Your Guide to Commercial Mail Receiving Agencies
Not just anybody can accept and forward your mail. In order to receive mail on behalf of a person or business, an entity has to be approved as a Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA) by the U.S. Postal Service. Once approved, the USPS will deliver your mail to the CMRA, who is then responsible for sending it to you.
CMRAs (like Utah Commercial Registered Agent LLC) are a good way to further protect your personal privacy, as well as provide a professional address for your business where mail from all carriers is accepted.
But we go further, offering all of our clients same-day scans of their mail, uploaded immediately into a secure client account. Your privacy is our priority. We will help make sure you are disclosing only what is legally required by the postal service to hire a CMRA.
When you hire us, your mail is delivered to our building, right here in West Jordan.
What is a Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA)?
If a private business wants be able to accept mail on behalf of their clients, they must get approval from the United State Postal Service (USPS). Once approved, the CMRA is responsible for forwarding or redistributing that mail to its clients.
Hiring a CMRA allows you to keep your own address private, but it does require that you disclose your personal information to the USPS through the authorization Form 1583.
If your purpose for hiring a CMRA is to help maintain your privacy, we’ve got your back. With Utah Commercial Registered Agent LLC, you can feel safe knowing that we never sell client information to anyone, for any reason.
Paperwork Required to Hire a CMRA
Not only do private businesses have to be approved by the USPS to accept your mail, but you have to authorize your CMRA of choice with the USPS to have your mail accepted. A CMRA cannot accept mail until a Form 1583 is submitted to the USPS. This form is how the USPS verifies your identity and documents that your CMRA has the authority to process your mail.
What is the USPS Form 1583 and Why Is it Required?
The USPS Form 1583 authorizes a CMRA to receive your mail for you. But why is it required in the first place? Essentially, it’s an added layer of security. Requiring CMRAs and their clients to verify their identity helps the USPS ensure the security of the mail system and prevent fraud. So, while an added piece of paperwork may seem annoying, it does help to protect your privacy.
What Information Will You Need to Provide for the Authorization Form 1583?
The purpose of Form 1583 is essentially to verify your identity and confirm that it is actually you using a CMRA to accept your mail, and not someone else. The form requires some personal information, but all of it is kept confidential. You will need to provide your:
- Name
- Residential street address
- Photo ID (acceptable forms listed below)
- Proof of address (acceptable forms listed below)
What Forms of I.D. are Acceptable for the 1583?
In order to verify your identity, the USPS accommodates a number of different forms of identification. You must use one ID from each list.
Accepted Primary or Photo IDs
Accepted Forms of Proof of Address
- U.S. State/Territory/Tribal Drivers or Non-Drivers ID Card
- U.S. Passport
- Foreign Passport
- Matricula Consular
- NEXUS card
- U.S. Access Card
- DOD Common Access Card
- PIV Card
- U.S. Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization
- U.S. Permanent Resident Card
- U.S. Uniformed Service ID Card
- U.S. University Card
- Lease
- Mortgage
- Deed of trust
- Voter or vehicle registration card
- Home or vehicle insurance policy
It’s important to note that some form of I.D. are not accepted by the USPS:
- Social security cards
- Credit cards
- Birth certificates
- Concealed carry permit
Does my USPS Form 1583 need to be notarized?
Before the USPS will accept your form, it must be notarized. As a CMRA provider, we’re able to handle this step of the verification process in house, at no extra charge.
We’ve made the process of completing Form 1583 very easy. You can complete the form, provide the needed identification documents, and provide an e-signature all inside your client portal.
What’s so Important About a Real, Physical Street Address?
Having a physical address for your business builds credibility, further separates your personal assets from your business assets, and goes pretty far when protecting your personal privacy. When you hire us, you get a permanent business address that you can use anywhere a physical address is required, keeping your own address private while still maintaining a professional, local business presence.
But We Take it a Step Further
When you hire Utah Commercial Registered Agent LLC, you’re hiring a bonafide CMRA located right here in West Jordan. Even better, we own our own building. This means:
- The address we issue is a suite number in our building, not a box
- It’s an office suite in our professional building in West Jordan, Utah
- It can be used as a permanent business address
- When used with our Virtual Office Service, it includes an office lease
CMRA Mail Services
CMRAs receive your mail and then can either forward that mail to you or open-and-scan your mail to a secure server. We offer the best of both options.
Open-and-Scan Mail Services
One-Click Physical Forward
Because we are a CMRA, we are authorized to open mail on your behalf and scan its full contents to our own secure server. Open-and-scan mail enables total freedom from mail.
You’ll be able to view, manage, and print your mail from anywhere with internet service. Your mail contents are permanently stored on a secure server.
We are still happy to physically forward individual pieces of mail on an as-requested basis. This is for situations where you need the original copy, like a check. We make this very simple using our “click-to-request” system.
We store original documents for 50 calendar days, and as long as you request it within that time period, we’ll send it on to you. Just pay the handling fee and and shipping charges.
Utah Mail Scanning and Virtual Office
Sign up for one of our Mail Scanning Service packages or our Virtual Office Service and get a permanent address for your Utah business from a local, Utah CMRA. We offer a variety of options so that you can pick the service that’s perfect for your business.
All packages include secure online document storage, same day uploads, and junk mail filtering. Choose from:
3 Scans a Year
FREE
Complimentary with our Registered Agent Service and Formation Services.
10 Scans a Year
$49
Includes everything listed above, as well a unique suite number that you can use as your business address.
25 Scans a Year
$99
Includes everything listed above, as well a unique suite number that you can use as your business address.
Virtual Office
$19/month
Includes everything in our other packages as well as unlimited mail scans, phone service, and a physical office lease.
FAQs
Does my Form 1583 Need to Be Notarized?
In order for the USPS to accept your Form 1583, it must be notarized. However, some CMRAs take care of the notary process for you, saving you the trouble of having to track down a notary and pay extra for their service.
As a CMRA, we are able to use our own internal witness verification. There is no burden placed on you to print and sign the form.
I’m submitting a 1583 for my business. Do I have to use my own ID?
The USPS requirement is that an officer of the company must sign the form and provide their ID. So, it doesn’t have to be you, but it does need to be another office or member or your business.
If you’re concerned about the personal information you include on your 1583 being available to the public, don’t be! The information your submit on your form will be kept confidential by the USPS.
Can a Non-U.S. Address Be Used on 1583?
Yes! A non-U.S. resident can hire a CMRA. A non-U.S. residential address is acceptable on the form. You’ll just need to provide an acceptable form of identification (listed above).