Important Notice Regarding Changes To U.S. Postal Service Postmarking
Important Information: as of December 24, 2025, the U.S. Postal Service updated its Domestic Mail Manual (Section 608.11), clarifying that the postmark on mailed items may no longer reflect the day you deposit your mail, but rather the date it is first processed at an automated facility—which could be a day or more later.
This change may impact time sensitive mailings such as property tax payments. According to Texas Tax Code Section 1.08(1), a mailed tax payment is considered timely if:
- It is sent via regular first-class mail with postage prepaid, and
- Bears a postmark dated on or before the payment due date.
What This Means for You:
Mailed items dropped off at a Post Office they may receive a postmark later than the date they were deposited—potentially affecting whether your property tax payment or other mail meets official deadlines.
To Ensure Your Mail Meets Deadlines:
- Visit a Post Office counter and request a manual (local) postmark for same‑day date stamp.
- Use Certified Mail, Registered Mail, or obtain a Certificate of Mailing for legally verifiable proof of mailing date.
- Mail early, especially before deadline‑sensitive dates, to avoid delays.