How to Complete USPS Form 1583

Anyone who wants 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 USPS Form 1583 is for, how to properly fill it out, and the ID requirements.

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 the required procedures that commercial mail receiving agents (CMRAs) like us must 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

• Fill in a clean copy of the USPS Form 1583 and download it. You may need to print it out if you are having it notarized in person.
• Once you have completed the form, make sure to sign in Box 13a and submit it to us with your two IDs.

Filling Out Form 1583

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

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

This information should be filled in with your mailbox information:

• Box 1a: Enter the date you opened your mailbox account.
• Boxes 2a-2e: Fill out your full VPM mailbox address, including your mailbox number.

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

• Box 3: Select the mailbox type that best fits your needs (business and/or personal). You can update this later without submitting a new form. You would only need to update your recipients list to include any names for which you want to receive mail.
  • This determines the official mailbox owner and required information.
  • Residential (Personal/Individual) Use:
    • Only your personal information is required.
    • You can still add businesses as recipients, but ownership remains personal.
  • Business Use
    • Select this option if a business will own the mailbox. This option is intended for mailboxes primarily used and managed by a company.
    • You must complete the business section.
    • The applicant must be an owner, officer, or manager of the business.
• Boxes 4a-4k: Fill in your personal info exactly as it appears for the mailbox owner.
• Boxes 8a-8e: Enter your personal info exactly as it appears on your photo ID and select the ID type used for verification. At least one photo ID is required.
• Boxes 9a-9g: Enter your address exactly as it appears on your ID, then select your secondary ID type for verification.

Business Information (Boxes 7a-7i)

Complete these fields if the mailbox is for business use.

Notarize Form 1583

Identity must be verified by a U.S. notary. The notary must sign box 14a and place a seal on page two of the form. Notaries are commonly available at banks, courthouses, or online (e.g., Notarize.com). The typical cost is under $20. You can complete notarization from anywhere using a webcam for video verification.

International/Non-US Residents

If you live overseas, you may need a U.S.-based notary. Only U.S. notary seals are accepted. Options include:

• U.S. embassies/consulates
• Online services like Notarize.com.

Alternative Notary Option: 

Send the Form 1583 Documents to VPM

You can submit Form 1583 and IDs in a few ways:

By mail: Send the original signed form (not a photocopy) plus photocopies of your IDs to the address on our contact page. We’ll forward the original to USPS and keep a copy. We recommend keeping a second original or a photo of the notarized form in case the mail is lost.

By email: Scan the original signed form and your two IDs and email them to [email protected]. The form must be signed by you and the notary. You may also upload your documents to a cloud service (e.g., Dropbox) and send us the download link.

Acceptable IDs

A list of acceptable IDs is provided on the form. IDs may be domestic or foreign but must be current, active, and not expired or revoked.

One ID must include a photo and the second must verify your current residential address. A single ID cannot be used for both purposes so two separate IDs are required.

• 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).
• University Student ID
• Passport (U.S. or foreign)
• Matrícula Consular (Mexico) is an identification card issued by the Government of Mexico through its consulates to Mexican nationals living outside of Mexico.
• NEXUS (Canada) is a joint Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection trusted traveler program for expedited border clearance. A NEXUS card may be used as identification for money orders if it includes an identification number.
• Lease, mortgage, or deed of trust
• Voter or vehicle registration card
• Home or vehicle insurance policy

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

Process of Filling Out USPS Form 1583

Learn how to complete this form with the quick visual guide below.