USPS Mailing Permits Guide

Everything you need to know about mailing permits — permit imprint, postage meters, PC Postage, Business Reply Mail, EDDM, and non-profit authorization.

What Is a USPS Mailing Permit?

A USPS mailing permit authorizes you to send bulk mail at discounted commercial rates. Instead of affixing individual stamps, permit holders use a printed indicia (a marking on the mailpiece) or a meter strip as proof of postage payment. This is the foundation of cost-effective direct mail marketing for businesses, non-profits, and political organizations.

Types of Mailing Permits

Presort / Bulk Mail Permit (Permit Imprint)

The most common permit for regular business mailings. You pay an annual fee to the USPS and deposit postage into your permit account. The permit number is printed directly on your mailpiece as the indicia — no stamps or meter needed.

Annual fee: Approximately $275 (Mailing Fee) + $275 (Annual Presort Fee) = $550/year. Fees may change — check with USPS or contact us for current pricing.

EDDM Retail (No Permit Required)

Every Door Direct Mail — Retail (EDDM Retail) requires no mailing permit. You pay postage at the post office or online through the USPS Business Mail Entry tool. This makes EDDM the easiest entry point for businesses new to direct mail.

Postage rate: Flat rate per piece (currently $0.247 per piece for flats). No annual fees, no permit required. Maximum 5,000 pieces per day per ZIP code.

EDDM with Bulk Mail Entry (BMEU)

For larger EDDM campaigns, a bulk mail permit with BMEU entry removes the 5,000 piece per day limit and can offer slightly lower rates. This is what Cornerstone uses for client EDDM campaigns.

Requires: Active mailing permit. Cornerstone can mail under our permit on your behalf — you don't need your own.

Non-Profit Mailing Permit

Qualifying 501(c)(3) organizations can apply for dramatically reduced postage rates — often 40–60% less than commercial rates. Requires USPS authorization through PS Form 3624.

See our full guide: Non-Profit Mailing Guide

Business Reply Mail (BRM)

Business Reply Mail lets you pay return postage on behalf of your recipients. Instead of including a stamp, you pre-print a BRM indicia on a reply envelope or card — recipients mail it back for free, and you're charged only for pieces returned. BRM requires its own permit and annual fee, separate from your standard permit imprint account.

Common uses: Donation envelopes, survey mailers, subscription renewals, and payment return envelopes. Cornerstone designs and produces BRM envelopes to USPS specification.

Other Postage Payment Methods

A permit imprint is the most efficient option for high-volume presort mailings, but USPS allows several other postage payment methods under DMM Section 604. Depending on your mailing volume and format, one of these may be appropriate:

Postage Meters
A USPS-licensed postage meter prints a meter strip or meter indicia directly on the mailpiece. Meters are leased from USPS-approved vendors (Pitney Bowes, Quadient, etc.) and are common for lower-volume business mailings.
PC Postage
Online postage services (Stamps.com, Endicia, Pirateship) allow you to print USPS-approved postage from your computer. Best for small quantities; rates are generally higher than presort commercial rates.
Precanceled Stamps
Stamps with a pre-printed cancellation mark, used in some presorted Standard Mail workflows. Less common today but still recognized under USPS DMM guidelines.
Forever Stamps
Standard USPS stamps valid for First-Class letter mail regardless of when purchased. Not used for bulk presort mailings — but common for reply envelopes enclosed in a direct mail package.

What Is an Indicia?

An indicia is the printed marking on a mailpiece that serves as proof of postage. It replaces individual stamps and appears in the upper-right corner of the mailpiece. The indicia includes the permit number, post office of mailing, class of mail, and postage payment method. Cornerstone prints the correct indicia on every piece we produce — formatted to USPS specifications for automated postage processing.

Do You Need Your Own Permit?

Not necessarily. Cornerstone can mail under our permit on your behalf — this is common for businesses that mail occasionally or are just starting with direct mail. You only need your own permit if you want to maintain your own postage account directly with the USPS, or if you're a non-profit seeking discounted postage rates (the non-profit authorization must be tied to your own permit).

Sean Griffen
Owner, Cornerstone Services · Hudson Valley direct mail since 1998 · Reviewed February 2026

How to Get a Mailing Permit

If you decide you need your own permit, the process involves completing USPS PS Form 3615 (Mailing Permit Application) at your local post office, paying the annual mailing fee and any applicable additional fees, and depositing an initial postage balance into your permit account.

Cornerstone can guide you through the application process or simply handle your mailings under our permit — whichever makes more sense for your volume and budget.

Permit types and postage payment methods sourced from USPS Domestic Mail Manual Section 604 — Postage Payment Methods and Refunds, available on Postal Explorer. Fees and requirements subject to change.

Need Help With Permits?

Not sure which permit type you need — or whether you need one at all? Contact us for a free consultation. We'll review your mailing needs and recommend the most cost-effective approach.

Get Permit Guidance

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