Mail Growth Incentives: Basics and Processes
Did you know that the United States Postal Service is offering a significant opportunity for Mail Owners looking to send more First-Class or Marketing Mail in 2024 than they did between October 2022 and September 2023?
But here’s the thing. Time is running out to register. There’s a process to get set up. There are a whole lot of nuances and caveats. And we can assure you that you do not want to wait for the last minute.
That’s why we’re sharing a… brief… introduction to the Mail Growth Incentives and offering you the opportunity to join us for a deeper look by attending a complimentary webinar available on demand.
Introduction: Mail Growth Incentive Program(s)
On September 27, 2023, two distinct Mail Growth Incentives were approved, established, and announced.
With input from stakeholders, approval by the Postal Regulatory Commission, and encouragement from the Postal Service, the Mail Growth Incentives program provides an opportunity for Mail Owners to save money by increasing the volume of First-Class Mail, Marketing Mail, or both.
What? First-Class Mail Growth Incentive, Marketing Mail Growth Incentive
These initiatives are called First-Class Mail Growth Incentive and Marketing Mail Growth Incentive.
First-Class Mail Growth Incentive
In terms of the products eligible for the First-Class Mail Growth Incentive, Mail Owners sending the following First-Class Mail pieces are able to benefit:
First-Class Mail Presort Letters
First-Class Mail Presort Cards
First-Class Mail Presort Flats
Marketing Mail Growth Incentive
Additionally, the Marketing Mail Growth Initiative provides Mail Owners sending the following types of mail to benefit:
Marketing Mail Letters and HD/Saturation Letters
Marketing Mail Flats and HD/Saturation Flats
Marketing Mail Carrier Route
Marketing Mail Parcels and Saturation Parcels
Why?
The answer is surprisingly simple. The USPS announced these programs to incent growth in mail volumes—and is offering a credit to those Mail Owners who do.
How Much Could This Benefit You?
The short answer? Mail more than you mailed in USPS Fiscal Year 2023, and there’s a good chance this incentive can deliver big cost savings through future credits.
But to get an accurate determination, everything starts with a baseline. Part of the registration process, the baseline is calculated using the USPS Fiscal Year 2023 attributable Mail Volume by Customer Registration ID (CRID).
Key Dates
Baseline Period: USPS Fiscal Year 2023 (October 2022-September 2023)
Incentive Dates: January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024
Registration Dates: November 30,2023 – June 30, 2024
Credit Issuance: Postage credits will be issued to qualified Mail Owners after six, nine and twelve months from the start of CY 2024.
Credit Usage Time: Mail Owners have until December 31, 2025 to use postage credits received during calendar year 2024.
The Registration Process
According to the FAQ sheet, A Mail Owner must first register for one or both Mail Growth Incentives through the Mailing Promotions Portal, available through the Business Customer Gateway.
This is where that “nuance” part comes in—and the reason a Mail Owner is going to want to register early. As part of registration, USPS will provide the Mail Owner with their corresponding baseline volume. The Mail Owner must agree with the baseline volume and other conditions.
The Looming Registration Deadline: June 30, 2024
The USPS has set a hard deadline of June 30, 2024 to take advantage of this opportunity. But registration can take a bit of time. And what happens if the corresponding baseline doesn’t match?
Though June 30, 2024 is the last possible date you can register for each of these programs, the best way to capitalize on the program and ensure baselines are properly coordinated is to get this done as soon as possible.
Webinar Available On Demand
If you’re looking for more clarity on the Mail Growth Incentives, are looking to see if you qualify for either, or have signed up and want to understand more about the credit issuance and usage process, we have an upcoming webinar for you.
Titled Mail Growth Initiatives: What Every Mail Owner Needs to Know, this on-demand webinar features one of the best in the business sharing her advice on the nuances of the program and how you can gain clarity.
Leanne Herman, Sepire’s Director of Postal Affairs, will provide much of the same advice on this program as we provide to our subject matter experts, client advocates, and executives.
This can’t miss event will break down the Mail Growth Incentive, allow you to ask questions, and introduce you to your advocate and mail partner—Sepire.
How Might We Help You?
There’s a reason we paid the big bucks for Leanne to join the team and the reason we call people subject matter experts. Because we can—and know how to—help.
Whether you already work with us, have worked with us before, or would like to, we’re passionate about mail.
Get to know more about who we help, register for the webinar, and drop us a line to get started.