York County Assessor’s Office encourages residents to plan ahead following U.S. Postal Service clarification

YORK – The York County Assessor’s Office is alerting residents and businesses how they should plan ahead when submitting time-sensitive mail following a recent clarification by the United States Postal Service (USPS) regarding postmarking practices. 

​“Under the updated guidance, the USPS cannot guarantee the date it takes possession of the mail will be the same date reflected in the postmark,” the assessor’s office said. “This could potentially cause issues for mailings which rely on postmarks for compliance with statutory or regulatory deadlines. Additionally, changes to the USPS Regional Transportation Optimization (RTO) initiative may affect how mail is transported to processing facilities, which further impacts when mail is postmarked.”
Given these recent developments, “residents and businesses should be encouraged to take extra precautions when mailing time-sensitive documents. We recommend:

• Use electronic or online services whenever available to ensure timely submission.
• Mail items early, allowing additional time ahead of deadlines.
• Request a manual (local) postmark at the post office when mailing time-sensitive documents. This service is free and ensures the postmark reflects the date USPS takes possession of the mail piece.
• Consider optional mailing services such as certified mail, registered mail or a certificate for mailing for added documentation and assurance.”

York County Assessor Kurt Bulgrin says further, “residents with questions about filing deadlines, payment options or available electronic services are encouraged to contact the assessor office at 402-362-4926, extension 6 , or by email at [email protected].