How to Complete USPS Form 1583

Anyone who wants to rent a PO box, postal mailbox or virtual mailbox in the United States must fill out the USPS Form 1583. The form often looks confusing the first time you see it. This article will help you understand what the USPS Form 1583 is for and how to fill it out properly.

STOP! Are you a customer of VirtualPostMail?

This article is for customers that have a VirtualPostMail mailbox account. You should contact your mailbox provider to find out how to complete the 1583 form and where to send it. In case your mailbox provider did not give you proper instructions, you may want to think twice about having them handle your mail.

What is USPS Form 1583?

In the United States, the U.S. Postal Service regulates how mail can be received and handled. USPS also dictates required procedures for commercial mail receiving agents (CMRAs) like us to follow. The USPS Form 1583 is used to authorize a CMRA to receive mail on the customer’s behalf. It also ensures that a responsible party is linked to the mailbox.

Fill in and Download a Clean Copy of Form 1583

If you do not have a pre-generated copy of the Form 1583 from us or have made mistakes during the sign-up process or have decided to use IDs different from those you first selected, you will have to manually fill in the correct information with a new form. Here is how:

• Fill in a clean new copy of the USPS Form 1583 and download it. You may need to print it out if you are having it notarized in person.
  • USPS Form 1583

  Filling Out Form 1583

  In general, the form is broken down into three sections: the CMRA information, the mailbox and owner information, and optionally the business information.

  The CMRA Information (Boxes 1a and 2a-2e)

  This information should be filled in with your mailbox information:

  • Box 1a: Fill in the date you opened your mailbox account.
  • Boxes 2a-2e: Fill in the complete mailbox address you signed up for. Please include your mailbox number.

  Mailbox and Owner Information (Box 3, Boxes 4a-4k, Boxes 8a-8e, Boxes 9a-9g)

  • Box 3: Select the box that best fits your mailbox's needs (business and/or personal use). If your needs change later; you can always use your mailbox for business and/or personal usees down the line if needed. A new form will not be required to do so. You would only need to update your recipients list to include any names you want to receive mail for.
  • Boxes 4a-4k: Fill in your personal information here. The information must match the mailbox owner of the account.
  • Boxes 8a-8e: Fill in your personal information as it matches to your photo ID and select the type of photo ID you are using for verification. At least 1 photo ID is required for verification.
  • Boxes 9a-9g: Fill in your address information as it matches on your ID. Then, select the type of secondary ID you are using for verification.

  Business Information (Boxes 7a-7i)

  These boxes will need to be completed if you are using the mailbox for your business.

  Notarize Form 1583

  Proof of identity is verified through a notary. The notary should sign box 14a and place a notary seal on the second page of the form.

  Notaries can be found almost everywhere. Courthouses and banks normally have an in-house notary who will serve you. You can also search for " notary directory" on any search engine to find a local notary. The cost is usually less than $20.

  We also accept online notarized documents from notary services. We recommend using Notarycam. Fees are a little higher than in-person notaries, but you can notarize the document from anywhere as long as you have a webcam for video chat.

  International/Non-U.S. Residents

  If you live overseas, you may have difficulty finding a notary. Banks and embassies normally provide notary services. Both U.S. and non-U.S. notary seals are accepted. If finding a notary proves impossible, you can go through a lawyer or bank official who can sign or stamp an official seal on the form. Government seals (ie. police) are also acceptable.

  Notarycam will also notarize documents with international IDs. You can notarize the documents as long as you have a webcam.

  Alternative Notary Options:

  • Some banks offer free notary services to their existing customers. You may want to check with your bank first.
  • In place of the notary, you can take a selfie photo of yourself holding your photo ID and submit that along with your signed Form 1583 and IDs. The ID in the selfie photo must be clear and legible for verification. If you do this, the notary can be waived. This option applies to both domestic and international customers.

  Send the Form 1583 Documents to VPM

  There are a few different ways to send us your Form 1583 and IDs:

  1. By mail: Send the original copy (NOT a photocopy) of the form along with the photocopied IDs to the mailing address listed on our contact page. We will submit the original to USPS and keep a copy for our records. If you go this route, we recommend that you either keep a second original copy or take a photo of the notarized form. This way, in case your mail gets lost in transit, you will not have to get another copy notarized again.
  2. By email: Scan the original copy of the form and your two IDs. Email the images to [email protected]. Be sure the form is signed by you and the notary. You can also upload your application and IDs to an online storage location (ie. Dropbox) and then send us the download link.

  Acceptable IDs

  Following is a list of acceptable IDs as listed on the form. They can be either domestic or foreign IDs. They must be current (non-expired).

  One ID must be a photo ID and the other must be an ID that matches your current residential address. A single ID cannot be used to satisfy both purposes, so two IDs must be provided.

  • U.S. Government I.D.: U.S. Government I.D. may be federal-, state-, or tribal-issued. These include:
    • Valid driver’s license, state non-driver’s identification card, U.S. Armed Forces card, Uniformed Service ID card
    • U.S. permanent resident or other identification card issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
    • U.S. certificate of citizenship or naturalization.
    • Identification card issued by a federally or state-recognized tribal nation (tribal identification card).

    Social security cards, credit cards, corporate IDs, and birth certificates are NOT acceptable forms of identification.

    Process of Filling Out USPS Form 1583

    Learn how you can fill out this form, with all the information listed above condensed into this quick visual guide below:

    The instructions are for an old version of the form. We're in the process of updating the video; however, you may still find it helpful.

    Last updated on August 13, 2024

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