USPS Form 1583, Explained Without the Jargon

If you're renting a mailbox at any Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA) in the US — that's us, the UPS Store, PostalAnnex, Mail Boxes Etc., Anytime Mailbox, etc. — the post office requires a Form 1583 on file before they'll deliver anything to your box.

It's short, simple, and gets rejected 30% of the time on the first try. Here's why.

What Form 1583 actually does

Form 1583 is your written authorization for the CMRA to receive mail on your behalf. It's a USPS document, not an internal form — your CMRA submits it to the local postmaster.

It does not register you with any agency, doesn't affect taxes, doesn't change your residential address, and isn't shared with the public.

What the notary checks

The notary's job here is identity verification. They're confirming you're actually who Form 1583 says you are. They check:

• Your photo ID (driver's license, state ID, passport, military ID)
• Your physical signature in front of them
• That the name on the form matches the name on the ID
• That your address on Form 1583 matches the residential address on your ID (or that you can show proof of a different real address — utility bill, lease)

The most common rejection

Box 7 — "Home address (No., street, apt., city, state, ZIP code) of applicant." This must be a physical residential address, not the same CMRA mailbox you're applying for. The post office sees that as circular and rejects.

If you're houseless, between addresses, or living with someone else, write the address where you actually sleep — even if you don't receive mail there. The form asks where you live, not where you get mail.

Two IDs vs one

USPS requires two forms of ID. One must be a photo ID (driver's license, passport, etc.). The second can be a non-photo ID (utility bill, lease, voter registration, vehicle registration, recent tax return, current residential lease).

Form 1583-A — for businesses

If you're renting the mailbox for a business (LLC, corporation, DBA), you also need a Form 1583-A — the business version. It includes the company's formation document, EIN letter, and the names of authorized recipients.

Most CMRAs (us included) handle the 1583-A as part of a Business or Premium plan setup. Bring your formation paperwork.

How long it takes

Once notarized and submitted, the local postmaster usually approves within 1–3 business days. Mail can start being delivered to your box right after.

How we make it easier

We're a USPS-certified CMRA at 5062 Lankershim. Our Business and Premium plans include free notary on Form 1583, so you don't need to chase a notary down. We file the form for you with the local post office. You walk out with a working address.