United States Postal Service adopts new rule formally defining what a postmark is/is not.

The United States Postal Service recently adopted a new rule formally defining what a postmark is and, just as importantly, what it does not represent, a clarification that could affect taxpayers, businesses and anyone mailing time-sensitive documents. The final rule adds a section titled Postmarks and Postal Possession, to the domestic mail manual. The change is intended to address confusion about postmark dates and to explain why the date printed on an envelope may not match the day a letter or package was dropped off at the post office. Under the rule, the USPS clarifies a postmark confirms only that the postal service possessed a mail piece on the date shown. It does not necessarily indicate the date the item was first accepted from the customer.