USPS Postmark Policy
Beginning Dec. 24, 2025, the U.S. Postal Service will no longer apply postmarks at local mailboxes or post offices. Instead, postmarks will be added later at regional processing centers — sometimes days after mail is dropped off.
Due to changes in mail processing, the postmark on an envelope may not always reflect the actual date a gift was mailed. This means the date we receive the donation determines when it can be counted — whether for a specific month or year (for tax purposes).
If you plan to mail a check near the end of a month or year and want it credited to that period, please take steps to ensure the mailing date can be verified. Dropping a check in a mailbox or using a self-service kiosk may not provide proof under current USPS processes.
To help ensure timely crediting, consider:
- Bringing your envelope to a USPS counter and requesting a manual (local) postmark
- Purchasing postage with a Postage Validation Imprint (PVI)
- Using Certified or Registered Mail or requesting a Certificate of Mailing


11 Comments
Unknown User (ed.courtney@reliant.org)
Kathy Zellinger Here's a page I created about what to do when a missionary receives a check. Is there anything incorrect or that you think should be added?
Unknown User (ed.courtney@reliant.org)
Mike Swann Can you look over this when you get a chance?
Kathy Zellinger
Unknown User (ed.courtney@reliant.org). Done!
Keva Ambre
Someone sent a missionary a check to buy a new laptop. Does that $ need to go to Reliant?
What if the donor just bought the laptop and gave it to the missionary?
I know there are policies about this, but I'm not finding them.
user-ca312
Mike Swann - Should all the other liaisons be added under the Questions? section?
Mike Swann
That looks great. Yes user-ca312 - Let's add in the list of all the liaisons here.
user-ca312
Mike Swann- Looks like we are still missing the other liaisons on this page.
user-f4a2e
Got you covered user-ca312 Mike Swann
Mike Swann
user-f4a2e - other pages we have used have the liaisons going across so they are one line. I believe Caleb Hayworth has done this a lot, as well as I think user-ca312 has added these too. I think that would look cleaner.
Meredith Evans
Is there a way for missionaries to access the new gift form through Toolbox?
Mike Swann
Unfortunately there is not a Toolbox replacement or alternative idea for check giving quite yet.