USPS Changes Postmark Rules, Causing Delays

Customers urged to hand-cancel mail at post office counters to ensure timely postmarks

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The U.S. Postal Service has updated its postmarking practices, with mailpieces no longer necessarily receiving a postmark on the same day they are mailed. This change, which took effect on December 24, means the date on the postmark may not align with the actual mailing date, potentially causing issues for time-sensitive transactions like tax payments. The Postal Service is advising customers to hand-cancel mail at post office counters to ensure the postmark date matches the mailing date.

Why it matters

This policy change by the USPS could impact any task with a deadline that relies on the postmark date, such as tax payments. Agencies like Hawaii's Department of Taxation and Honolulu's Department of Budget and Fiscal Services use the postmark to determine the effective date of mailed payments, so the new USPS rules could lead to late fees or penalties for some customers if they are not aware of the change.

The details

The Postal Service says it has made "adjustments to our transportation operations" that can result in mailpieces not arriving at processing facilities on the same day they are mailed. This means the postmark date may not match the actual mailing date. To ensure the postmark aligns with the mailing date, the USPS advises customers to go to a retail counter and request a manual "hand-cancel" postmark, which is provided for free.

  • The new USPS policy on postmarks took effect on December 24, 2025.
  • The change was published in the Federal Register in late November 2025.

The players

U.S. Postal Service

The national postal service of the United States, responsible for providing mail delivery services across the country.

Hawaii Department of Taxation

The state agency responsible for collecting and administering Hawaii's tax laws, including using postmark dates to determine the timeliness of tax payments.

Honolulu Department of Budget and Fiscal Services

The city and county agency that oversees Honolulu's budget and financial services, including using postmark dates to determine the timeliness of property tax payments.

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What’s next

The Postal Service has said it will continue to monitor the impact of the postmark policy change and make any necessary adjustments. Customers should stay informed of the latest USPS policies, especially around important deadlines like tax payments.

The takeaway

This USPS policy shift highlights the need for customers to be proactive in ensuring their mail is properly postmarked, especially for time-sensitive transactions. By hand-canceling mail at post office counters, customers can avoid potential late fees or penalties resulting from postmark dates that do not align with the actual mailing date.