Address field | Verdict | What the source says | Source (checked) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe — Issuing, Treasury for platforms, Opal, Corporate Card Payments / fintech | Business address and account representative address | Rejects CMRA / virtual mailbox | Stripe's docs say these products enforce validations that the address is not a PO box, private mailbox, Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA) or registered agent address. New businesses are blocked from onboarding until they provide a valid physical address; existing accounts get a 30-day grace period before capabilities are disabled.“Stripe can no longer allow addresses for registered agents, mailbox services, or virtual address services.” | Stripe Docs: Address validation (Issuing) October 27, 2026 |
| Stripe — Connect Accounts API (v1/v2) error codes Payments / fintech | Account address | Rejects CMRA / virtual mailbox | A Stripe changelog entry dated 2026-09-30 adds the error code invalid_address_cmra_address, returned when an account's address is identified as a CMRA or virtual mailbox address; the account holder must update the address. A separate code covers registered agent addresses (resolvable with proof of address). The entry does not list which capabilities trigger the check, so treat it as 'may be rejected' for ordinary card payments.“Returned when an account's address is identified as a Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA) or virtual mailbox address.” | Stripe changelog: address validation errors for CMRAs and registered agents October 27, 2026 |
| Stripe — Public business information (support address) Payments / fintech | Customer support address (shown on receipts and card statements) | No restriction stated | Stripe requires a public support address that customers can see on card statements or email receipts. Unlike the legal/physical business address verified for KYC, Stripe’s setup documentation describes the support address as public contact information you can update any time in Account settings and states no restriction against using a virtual mailbox or mailing address there.“Your customers see the following details on either their card statements or in email receipts sent by Stripe: Business name and website URL; Support email address, phone number, and address” | Stripe Docs: Set up your account (Public business information) October 26, 2026 |
| Mercury Bank / fintech | Legal address, physical (day-to-day) address, beneficial owner home address (mailing/card address is separate) | Accepted in some fields only | Mercury's Company address requirements article says the physical address (where you and your team work day-to-day) cannot be a P.O. box, virtual address, commercial mail receiving agency, mail center or registered agent address. Its legal-address article says P.O. boxes and virtual offices/workspaces are not accepted as the legal address, and its eligibility article says registered agent addresses, P.O. boxes and UPS Store addresses are not accepted for the principal place of business. Each beneficial owner's home address cannot be a PO box, mail drop, or commercial mail-receiving or virtual address service. The mailing address (where physical cards are sent) must be a physical, USPS-deliverable address; Mercury's help pages do not name CMRAs for that field.“We don't accept a P.O. box, virtual address, commercial mail receiving agency, mail center, or registered agent address.” | Mercury Help: Company address requirements Mercury Help: Updating your company's legal address Mercury Help: Eligibility and requirements Mercury Help: Fixing undeliverable addresses October 26, 2026 |
| Relay Bank / fintech | Legal address (registered agent OK) vs. operating address and owner personal address (registered agent, PO box, virtual mailbox not OK) | Accepted in some fields only | Relay's help article (updated August 11, 2026) says a registered agent address may serve as the business's legal address, including for non-U.S. residents, but it cannot be the operating address or an owner's personal residential address. Registered agent addresses, PO boxes, and virtual mailboxes or mailbox rental services are listed as not acceptable operating addresses.“Yes, a registered agent address may serve as your business's legal address on Relay, including for non-U.S. residents establishing a U.S. business. It cannot be used as your operating address or your personal residential address.” | Relay Help: Using a Registered Agent Address and Operating Address Relay Help: Required Documents to Open a Relay Account by Entity Type Relay Help: Updating your business and billing address on Relay October 27, 2026 |
| Wells Fargo (Business & Personal Checking) Bank | Business physical address and personal residential address | Rejects CMRA / virtual mailbox | Wells Fargo’s business account documentation checklist explicitly prohibits registered agents, virtual addresses, virtual offices (on leases), and P.O. or commercial mailboxes for the physical business address. For personal checking and savings accounts, Wells Fargo’s FAQ states it cannot accept a P.O. Box or Private Mailbox (PMB) as a residential address.“Note: A physical address is required; Registered Agents, Virtual Addresses, and PO/Commercial mailboxes are not acceptable.” | Wells Fargo: Business Account Required Documents Wells Fargo: Open or Close a Bank Account FAQs (Personal) October 26, 2026 |
| Capital One Bank | Customer street address / residential address (separate mailing address allowed) | Physical address required (CMRA not named) | Capital One’s Rules Governing Deposit Accounts (Section 1.1, Customer Identification Program) and small-business application checklists require a U.S. street address and state that a post office box may not be used, listing a current lease or Certificate of Occupancy among verification documents. Application forms allow adding a separate mailing address if different from the residential/physical address. Capital One’s public disclosures do not mention CMRAs by name.“When Customer opens an Account, Customer must provide Bank with Customer’s name, street address (a post office box may not be used), employer identification number (or social security number for sole proprietorships)” | Capital One: Rules Governing Deposit Accounts Capital One Small Business: What You Need to Open an Account October 26, 2026 |
| Federal bank Customer Identification Program rule (31 CFR 1020.220) Regulation | Address banks must collect | Physical address required (CMRA not named) | U.S. banks' CIP must collect, for an individual, a residential or business street address, and for a non-individual (corporation, partnership, trust), a principal place of business, local office or other physical location. This is why bank KYC asks for a physical address in addition to any mailing address.“For a person other than an individual (such as a corporation, partnership, or trust), a principal place of business, local office, or other physical location” | eCFR: 31 CFR 1020.220 October 27, 2026 |
| IRS — Form SS-4 (EIN application) Government agency | Line 4 mailing address / Line 5 street address | No restriction stated | The SS-4 instructions describe line 4 as the mailing address for the entity's correspondence (generally used on all tax returns) with no stated restriction on type. Line 5 is the physical street address, needed only if different from the mailing address, and must not be a P.O. box. The instructions do not mention CMRAs.“Provide the entity's physical address only if different from its mailing address shown on lines 4a–4b. Don't enter a P.O. box number here.” | IRS: Instructions for Form SS-4 October 27, 2026 |
| Delaware — LLC registered agent (6 Del. C. § 18-104) State law | Registered office / registered agent | Rejects CMRA / virtual mailbox | Every Delaware LLC must keep a registered office and agent in Delaware. The agent must keep an office that is generally open (or be generally present) to accept service of process, and may not perform its duties solely through a virtual office or a mail forwarding service. Filed addresses must include street, number, city and postal code.“A registered agent may not perform its duties or functions solely through the use of a virtual office, the retention by the agent of a mail forwarding service, or both.” | Delaware Code Title 6, Chapter 18, Subchapter I (§ 18-104) October 27, 2026 |
| Washington Secretary of State — registered agent State agency | Registered agent address | Rejects CMRA / virtual mailbox | The registered agent must keep a physical address in Washington; PO boxes and PMBs (private mailboxes) are prohibited. A PO box can be added only as a separate mailing address. Without a WA physical address you can hire a Commercial Registered Agent.“The Registered Agent must maintain a physical address in Washington State (PO Boxes or PMBs are prohibited).” | WA Secretary of State: Registered Agents October 27, 2026 |
Signing Form 1583 from outside the U.S.? Our virtual mailbox for expats guide covers the bank, IRS and voting address rules that apply once you live abroad. Full-time RVers should also read mail forwarding for full-time RVers.
Frequently asked questions
What is USPS Form 1583 used for?
PS Form 1583 (Application for Delivery of Mail Through Agent) is the official U.S. Postal Service authorization that allows a Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA)—such as a virtual mailbox provider or private mailbox store—to receive U.S. Mail on your behalf under Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) section 508.1.8.
What two forms of ID are accepted for USPS Form 1583?
Under DMM 608.10, you must provide one current Primary Photo ID (such as a state driver's license, state non-driver ID, U.S. or foreign passport, U.S. Permanent Resident card, Uniformed Service ID, DoD Common Access Card, Certificate of Citizenship/Naturalization, Tribal ID, or Mexican Matricula Consular) and one Secondary ID that traces and validates your permanent address (an additional primary ID, a lease, mortgage or deed of trust, voter or vehicle registration card, home or vehicle insurance policy, or Form I-94). Credit cards, birth certificates, and Social Security cards are not accepted.
Does USPS Form 1583 have to be notarized?
It must be either notarized or witnessed by the CMRA. Under DMM 508.1.8.3a3, the applicant must sign or confirm their signature in the physical or virtual (real-time audio and video) presence of the CMRA owner, manager, or authorized employee, OR acknowledge their signature in the physical or virtual presence of a notary public commissioned in a U.S. state, territory, possession, or the District of Columbia.
Where do CMRA operators send my Form 1583 and ID copies?
Under DMM 508.1.8.3c, the CMRA must enter the information from each PS Form 1583 and upload clear, legible copies of your primary and secondary identification documents into the central USPS CMRA Customer Registration Database (CRD). The CMRA must also certify every quarter (January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15) that all customer forms are current and no uploaded IDs have expired.
Do spouses or business partners need separate Forms 1583?
For residential or personal use of a private mailbox (PMB), DMM 508.1.8.3a1 requires a separate PS Form 1583 and two forms of ID for each adult addressee, including spouses receiving mail at the same PMB. A parent or guardian can list minor children in block 11 of their own form. When a business or LLC is added to a PMB, the authorized officer or member completes the business blocks on Form 1583, and any additional individuals receiving personal mail at the box must meet their provider's and USPS's addressee rules.
Can a non-U.S. resident without a U.S. driver's license complete Form 1583?
Yes. DMM 608.10.3 lists a foreign passport (and, for Mexican nationals, a Matricula Consular card) as an acceptable primary photo ID for a CMRA application. For the secondary address ID under DMM 608.10.4, applicants can present a lease, mortgage or deed of trust, home or vehicle insurance policy, voter or vehicle registration card, or Form I-94 that matches the permanent address entered on the form. Online remote notarization (in real-time audio and video before a U.S.-commissioned notary) or live video witnessing by the CMRA allows completion from abroad.
What happens to my Form 1583 if I move or close my virtual mailbox?
If any required information on your PS Form 1583 changes—or if an uploaded ID expires—you must complete a new application and provide current IDs so the CMRA can update the USPS CMRA Customer Registration Database. When you close your mailbox, neither you nor the CMRA may file a USPS change-of-address order; instead, the CMRA must record your termination date in the CRD, keep your Form 1583 on file for at least 6 months, and remail your mail with new postage for at least 6 months (unless you instruct otherwise in writing).
Sources
All USPS sources were checked on October 27, 2026. Provider pricing sources and institution policies are linked in the tables above with their check dates.
- USPS Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) 508.1.8, Commercial Mail Receiving Agencies: pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/508.htm
- USPS Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) 608.10, Forms of Identification (Primary, Secondary, and Unacceptable IDs): pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/608.htm
- USPS PS Form 1583, Application for Delivery of Mail Through Agent (PDF): about.usps.com/forms/ps1583.pdf
- USPS PS Form 1583-A, Application to Act as a Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (PDF): about.usps.com/forms/ps1583a.pdf
- USPS Postal Bulletin 22624, "DMM Revision: Commercial Mail Receiving Agencies" (CRD upload & quarterly certification): about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2023/pb22624/html/updt_002.htm
- USPS PostalPro, Delivery Point Validation (DPV®) & DPV CMRA Table: postalpro.usps.com/address-quality/dpv