USPS changes could impact getting rent, bills in on time

USPS is changing how postmarks are dated so the postmark will now show when mail is first machine‑processed, not when you dropped it off, which can add a few days and make time‑sensitive items like rent checks and bill payments appear late.​

What USPS changed

• Starting in late 2025 and into 2026, USPS is revising its postmark rules so that the postmark date is tied to the first automated processing scan at a regional facility, not the day you put the envelope in a blue box or handed it over the counter.​

• Because mail can sit or travel before reaching that sorting machine, the postmark may be several days later than your actual mailing date, especially with new transportation and consolidation schedules.​​

Why it affects rent and bills

• Many leases, billers, tax agencies, and courts treat something as “on time” if it is postmarked by a deadline, so a later postmark can trigger late fees even if you mailed it on the due date.​

• Longer delivery windows for some First‑Class Mail (up to 4–5 days for longer distances) plus later postmarks mean more risk that checks, tax returns, and other payments arrive or are deemed late.​

Practical steps to protect yourself

• Mail payments earlier: aim to send rent, utilities, and credit‑card checks at least 7 days before the due date, not on or just before the deadline.​

• Use trackable or electronic options when possible (online bill pay, bank bill‑pay checks, direct deposit for refunds) so you have independent proof of when you initiated payment and faster delivery.​

If your mailed payment is marked late

• Some contracts or local laws focus on when you mailed the payment, not when it was delivered, so if you can show you deposited it before the deadline, you may be able to contest late fees; this depends entirely on the wording of your lease or bill agreement.​

• If a payment is marked late because of postal delay, contact the landlord or biller immediately, provide proof (e.g., mailing receipt, tracking), and request that they waive any fees in light of the USPS rule change.​