The Benefits Of Having A Po Box
There are many advantages to having your own P.O. Box. Lets look at the benefits.
You can receive your mail securely. If you have had problems receiving your mail or packages before now, this shouldnt be an issue if you are using a PO Box.
If you need a different address for your business or another reason, a P.O. box is a good solution. It will make sure you still get your mail even if you dont want to reveal your real address.
Some post offices will let you access your mailbox around the clock. If it is located in the post office lobby, they may provide access whenever you need it. Check what your most convenient location has to offer before you commit to having your box at that location.
If you have a P.O. Box, you can expect to get your mail a little bit faster than you otherwise would. As your address is located right in the post office, you will get mail more quickly, though, of course, you will have to pick it up. This might give you a more reliable delivery time, without the need to wait for the USPS delivery van.
P.O. boxes are also great if you are going to be expanding your business into another city.
Having a P.O. Box might make a lot of sense if you are between buying and selling a home. If you are in short term housing, you may not want to be sending your mail to an address that you will be turning around and changing again shortly. Youll have enough to worry about, whether it is finding moving boxes or getting the best moving company you can find.
How Do I Redirect My Mail
Once you get your online PO box, how do you redirect your mail so that it is delivered to your new PO box address?
The answer depends on how you want to use your new address. Your options are to provide your new address to those whosend you mail and/or to provide a change of address through your local U.S. post office.
What Are Premium Po Box Services
Want to make life even easier? The US Postal Service offers free premium services at some of their locations , and theyre definitely worth asking about. From taking care of large packages, to receiving smartphone alerts when you have mail, to offering expanded lobby hours, these premium services are extremely helpful.
Real street address for your PO Box
If youre an online shopper or receive a lot of large packages, you can use the street address of the post office containing your PO Box for your mailing address. For example, if your post office is on 700 Smith Avenue and your PO Box is number 27, your PO Box address would be 700 Smith Avenue #27.
This way, youll be able to receive mail and packages from most carriers including FedEx and UPS. There are some rules and limitations to this, so be sure to thoroughly read through the customer agreement when filling in your information.
Keep a signature on file
Post office lines are the worst. Usually, if you receive specific types of mail such as insured items that need your signature, youll have to go to the counter and sign for them. With USPS PO Box premium services, you keep a signature on file and avoid all of the hassle .
Waived key deposit
The USPS usually charges a deposit for the first two keys to your box. Want to save a few dollars? Set up your box at a post office that offers premium services . Keep in mind youll still have to cover the $8 fee for any additional keys.
Extended hours
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Handle Your Mail Online:
You can view & handle your mail through your virtual mailbox by logging into your account. We scan your mail and package labels and send you instant notifications with new mail. Log into your mailbox and choose how to handle each mail piece you can open & scan it, forward, archive, or shred and recycle it the choice is yours.
How Do I Pay For A Po Box
You have several options for paying for your USPS PO Box rental. You can pay online, at a self-service kiosk, by mail, or in person. Acceptable credit cards include American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa if youre making an online payment. You can also use the option, which is a digital wallet service that is identifiable by an icon.
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Length Of Rental Time
P.O. boxes are available in rental periods of six or 12 months. It is more expensive to constantly renew for shorter rental periods. If you think youll need the P.O. box for at least one year, its cheaper to apply for an annual rental from the start. Your rental can keep renewing if you opt to have the fees charged automatically to a credit card. Use a rewards credit card and collect points as you collect your mail.
What Is Form 1583 Why Is It Necessary
Form 1583 provides basic information to verify the identity of the online PO box renter and to authorize the Commercial Mail Receiving Agency to receive and handle mail on behalf of the online postal box renter. The United States Postal Service requires that Form 1583 be filed with the CMRA, which delivers it to the local post office and keeps a copy on file.
Form 1583 must be properly signed by the online PO box renter and notarized by a notary public, justice of the peace, bank officer, or lawyer unless signed onsite at your mail address location. Only after the CMRA has a properly completed Form 1583 with two valid forms of ID, will you be able to access and request tasks for your mail.
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Applying At The Post Office
As an alternative to the online PO box reservation, the USPS will allow you to complete a handwritten version of PS Form 1093. To save some time, you can print it from USPS.com instead of getting the form from a postal service employee and filling it out on site. This document will ask for the same contact information along with the requested box size, your ID numbers, list of PO box users and intended use.
The postal worker will take your payment, verify your documents to check your identity and set up auto-renewal for you depending on your chosen payment term. You can then get the key to your PO box and start using it for business purposes.
What Is A Post Office Box
A post office boxed is a locked, personal box that you can rent at a USPS location. Theyre generally located in the lobby of the building and are accessible with your key 24/7, so in many cases youre able to get your mail even if the office itself is closed.
For the most part, PO boxes operate pretty much the same as a standard mailbox youd have outside your house or in a cluster at an apartment building. Each one has an address that others can use to send you mail or packages, and any type of mail that you could get delivered to your house you could also get delivered to the post office box. However, your PO box address cant be used for everything, such as filing business paperwork or in lieu of your street address on official documents.
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Manage Your Mail From Anywhere 24/7using Your Cellphone Or Computer
No wasted trips to the post office to see what is in your PO box. Our app or website lets you see a picture of each envelope or package as soon as it arrives!
Get a Real Street Address, not a PO Box! Receive packages from any carrier or register your business.
Pick up mail or use your iPostal1 Digital Mailbox to scan, recycle, or forward mail to any location with just a click or a tap. Plans start at $9.99/month. Get 2 months free with a yearly plan.
Can I Use Ups Store Address On Drivers License
As for the UPS Store, which is a leader in the private mailbox rental industry, a spokesman says putting a UPS Store address on your drivers license could be misrepresenting yourself to a state department of motor vehicles, or in this case DPS, if that agency specifies you use a home address and not a mailing address.
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Other Frequently Asked Questions
Is a PO Box free?
They can be, but there are stipulations. Your residence must be in an area where there is no mail delivery to qualify for a free PO box.
How much is a PO Box per month?
PO Box prices vary by size, rental period, and the location of the post office. Some boxes are as low as $13 for an extra-small box or as high as $625 for an extra-large box.
Do you have to have a physical address to get a PO Box?
Yes, you must have a physical address to rent a PO Box because, on the list of acceptable secondary forms of ID, your physical address must be listed.
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What Can I Use As A Valid Id
According to USPS, when you arrive at your local Post Office, youre going to need one photo ID and one non-photo ID. All identification must be current, contain sufficient information to prove that you are who you say you are, and they must all be traceable to you.
Acceptable forms of photo ID include: a current drivers license or state ID card a military, government, university or recognized corporate ID a passport, alien registration card or certificate of naturalization.
Acceptable forms of non-photo IDs include: a current lease, mortgage or deed of trust a voter or vehicle registration card and a home or vehicle insurance policy.
What wont work: Forms of ID that are unacceptable include Social Security cards, credit cards and birth certificates.
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What Are The Disadvantages Of Getting A Po Box
Even with all of its advantages, getting a PO Box does have some drawbacks.
Not all mail is accepted
If your local post office doesnt offer premium services, you wont be able to receive packages or mail from any carriers other than the USPS. Its the only company permitted to put mail into your PO Box. So, those Amazon packages or the gift basket from your great aunt will have to be delivered to your home address.
You have to pay to a rental fee
As youre aware, PO boxes arent free. They must be paid for and renewed at specified intervals. Depending on your location, size, and rental period, you could spend more than you want to on your mail service.
Limited availability
If there isnt a location near you with an available PO Box, you might have to travel to pick up your mail. Not exactly ideal. You could also find that the size box you need isnt available at your nearest post office again meaning you to go out of your way to collect your mail.
Secure Your Mail At A Post Office
Keep your personal or small business mail safe with a Post Office Box , a locked mailbox within a Post Office facility. You can rent a PO Box in a few steps:
Learn more about PO Box sizes, payment options, and benefits, then apply easily online. Already have a PO Box?Manage Your PO Box
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Are There Drawbacks
Not really. If youre using a PO box instead of a traditional mailbox, as opposed to just in addition to one, then it will be slightly less convenient than being able to just grab your mail at homethough thats not too big of a concern because most USPS locations either offer access 24 hours a day or during standard business hours.
Probably the biggest disadvantage of having a post office box is the price, since depending on what you need it might not be cheap. Since the mailbox at your home is free to use youre paying for a service that you could otherwise get at no cost. That being said, if youre getting a post office box for one of the advantages noted above, then its probably worth paying for.
Why Get A Po Box
Security
Are you worried about the safety of your mail? Or want to keep your home business mail separate from your personal mail? A PO Box is the perfect solution. Whether its the Amazon packages that never made it or your neighbors dogs affinity for envelopes, renting a box from the post office gives you a secure option for protecting your mail.
Privacy
Depending on your profession, you may want to refrain from sharing your home address. If youre a professional blogger, for instance, receiving samples is a must, but you dont want just anyone knowing your address. With a PO Box, youll protect both the privacy of your mail and your home address.
Accessibility
Since your PO Box will generally reside in the lobby of the post office, youll have access to your mail when the post office lobby is open. Many locations offer 24/7 access to the lobby or extended hours, making checking your mail extra convenient.
Delivery Speeds
One of the biggest advantages of getting a PO Box is that youll often receive your mail faster than you would at your home address. Since your mailbox will be right inside the post office lobby, youll save your mail a trip in the USPS mail van.
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How Much Does A Po Box Cost
A PO box, short for post office box, is a box that is located within your local post office and is locked at all times. The only people with a key are you and the employees of the postal service who deliver your mail to the box.
If you do not have a mailbox or need another mailbox for business reasons, a PO box is a great way to receive your mail. PO boxes are also great for privacy since it does not use your home address. The cost of a PO box will depend on your geographical location and the size of the box.
How Much Is A Po Box Online
Monthly fees for an iPostal1 online PO box start at just $9.99, which includes 30 pieces of mail. If you expect to receive more mail than that, you can choose from plans with up to 240 mail items included per month.
You pay separately every time you request mail to be forwarded or opened and scanned. iPostal1 is the only company that offers a plan with phone and fax included pricing starts at $39.99 per month.
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Post Office Box Alternatives
Are there are any other options besides getting a P.O. box at the post office? Yes, there sure are other alternatives!
A few of the P.O. box alternatives also offer some superior advantages, including accepting packages of any size and from any carrier. Some of these companies also provide registered agent services. This service allows them to receive legal documents and other items that require a signature.
Here are some other methods you may want to consider:
What To Know About Refunds
If you go through the process of getting a P.O. Box, only to find you dont need it before the contract is over, you may be able to get a refund. They offer a 50% refund on 6-month contracts if you find you dont need it in the first three months. And a 75% refund on boxes ordered for 12 months when canceling in the first three months or 50% in the first six months. Full refunds are offered if you cancel in the first month.
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Usps Flat Rate Boxes & Pricing
Small Box: 8 11/16″ x 5 7/16″ x 1 3/4″ SmallFlatRateBox: $7.90: Medium Boxes: 11 1/4″ x 8 3/4″ x 6″ or 14″ x 12″ x 3 1/2″ MediumFlatRateBox: $13.75: Large Box: 12-1/4″ x 12-1/4″ x 6″ or 24-1/16″ x 11-7/8″ x 3-1/8″ LargeFlatRateBox: $19.30: APO/FPO Box: 12-1/4″ x 12-1/4″ x 6″ LargeFlatRateBoxAPOFPO: $17.80