Latest News

Overview

Ancillary service endorsements are used by mailers to request an addressee's new address and to provide the USPS with instructions on how to handle undeliverable-as-addressed pieces. The endorsements consist of one keyword: "Address," "Return," "Change," or "Forwarding," followed by the two words "Service Requested." The endorsements are the same for all classes of mail, but the treatment and cost differ by class of mail. Use of an ancillary service endorsement on a mail piece obligates the mailer to pay any applicable charges for forwarding, return, and separate address notification charges.

General

Proper placement of the endorsement is required. If the endorsement cannot be seen or understood, you might not receive the service requested. A return address must be used and placed in the upper left corner of the address side of the mail piece or the upper left corner of the addressing area. If a return address is a multiple delivery address, it must show a unit designation (e.g., apartment number). The endorsement and return address must read in the same direction as the delivery address.

Other Physical Standards

An endorsement must be printed in no smaller than 8-point type, and it must stand out clearly against its background. Brilliant-colored envelopes and reverse printing are not permitted. There must be a 1/4-inch clear space around all sides of the endorsement.

Placement of Endorsement

The endorsement must be placed in one of these four positions:

1. Directly below the return address.
2. Directly above the delivery address area.
3. Directly to the left of the postage area and below or to the left of any rate marking.
4. Directly below the postage area and below any rate marking.

Address Service Requested

Forwarding and return. New separate address notification provided.

Mailer Endorsement and USPS Action	Priority Mail and First-Class Mail	Standard Mail	Package Services
Months 1 through 12: mail piece forwarded; separate notice of new address provided (manual $0.70, electronic $0.20 each).	Forwarded at no charge.	Forwarded at no charge.	Forwarded locally at no charge; forwarded out of town as postage due.
Months 13 through 18: mail piece returned with new address attached.	Returned at no charge.	*Weighted fee charged.	Return postage charged at appropriate single-piece rate.
After 18 months or if undeliverable at any time: mail piece returned with reason for nondelivery attached.	Returned at no charge.	*Weighted fee charged.	Returned if undeliverable or if addressee refused to pay postage due. Forwarding (where attempted) and return postage charged at appropriate single-piece rate

Return Service Requested

No forwarding, only return. New address notification provided.

Mailer Endorsement and USPS Action	Priority Mail and First-Class Mail	Standard Mail	Package Services
Mail piece returned with new address or reason for nondelivery attached.	No charge.	Appropriate single-piece First-Class Mail or Priority Mail rate charged.	Return postage charged at appropriate single-piece rate.

Change Service Requested

No forwarding or return. New address notification provided.

Mailer Endorsement and USPS Action	Priority Mail and First-Class Mail	Standard Mail	Package Services
Separate notice of new address or reason for nondelivery provided; mail piece disposed of by USPS.	Manual notice: N/A. Electronic notice: $0.20 each.	Manual notice: $0.70 each. Electronic notice: $0.20 each.	Manual notice: $0.70 each. Electronic notice: $0.20 each.

Forwarding Service Requested

Forwarding and return. New address notification provided only with return.

Mailer Endorsement and USPS Action	Priority Mail and First-Class Mail	Standard Mail	Package Services
Months 1 through 12: mail piece forwarded.	Forwarded at no charge.	Forwarded at no charge.	Forwarded locally at no charge; forwarded out of town as postage due.
Months 13 through 18: mail piece returned with new address attached.	Returned at no charge.	*Weighted fee charged.	Return postage charged at appropriate single-piece rate.
After 18 months or if undeliverable at any time: mail piece returned with reason for nondelivery attached.	Returned at no charge.	*Weighted fee charged.	Returned if undeliverable or if addressee refused to pay postage due. Forwarding (where attempted) and return postage charged at appropriate single-piece rate.

Temp—Return Service Requested

Mailer Endorsement and USPS Action	Priority Mail and First-Class Mail	Standard Mail	Package Services
Piece returned with new address or reason for nondelivery attached. If temporary change of address, piece forwarded; no separate notice of temporary change of address provided.	No charge.	N/A	N/A

No Endorsement

Mailer Endorsement and USPS Action	Priority Mail and First-Class Mail	Standard Mail	Package Services
Undeliverable As Addressed (UAA) handled by class of mail.	Same as USPS action for "Forwarding Service Requested."	Mail piece disposed of by USPS.	Same as USPS action for "Forwarding Service Requested," except Bound Printed Matter disposed of by USPS. Parcel Post, Media Mail and Library Mail with no endorsement obligates the mailer to pay any applicable forwarding and return postage charges at the single-piece rate

*Weighted fee is the appropriate single-piece First-Class or Priority Mail rate for the piece plus the non-machinable surcharge if it applies, multiplied by 2.472 and rounded up to the next whole cent.