The United States Postal Service has adopted a new rule that may affect whether your mailed donation counts as a 2025 tax-deductible gift, even if you send it before December 31^st.

As of December 24, 2025, the USPS now applies the official postmark at a regional processing center, not your local mailbox or post office. That means if you drop a donation envelope in a blue collection box, or even inside your neighborhood post office, it could be days before the envelope is officially postmarked.

How to Make Sure Your Mailed Donation Counts for 2025

To protect your tax deduction and ensure your donation is counted for this year, follow these simple steps:

1. Visit your local post office in person. Do not drop your envelope in a mailbox or use a self-service kiosk.
2. Request one of the following:
   • A Postage Validation Imprint (PVI) from the USPS counter
   • A manual postmark (hand-stamped by a USPS employee)
   • Certified Mail or Registered Mail options that include a dated receipt. These are all considered valid ways to document the date you mailed your gift.
3. Avoid these methods:
   • Mailing from a blue collection box
   • Using a self-service kiosk
   • Sending via UPS or FedEx (which do not qualify under IRS guidance for charitable mailing dates)

Key Deadline

All donations must be mailed, with proof of mailing, by December 31, 2025, to qualify as a 2025 tax-deductible contribution.

We recommend visiting your post office by December 30 to be safe and avoid long lines.

For more information, please visit the National Society of Tax Professionals website.