Mailstop Address Guide (2024)

FAQs

How to write an address with a mailstop? ›

In the United States, when sending mail to a mail stop facility, state the recipient's name, the recipient's mail stop code, the department and facility names followed by the street address and city, state, and ZIP code. ZIP codes separate mail delivery areas within a city.

Yes. Please always include your PMB number whenever you give out your address. Per the US Postal Service, mail sent to an addressee at a CMRA (Commercial Mail Receiving Agency) must include either the PMB identifier or the #, followed by the appropriate private mailbox number.

🙌Please note: You must use “PMB” followed by your ECM number when formatting your address on the USPS mail forwarding form, but when sharing your address directly with others, you may substitute PMB with “#” if you prefer.

That address will be labeled as “invalid.” Some of the most common reasons that may happen, is due to a vacant address, or simply a new address or unregistered address and even one that is located in a postal area that is primarily serviced by PO Boxes.

When writing an address out in a letter or email, you will need to use commas to separate the name from the address, the street address from the city and the city from the state. For example: Robert Robertson, 1234 NW Bobcat Lane, St. Robert, MO 65584-5678.

One exception: if you use a private mailbox service and are applying to the IRS for a tax ID number, you must use "PMB" to designate your mailbox, as the IRS computers are not currently set up to use the number sign (#).

Addresses on mail received at a CMRA must adhere to specific requirements in the use of their private mailbox number (PMB). Mail sent to an addressee at a CMRA must include either the PMB identifier or the #, followed by the appropriate private mailbox number.

You can send to a private mailbox using the same address format as above, but you must put “PMB” or “#” instead of “PO Box”. If this line of the address also includes a secondary number such as a rural route box or suite number, you must use “PMB” and not “#” to avoid confusion.

Conversely, PMBs can accept deliveries from all carriers, including the USPS.

What does PMB mean address example? ›

The PMB (short for Private MailBox) number is actually NOT part of the mailing address for mail delivery purposes. The purpose of the PMB number is to allow Freedom Mailbox® to identify and tag the mail to the proper account once the mail is received. If the mail is never received, we don't know it exists.

Here's how they are different: A Post Office Box (PO Box) is offered by the United States Post Office (USPS) and is physically located at most Post Office locations. When you own a PO Box, your address will note a corresponding PO Box number. A Private Mailbox (PMB) on the other hand, offers you a real street address.

Delivery Point Validation (DPV) provides the highest level of address accuracy checking. In a DPV process, the address is checked against the USPS Address Management System (AMS) data file to ensure that it exists as an active delivery point.

USPS Doesn't Recognize My Address!

Sometimes, an address will not validate because the address is marked as "vacant" by the USPS. Additionally, a new address, an unregistered address, or one located within a postal code primarily serviced by PO boxes, would all fail to validate.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) offers an address verification service that confirms address information and corrects any errors or inconsistencies. Address verification involves comparing address information to the USPS database and standardizing it to conform to USPS formatting rules.

Usually, you choose either the PO box number or the street address, depending on where the person receives their mail. However, if you want to include both, put the recipient's name on the first line, their street address on the second line, and the PO Box number on the third line.