USPS Form 1583: Fill It Out Right the First Time (2026)

USPS Form 1583 is the one page that stands between you and a working virtual mailbox. Every provider asks for it. Most people fill it out wrong at least once. And a rejected form means your mail sits in limbo while you redo it.

I’ve run Ecom Paradise LLC, a Wyoming LLC, from Bali since 2019. That means I’ve dealt with US business mail remotely for years, and I set up business addresses for the done-for-you stores I build for clients. The 1583 is always the step where people get stuck. Not because it’s hard. Because the rules are picky and nobody explains them in plain English.

So that’s what this guide does. You’ll learn what PS Form 1583 actually is, who has to file it, how to fill out each section, which IDs USPS accepts, how online notarization works, and the mistakes that get forms bounced. I checked everything against the current USPS form (the June 2024 version) and the Domestic Mail Manual in November 2026, and I link to both so you can verify it yourself.

If you’re brand new to virtual mailboxes, start with the beginner guide to choosing a service around your mail routine and then come back here. If you’re ready to sign up, keep reading.

What is USPS Form 1583?

PS Form 1583 is officially called the “Application for Delivery of Mail Through Agent.” It gives a Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (a CMRA) permission to accept mail on your behalf. A CMRA is any business that receives mail for other people as a service. Virtual mailbox companies, UPS Store type shops and many private mail centers all fall under that label.

The USPS Domestic Mail Manual section 508.1.8 spells out the rules. Each addressee completes and signs a PS Form 1583. The CMRA must verify that you live or do business at the address you list, and it has to deny the application if your form and IDs don’t match.

You can read the form itself straight from USPS at about.usps.com/forms/ps1583.pdf. The current version is dated June 2024. If a provider hands you an older version, ask for the current one before you sign anything.

Why the form exists

USPS isn’t trying to make your life harder. The form creates a paper trail so a private mailbox can’t be used anonymously for fraud. Your CMRA uploads the signed form and copies of your IDs to the USPS CMRA Customer Registration Database, and keeps a copy on file that postal inspectors can review.

That’s also why a virtual mailbox address is legitimate. It’s a registered, regulated arrangement, not a loophole. If you want the bigger picture on how these services work, read my guide to what a virtual mailbox is and how it works.

Who needs to file PS Form 1583?

Short answer. Anyone who wants mail delivered to them through a CMRA. Here’s how that breaks down in real life.

Individuals opening a personal virtual mailbox or private mailbox.
Businesses using a virtual business address. An officer of the business signs.
Each adult in a household who wants mail at the box. USPS says to complete a separate form for each adult on a residential or personal mailbox, and the DMM says each spouse files one.
Anyone you list as an authorized individual to pick up mail goes in Section 5 with their own two IDs.
Every new location. If you open boxes at two different addresses, each location needs its own form.

You don’t file a 1583 for a regular USPS PO Box. That’s a different product with a different application. If you’re still deciding between the two, my breakdown of virtual mailbox vs PO Box covers the tradeoffs.

What about Form 1583-A?

This one confuses people. PS Form 1583-A is not for customers. It’s the form the CMRA owner or manager files with the local postmaster to register the business as a CMRA in the first place. Per DMM 508.1.8.2, the owner presents their own IDs, the postmaster verifies their home address and witnesses the signature, and the CMRA gets a copy of the rules.

So if you’re a customer, you only deal with Form 1583. If you’re thinking about running your own mail center, 1583-A is your form, and you work it out with your local postmaster.

The 2 ID rule and the acceptable ID list

This is where most rejections come from, so slow down here.

The current form requires two types of identification for you and for any authorized individual. One must be a government-issued photo ID. The other must prove your home address, and the address on it has to match the address you write on the form.

Acceptable photo IDs

These come straight from the June 2024 form, Section 8e.

US state, territory or tribal driver’s license or nondriver’s ID card
Uniformed service ID
Passport
Certificate of naturalization
US Access Card
Matricula Consular
US permanent resident card
US university ID card
NEXUS card

Acceptable address IDs

These come from Section 9g of the same form.

US state, territory or tribal driver’s license or nondriver’s ID card
Current lease
Mortgage or deed of trust
Home or vehicle insurance policy
Vehicle registration card
Voter card

The one trap almost everyone hits

Your driver’s license shows up on both lists. But the form says it may be used for only one of the IDs, either photo ID or address ID, not both. So you can’t hand over your license twice and call it done.

The easy combo for most Americans is a passport as the photo ID and a driver’s license as the address ID. If you don’t have a passport, use your license as photo ID and pair it with a current lease, mortgage statement, insurance policy, vehicle registration or voter card that shows the same home address.

Also check expiration dates. The DMM says IDs must be current, and CMRAs have to make sure no IDs on file have expired.

How to fill out PS Form 1583, section by section

Here’s the walkthrough using the June 2024 layout. Your provider usually pre-fills the CMRA parts, but you’re still responsible for everything that’s yours.

Section 1: Private mailbox information

Box 1a is the date the mailbox opened. Box 1b is the date it closed. Leave 1b blank when you’re opening a new box. Your provider may fill in 1a for you.

Section 2: CMRA place of business

This is the CMRA’s street address, your PMB number, city, state and ZIP+4. The form notes that the agent completes items 2a through 2e. In a virtual mailbox signup, the provider usually pre-fills these from the address you picked.

Section 3: Type of service

Check Business/Organization Use or Residential/Personal Use. If you check business, you also have to complete Section 7, and an officer must sign and give their title.

Section 4: Applicant information

Your full name, phone, email and home street address, city, state, ZIP+4 and country. Box 4k asks if you’re a court-ordered protected individual. If yes, attach a copy of the court order. USPS has special privacy rules for protected individuals, which I cover in my virtual mailbox privacy guide.

The home address you put here is the one your address ID needs to match. Use your real residential street address, not another mailbox.

Section 5: Authorized individual

Optional. List someone else who can pick up or receive your mail, like a spouse or an assistant. That person also needs two IDs, entered in Sections 10 and 11.

Section 6: Transferring mail to another address

If you want the CMRA to send mail to a different address, list it here. Most virtual mailbox users leave this blank and request forwarding through the provider’s app instead.

Section 7: Business information

Only for business use. Business name, type of business, business street address, phone and place of registration. Place of registration means the county and state where the business is registered, or the country if it’s a foreign business.

If you’re forming a new company and need an address for it, my guide on using a virtual mailbox for your LLC explains what states and banks usually look for.

Sections 8 and 9: Your IDs

Section 8 is your photo ID. Name, ID number, issuing entity, expiration date and the ID type. Section 9 is your address ID, and the address there must match your home address in Section 4. Attach copies of both.

Sections 10 and 11: The authorized individual’s IDs

Same as 8 and 9, but for the person in Section 5. Skip if you didn’t list anyone.

Section 12: Additional recipients

For business use, list the members of the business who will receive mail at the PMB. USPS says each person listed must, upon request, present two forms of valid ID. Parents or guardians can also receive a minor’s mail by listing the minor’s name, which I explain below.

Sections 13 and 14: Signatures

Section 13 is your signature and the date. Section 14 is for the CMRA owner or authorized employee who witnesses it. If a notary handles it instead, the notary completes the notary block on page 2.

Online notarization vs in-person verification

Here’s the part that changed the game for remote people like me. You no longer have to walk into a notary’s office to get this done.

The current form says you must sign, or confirm your signature, in the physical or virtual presence of the CMRA agent or an authorized employee. Virtual means real-time audio and video. The other option is to acknowledge your signature in front of a notary public commissioned in a US state, territory, possession or DC, again either in person or by real-time audio and video.

Option 1: Video verification with the provider

Some providers witness the signature themselves over a video call. Traveling Mailbox is a good example. Its help center says you complete the form in your online account, then do a short video call with its team to verify your identity, and a notary is not required. That saves you a notary fee.

Option 2: Online notary

Other providers send you to a remote notary platform. iPostal1 says on its FAQ that online notarization costs $25 for one notarization, with discounts for additional notarizations in the same session, and that processing takes 1 to 3 business days after a complete submission. Its partner page on Proof notes you have to email the finished form and both IDs to iPostal1 yourself afterward, so don’t skip that step.

PostScan Mail offers webcam notarization through partner notary services and also accepts a form notarized by a local notary, bank or credit union. Its help center points out that some banks notarize free for existing customers.

Option 3: In person at the mail center

If you’re in the US and your mail center is nearby, you can walk in with your form and IDs. Anytime Mailbox explains in its help center that you can either join a live online notary session from your account or bring the form and ID to your mail center, where staff verify your identity and watch you sign.

Which option should you pick?

If you’re abroad, use whatever your provider supports by video. That’s the whole point. If you’re stateside and your bank offers free notary service, that can be the cheapest path for providers that require notarization. Either way, the result is the same form in the USPS database.

Business applicants: what’s different

Business accounts follow the same core rules with a few extras.

Check Business/Organization Use in Section 3.
Fill out Section 7 with the business name, type, address, phone and place of registration.
An officer signs and writes their title.
List the people who’ll receive mail at the box in Section 12. Each one may be asked for two IDs.
The officer’s personal home address still goes in Section 4 with matching IDs.

That last point surprises people. Your business address on the form doesn’t replace your home address. USPS still wants to know who the human behind the box is.

Some providers also verify the business itself, such as checking formation records with the state. That’s a provider policy, not something printed on the 1583, so check your provider’s help pages.

If you’re setting up a company from scratch, Northwest Registered Agent bundles LLC formation, a registered agent and mail forwarding, which is useful if you’d rather not juggle three vendors. I see Northwest addresses show up in a lot of the client stores I build. More on business setups in my virtual business address guide.

Minors and family members

Minors are simple. The form says a parent or guardian may receive a minor’s mail by listing the minor’s name, and the minor’s ID is not required.

Adults are different. Every adult who wants mail at the box files their own form with their own two IDs. That includes spouses and adult kids. Plan for that if you’re moving a whole family’s mail to a virtual address, because some plans cap the number of recipients.

Common reasons PS Form 1583 gets rejected

I’ve watched clients get bounced for the same handful of reasons. Here they are, with the fix for each.

Address mismatch. The home address in Section 4 doesn’t match the address ID. Fix it by using an ID that shows your current home address, exactly.
Same license used twice. A driver’s license counts for photo ID or address ID, not both. Pair it with a passport or another address document.
Expired ID. Swap in a current one. The DMM requires current IDs.
Missing witness. The signature wasn’t witnessed by the CMRA or a notary, in person or by live video. A plain signed PDF won’t cut it.
Altered form. The DMM says altered or modified forms are invalid. Don’t white out mistakes. Start a fresh form.
Outdated form version. Use the June 2024 version from USPS or your provider.
Business form missing the officer title or Section 7. Add both.
Unreadable ID copies. Scan in good light, all four corners showing.
Using a PO Box or another mailbox as your home address. Section 4 needs your residential street address.

One more. If anything on your form changes later, like a new home address or a renewed license, the DMM says it requires a new application with current IDs. Expect your provider to ask for an update.

What happens after you submit

Once your form is witnessed and your provider approves it, the CMRA enters your information in the USPS CMRA Customer Registration Database and uploads your ID copies. CMRAs also certify their customer lists to USPS every quarter.

Your address uses the PMB format. USPS requires “PMB” or the pound sign followed by your box number, like “PMB 234” or “#234.” Mail missing that element can be returned as undeliverable, so always give people your full address exactly as the provider shows it.

If you ever close the box, the DMM says neither you nor the CMRA can file a USPS change of address. Instead, the CMRA has to remail your mail with new postage for at least 6 months unless you waive it in writing. Update your address with banks, the IRS and your state before you close.

How each provider handles Form 1583

Every provider follows the same USPS rules, but the experience is different. Here’s what each one says on its own help pages as of November 2026.

Provider	How you get the 1583 witnessed	Cost mentioned	Notes
Traveling Mailbox	Fill out in your online account, then a short video call with its team	Notary not required	Help center says desktop or laptop only for the form step
iPostal1	Online notary through its partner, or in person at some mail centers	$25 for one online notarization	1 to 3 business days processing, each location needs its own form
Anytime Mailbox	Online notary from your account, or in person at your mail center	See its online notary charge article	Mail center staff can witness in person
PostScan Mail	Webcam notary partners or any local notary	Not listed	Some banks notarize free for customers

For deeper looks at each company, start with my Traveling Mailbox review. Then read my iPostal1 review.

Weighing a local mail center network instead? My Anytime Mailbox review covers how its operator model works.

Other providers walk you through the same form during signup. The method of witnessing varies, but the rules are the same everywhere because USPS sets them.

My take on choosing based on the 1583 step

If you live abroad, pick a provider that witnesses by video or offers an online notary you can use from anywhere. If you’re a business with multiple people getting mail, check the recipient limits before you pay. And if you’re comparing providers on more than just setup, my best virtual mailbox roundup lays out pricing and features side by side.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to get PS Form 1583 notarized?

Not always. The current form allows the CMRA agent or an authorized employee to witness your signature, in person or over real-time video. A notary is the other option. Some providers handle it by video themselves, and others require a notary.

Can I use a foreign passport on Form 1583?

A passport is on the photo ID list, and the form doesn’t limit it to US passports. Your address ID still has to match the home address on the form. iPostal1 says customers without a Social Security number must use online notarization and a passport. Rules for non-US residents vary by provider, so check with yours before you sign up.

How long does Form 1583 approval take?

It depends on the provider. iPostal1 says 1 to 3 business days after complete submission. Video verification can be faster because there’s no back and forth with a notary.

Can I use my virtual mailbox address as my home address on the form?

No. Section 4 asks for your home street address, and your address ID has to prove it. Using another mailbox there is a fast way to get rejected.

Is my 1583 information public?

No. Under federal regulations at 39 CFR 265.14, USPS may tell the public that an address belongs to a mail agent, but not the identities of the people the agent receives mail for. Information from the form can be disclosed under a subpoena or court order. I break down the details in my privacy guide.

Do I need a new form if I move?

Yes. Any change to the information on the form requires a new application with current IDs, according to DMM 508.

The bottom line on USPS Form 1583

The 1583 looks like bureaucratic busywork. It’s really just USPS confirming who you are and where you live. Get two matching IDs, use the current form, get it witnessed live, and you’re done in a day or two.

Running my business from the other side of the world, I can tell you the setup pain is worth it. Once your 1583 is approved, your mail shows up as scans in an app and you never think about it again.

If you want a provider that keeps the 1583 step simple from anywhere, Traveling Mailbox does it by video call with no notary needed. If you want the most address choices, iPostal1 lets you notarize online for $25.

Browse the rest of my setup guides in the mailbox setup and privacy section.

Trevor Fenner

Trevor Fenner is an ecommerce entrepreneur and digital nomad. At Mailbox Paradise, he covers virtual mailboxes, business addresses and remote mail handling through provider research and practical comparisons.