Key Takeaways
- Form 1583 authorizes a mail receiving service to accept mail on your behalf
- You supply one photo ID and one proof of address, both showing your name - not "two IDs". One document cannot fill both roles
- Foreign driver's licenses, bank statements, utility bills and credit-card statements are not accepted - these are the most common rejections
- Our team reviews your form before you notarize (1-3 business days), then the notarization step unlocks in your dashboard
- You do not need to be a U.S. citizen. No SSN or green card is required; an ITIN works if you have one
- Form 1583 is valid indefinitely until you cancel with the mail service
What is Form 1583?
USPS Form 1583, officially titled "Application for Delivery of Mail Through Agent," is a federal form that authorizes a Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA) or mail forwarding service to receive mail on your behalf. This form is required by federal law before any third party can accept your mail.
Why It's Required: The USPS requires Form 1583 to prevent mail fraud and ensure that only authorized parties receive mail. Without it, the postal service cannot legally deliver your mail to a forwarding service.
When Do You Need Form 1583?
You need to complete Form 1583 when:
- Setting up mail forwarding with a commercial mail receiving service
- Using a virtual mailbox service
- Establishing a business address at a mail center
- Having mail delivered to Your Tax Base's Florida address
You do NOT need Form 1583 for:
- Regular USPS mail forwarding (change of address)
- Mail delivered to your own physical residence
- PO Boxes rented directly from USPS
Form 1583 Requirements
Personal Information Needed
- Your full legal name
- Your current home street address (never a PO Box - USPS will not accept one here)
- The address where mail will be received (the mail service address)
- One photo ID and one proof of that home address
Acceptable Forms of ID: One Photo ID Plus One Proof of Address
This is the single biggest source of rejected forms, so read it carefully. Form 1583 does not ask for "two IDs" in the loose sense. It asks for two specific things:
- A government-issued photo ID (form item 8)
- A document that confirms the home address you wrote on the form (form item 9)
Both must be current, unexpired, and show your full legal name. The USPS instructions are explicit that a driver's license "may be used for only one of the IDs (either photo ID or address ID), not for both." So one document can never cover both roles.
1. Photo ID - accepted
- U.S. or foreign passport (the signature page must be signed)
- U.S. driver's license or state/territory/tribal ID card
- U.S. permanent resident card (green card)
The form itself also lists a uniformed service ID, certificate of naturalization, U.S. Access Card, Matricula Consular, U.S. university ID card and NEXUS card. The three above are the ones our review team clears without friction; if all you have is one of the others, send it and we will tell you before you notarize.
2. Proof of address - accepted
Must show the exact home address you entered on the form:
- U.S. driver's license or state ID card showing your current address (only if you did not already use it as your photo ID)
- Current lease
- Mortgage statement or deed of trust
- Home or vehicle insurance policy
- Vehicle registration card
- Voter card
Not accepted - these get rejected every week:
- Foreign driver's licenses. The form's photo ID list is limited to a U.S. state, territory or tribal driver's or nondriver's card. If you are an expat with only a local licence, use your passport as the photo ID.
- Bank statements, utility bills and credit-card statements. These are fine at many institutions but are not on the USPS address-proof list.
- Screenshots and photocopies instead of a clear scan or photo of the actual document.
- Anything expired.
The combination that works for almost everyone: passport as the photo ID, plus a driver's license (or lease, or insurance policy) as the proof of address.
No SSN, green card or U.S. citizenship required. Form 1583 does not ask for a Social Security number and you do not have to be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to complete it. An ITIN is fine if you have one. This is the most common question we get from our expat clients, and the answer is genuinely no obstacle.
Documents in another language: they must be translated into English. A certified translation is enough - the translation itself does not need to be notarized.
The Order of Operations (Review Comes First)
Most people assume they notarize the form and then someone checks it. It is the other way round, and getting this backwards means paying for a second notarization.
- Complete Form 1583 in your dashboard. We pre-fill it from your onboarding details. Enter your current home street address; it must match your proof of address exactly.
- We review and approve - 1 to 3 business days. Our team checks your form and your two documents and flags anything that would be rejected, before a notary is involved.
- Notarize from your dashboard. Once approved, the notarization step unlocks. Start it from your dashboard rather than going to a notarization provider directly - a session booked outside the dashboard is not linked to your file and we cannot use the result.
- We submit and activate. After USPS accepts your notarized form, we assign your Florida address.
Notarization Requirements
USPS requires your signature on Form 1583 to be witnessed. The form permits two routes: signing in the physical or live-video presence of the mail agent, or acknowledging your signature before a notary public commissioned in a U.S. state, territory, possession, or the District of Columbia. Our mail provider uses the notarized route, so plan on notarization.
Expats, note the wording: the notary must hold a U.S. commission. A notary in your country of residence cannot notarize this form. That is exactly why remote online notarization exists - you meet a U.S.-commissioned notary by video from anywhere in the world.
Whichever route you use, the notary will:
- Verify your identity against your photo ID
- Watch you sign, or watch you acknowledge your signature
- Apply their notary seal and signature
Notarization Options
In-Person Notarization
- Bank or credit union: Many offer free notary services to customers
- UPS Store / FedEx Office: Typically $5-15 per signature
- Law offices: Usually have notaries available
- Mobile notary: Notary comes to you ($50-100)
Remote Online Notarization (RON)
The USPS now accepts Remote Online Notarization, allowing you to get Form 1583 notarized via video call from anywhere in the world.
Your Tax Base Integration: We partner with online notarization services to make completing Form 1583 easy. You can get notarized in about 15 minutes via video call, no need to find a local notary. Launch the session from your dashboard once your form is approved - do not book directly with the notarization provider, because a session started outside your dashboard is not attached to your file.
RON Process
- Wait for our review to approve your form, then start the session from your dashboard
- Have both original documents on hand: your photo ID and your proof of address
- Join the video call at your scheduled time
- The notary verifies your identity (may include knowledge-based questions)
- Sign the form electronically while on camera
- Receive notarized document via email
How to Fill Out Form 1583
Step-by-Step Instructions
Section 1: Applicant Information
- Name: Your full legal name as it appears on your ID
- Address: Your current home street address. It must match your proof of address exactly, and it can never be a PO Box
Section 2: Agent Information
- Name of agent: The mail receiving service name (we provide this)
- Agent's address: Your Florida residential address with us
Section 3: Identification
- Item 8 - Photo ID: tick the photo ID type, then enter the ID number, issuing entity and expiration date
- Item 9 - Address ID: tick the address document type. It must contain the home address you entered above
- Attach a clear copy of both documents
- Remember: if you tick "driver's/nondriver's ID card" in item 8, you cannot also use it in item 9
Section 4: Signature
- Sign and date in the presence of the notary
- Do NOT sign before the notary session
Common Form 1583 Mistakes to Avoid
- Using one document for both roles: your driver's license can be your photo ID or your proof of address, never both
- Submitting a foreign driver's licence as photo ID: not on the USPS list. Use your passport instead
- Submitting a bank statement or utility bill as proof of address: not on the USPS list either
- Notarizing before review: wait for our 1-3 business day approval, or you may pay for a second session
- Signing before notarization: The notary must watch you sign - if you pre-sign, they cannot notarize it
- Using expired IDs: Both documents must be current and unexpired
- Name mismatches: Your name must match exactly across both documents and the form
- Address mismatches: the address on the form must match the address document character for character
- Entering a PO Box: USPS will not accept a PO Box as the applicant's home address
- Missing information: All fields must be completed; leave nothing blank
- Using a non-U.S. notary: the notary must be commissioned in a U.S. state, territory, possession or DC
How Long is Form 1583 Valid?
Form 1583 remains valid indefinitely until:
- You submit a written cancellation to the mail service
- You move and change your mail service
- The mail receiving agent ceases operations
You do NOT need to renew Form 1583 annually. However, you may need to complete a new form if:
- Your legal name changes
- You add additional names/aliases to receive mail under
- You switch to a different mail service provider
After Completing Form 1583
Once your Form 1583 is notarized and submitted:
- The mail service files a copy with the local post office
- You receive confirmation that mail delivery is authorized
- The USPS begins delivering your mail to the service address
- You can start using your new Florida address immediately
Processing Time: The 2-5 business day clock for assigning your Florida address starts when USPS accepts your notarized form, not at the moment you finish the notarization session. Budget roughly 1-3 business days for our review before notarization, then 2-5 business days after USPS acceptance.