USPS Form 1583 Explained for Virtual Mailbox Users
USPS Form 1583 authorizes a Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA) to receive mail on an applicant's behalf.
It requires two forms of ID, one a government-issued photo ID, and a signature that is verified either in person, over live video with the provider, or by a US notary in person or remotely. Checked September 25, 2026
Quick facts
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What it authorizes | A CMRA (a private or virtual mailbox provider) to receive mail as the customer's agent, required for anyone receiving mail at a CMRA address, including businesses (DMM 508.1.8). |
| ID required | Two forms of ID for the applicant and, if listed, the authorized individual; one must be a government-issued photo ID. |
| Signature verification | In the physical or virtual (real-time audio and video) presence of the CMRA agent, or acknowledged before a US notary in person or remotely. |
| Form revision checked | June 2024, official PDF Checked September 25, 2026 |
How to complete Form 1583
- Get the form. Most virtual mailbox providers supply their own copy of Form 1583 during signup, or the official fillable PDF can be downloaded directly from USPS (PS Form 1583).
- Fill in applicant and business details. Enter the applicant's name and, for a business, the business name and any authorized individuals who will also receive mail at the address.
- Gather two forms of ID. One must be a government-issued photo ID from the acceptable list; the second can be a photo ID or a secondary address-confirming document.
- Verify the signature. Sign in the physical or virtual presence of the CMRA agent (real-time audio and video), or acknowledge the signature before a US notary in person or remotely. The options and published costs are covered in notarizing Form 1583 online.
- Submit the form to the provider. The CMRA keeps the completed, verified Form 1583 on file as required under DMM 508.1.8.
Acceptable IDs and documents
| Photo ID type |
|---|
| US state, territory or tribal driver's or nondriver's ID |
| Uniformed Service ID |
| Passport |
| Certificate of Naturalization |
| US Access Card |
| Matricula Consular |
| Permanent Resident Card |
| US university ID |
| NEXUS card |
| Document type |
|---|
| Current lease |
| Home or vehicle insurance policy |
| Mortgage or deed of trust |
| Vehicle registration |
| Voter card |
These lists come from the form's own instructions (PS Form 1583, June 2024 revision).
Business applicants and authorized individuals
Under DMM 508.1.8, every person authorized to receive mail at the CMRA address must be covered by the form, not just the primary applicant. For a business, that means listing each authorized individual and confirming two forms of ID for each one, in addition to the business's own application information (DMM 508.1.8). Filing Form 1583 is separate from the question of whether a state, the IRS or a bank will accept a virtual business address for an LLC in a given field.
Common mistakes
- No Submitting an expired photo ID.
- No A secondary document whose address does not match the address on the application.
- No Leaving out an authorized individual who will also receive mail at the address.
- No Combining a personal suite or unit number with the PMB designator instead of listing the PMB or # number separately, which is covered in how CMRA addresses get flagged.
What this means for choosing a provider
Every virtual mailbox provider requires a completed, verified Form 1583 before it can accept mail on a customer's behalf, so the ID and verification steps above apply regardless of which provider is used. Providers differ in how they run the verification step, such as whether live video or online notarization is offered, and in how they handle authorized individuals for a business account. Compare current provider options to see which providers match your mail volume before signing up, and check the total monthly virtual mailbox cost at that volume, since the Form 1583 step is the same everywhere but scan and overage fees are not. Readers new to the service can start with what a virtual mailbox does, and business owners living abroad can compare mail handling while living overseas.
FAQ
How much does it cost to file Form 1583?
The official PS Form 1583 PDF lists no USPS filing fee. Any cost usually comes from notarization, if a notary is used, or from the mailbox provider's own signup or setup charge, not from USPS itself.
Can I complete USPS Form 1583 online?
The form itself can be filled out online using the official fillable PDF (PS Form 1583), and the signature can be verified online too, through real-time video with the CMRA agent or through a remote US notary, instead of an in-person visit.
How do I fill out a USPS 1583 form?
Get the form from the provider or the official PDF, enter the applicant's and any authorized individuals' details, gather two forms of ID with one a government-issued photo ID, verify the signature in person, by live video or before a notary, and submit the completed form to the provider, which keeps it on file.
What are common issues with Form 1583?
The most common issues are an expired photo ID, a secondary document whose address does not match the application, a business that forgets to list an authorized individual, and an address that merges a personal suite number into the CMRA's own PMB designator.
Does it need to be notarized?
Not necessarily. Notarization, in person or remote, is one of the accepted ways to verify the signature. The other accepted route is signing or confirming the signature in the physical or virtual presence of the CMRA agent, without a notary.
Does each business owner need a form?
DMM 508.1.8 requires every person authorized to receive mail at the CMRA address to be covered by the form, so each authorized owner or individual generally needs to be listed and provide two forms of ID, not just the primary applicant.
PS Form 1583-A is a different form, filed by CMRA operators themselves, not by mailbox customers.
Not legal advice. This page explains USPS's own Form 1583 instructions and Domestic Mail Manual rules. It is general information, not legal advice about a specific mailing address or business situation.
How this page is sourced
Cedrick Reese wrote this guide for VirtualMailboxBusiness.com from the official PS Form 1583 PDF (June 2024 revision) and Domestic Mail Manual section 508.1.8, the two sources that govern CMRA mail authorization. ID lists are copied from the form's own instructions. The page is reviewed whenever USPS posts a new form revision or DMM update, and the revision date shown here is updated to match.
Sources
- USPS: PS Form 1583, Application for Delivery of Mail Through Agent (June 2024 revision), checked September 25, 2026
- USPS: Domestic Mail Manual, section 508.1.8, checked September 25, 2026