USPS Form 1583 for Business Mailbox: Step-by-Step Guide

If you are opening a private business mailbox through a Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA), your provider will normally require USPS Form 1583, Application for Delivery of Mail Through Agent. The form authorizes the mailbox company to receive mail for you or your business.

The basic process is to obtain the current form from your provider, enter your personal and business information, prepare two acceptable IDs, acknowledge your signature before the mailbox agent or a qualified U.S.-commissioned notary, and return the completed package to the provider.

What Is USPS Form 1583?

PS Form 1583 is the USPS application used when another business receives mail on your behalf. It is commonly required for private mailboxes, virtual mailboxes, and business-mail receiving services. Your CMRA uploads the completed form to the USPS CMRA Customer Registration Database and retains its copy.

The form does not create a business entity, register a trade name, or replace licenses required by a state or local government. It only supports mail delivery through an authorized agent.

Before You Start

• Ask your mailbox provider for the current June 2024 edition or its approved online workflow.
• Confirm the exact mailbox address and CMRA information that must appear on the form.
• Prepare one acceptable photo ID and one acceptable address ID.
• Check whether the provider accepts remote online notarization and electronic documents.
• Use information that matches your IDs and business records.

Step 1: Enter the Date and Applicant Information

Enter the date the form is completed. Provide the applicant's full legal name, residential address, telephone number, and email address. Use your real home address where requested; a private mailbox generally should not be substituted for the residential-address field.

Step 2: Enter the Mailbox and CMRA Information

Enter the address where the CMRA will receive your mail, including the private mailbox number when provided. Your mailbox company may prefill or supply the correct agency information. Copy it exactly rather than guessing.

Step 3: Complete the Business Section

If the mailbox will receive mail for a company, complete the business or organization section with the legal business name and the requested address and contact details. List the type of business and, when applicable, the place where the business is registered.

If additional individuals will receive mail for the business, follow the form and your provider's instructions for listing them. Do not assume one applicant automatically authorizes mail for every owner, employee, or trade name.

Step 4: Prepare Two Current IDs

The current form requires two forms of identification. One must be an acceptable government-issued photo ID, and the other must verify the applicant's address. The name and address information should be consistent with the application.

USPS states that Social Security cards, credit cards, and birth certificates are unacceptable. Because the form and CMRA verification process can change, confirm your exact documents with the mailbox provider before the appointment.

Step 5: Enter the Identification Details

Select the correct ID categories and enter the identifying information requested by the form, such as the ID number, issuing entity, and expiration date. Do not place a passport in the address-ID category simply because it shows your nationality; it is normally used as the photo ID.

Step 6: Review the Form Before Signing

Check spelling, apartment or unit numbers, mailbox number, business name, ID details, and dates. A mismatch between the application, identification, and mailbox account can delay activation.

Step 7: Complete the Signature Acknowledgment

Your CMRA may verify the signature itself or instruct you to use a notary. If notarization is required, follow the notary's instructions and be ready to show the original identification documents during the real-time session. The notary verifies identity and acknowledgment; the notary does not choose your business answers or certify that every entry is correct.

Step 8: Submit the Completed Package

Return the completed form and required ID copies through the method specified by your mailbox provider. The CMRA, not the applicant, handles the USPS database upload and retention requirements. Keep a copy for your records and update the provider if required information later changes.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using only one ID
• Using a photo ID again as proof of address
• Entering an address that does not match the address document
• Leaving the business section incomplete for a business mailbox
• Guessing the CMRA address or mailbox number
• Signing without following the required presence procedure
• Sending the form to USPS directly instead of following the CMRA's submission process

Can USPS Form 1583 Be Notarized Online?

USPS rules allow the applicant to acknowledge the signature in the real-time virtual presence of a properly commissioned U.S. notary. However, the receiving mailbox provider controls its onboarding process and may impose additional technical or document requirements. Confirm that it accepts the remotely notarized electronic file before ordering.

USPS Form 1583 Notarization Cost

Notary prices vary. Notary20 offers online notarization for $20 per document. For a broader comparison, see the Online Notary Cost Guide.

Start Your Online Notarization

If your mailbox provider accepts remote online notarization, prepare the completed form and both IDs before submitting your request.

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