December 18, 2025
USPS Postmark Changes Could Affect Timing of Year-End Gift Recognition
Recent clarification from the U.S. Postal Service about postmarks could affect the timing of year-end gift recognition for people who mail checks. A postmark now reflects the day the USPS processes your mail, rather than the day you dropped it in the mailbox.
Because mail in many areas is sent to a regional processing center, the postmark could reflect a date that is a day or more later than when you mailed it.
If you want your year-end gift recognized in 2025 for tax or other purposes, don’t delay.
MCF is bound by law to use the postmark date on the envelope for processing gifts by mail, regardless of when you wrote the check or dropped it in the mail. If it’s important that your gift be made in 2025, here is what we recommend:
- Mail it early. If you know you plan to make a year-end gift and need to mail the contribution, do so early to allow ample time for processing.
- Get it hand stamped at your local post office or use certified mail.
- Drop it off. Our staff will be available to accept donations at our office through Wednesday, December 31, with the exception of Christmas Day. Our office is open between 8:00 and 4:30.
You can learn more about this clarification and its implications here.
