Mail delivery could slow in 2026 after the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) changed its postmark rules and raised some shipping costs, potentially affecting time-sensitive mail. Under a new policy that took effect on Dec. 24, 2025, postmarks on mail dropped in collection boxes now reflect the date an envelope is first processed by an automated sorting machine — which may be days after it was mailed — rather than the drop-off date. Tax payments, charitable contributions, legal filings, rent payments, and other bills or items that rely on postmark dates for deadlines can be impacted by later postmarks and risk late fees, penalties or delinquency. Time-sensitive mail can be hand-stamped with a postmark inside the post office. USPS is also raising rates on Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, USPS Ground Advantage and Parcel Select starting on Sunday, Jan. 18, though the price of a First-Class stamp remains $0.78 for now. At the same time, the agency is modernizing post office lobbies with expanded self-service technology, smart lockers and additional government services.
Source: USA Today; 1/3/2026