Bulk Mailing Glossary

If you can't find the term you are looking for, try the full USPS glossary. It's in Portable Document Format (PDF) format.

501-C3 Nonprofit

This is a classification by by the IRS that entitles your organization to tax advantages. It also allows people to write off any donations they give to you. The USPS allows significantly lower postage for nonprofit bulk mail.

Advance Deposit Account

A Postal Service account into which a mailer deposits funds, which are held until postage is deducted at the time of mailing. You add money to your account by going to the post office and paying by cash, check or money order. Also called a trust account.

Automation Compatible

An automation compatible mail piece meets the USPS layout requirements and has a machine-readable address label. If your mail piece is automation compatible and your addresses are processed by a program that meets the requirements of the USPS Coding Accuracy Standards System (CASS), you get a further discount on your postage.

CASS Certified

The Coding Accuracy Support System (CASS) was created by the USPS in 1988 to improve the accuracy of addresses. The USPS certifies software programs that process your mailing list. To qualify for the lowest postal rates, your list must have been processed by a CASS-certified program within the past six months.

Enhanced Carrier Route

The most detailed sorting of a bulk mailing. Basically, the mailing is sorted by the letter carrier route. Appropriate only for very large bulk mailings.

Mailing Statement

A mailing statement shows the postage payment calculations for a bulk mailing. You must have one for every bulk mailing that you take to the post office. Also called a Postage Statement. To get a postal statement, visit our postal links page, where you can download forms in Portable Document Format.

JavaScript

A programming language developed by Netscape that makes web pages dynamic. Notwithstanding it's name, it is not related to Java, which is a general purpose programming language developed by Sun Microsystems. To be able to run JavaScript reliably, you should have a version 4 browser or higher.

Meter Strip

A strip printed from a postage meter. Affixed to the back of a mailing statement to pay for the postage due, typically when you use precancelled stamps as your postage payment method.

PDF

Short for "Portable Document Format." This file format works on virtually any computer and printer. Developed by Adobe Systems, it has become the standard format for distributing high-quality documents on the web. It is available for free and there are versions available for all operating systems.

Permit Imprint

You can print a permit on each piece instread of using stamps. This saves you the trouble of sticking a stamp on each piece in your mailing. To use a permit imprint, all pieces in the mailing must weight the same. The permit must be legible and cannot be handwritten. The imprint must include the mail class (for example, PRSRT STD or FIRST CLASS), the statement "U.S. POSTAGE PAID" the city and state where the permit is held, and the permit number. Here are some examples of valid permit imprints:

Postage Statement

See mailing statement.

Presorted

The simplest type of bulk mailing. Mail pieces are sorted and grouped by zip codes. For example, if you have ten or more pieces going to the same five-digit zip code, they must be grouped together. See How to Presort for more information.

Standard Mail

Also used to be called third class mail. The Standard Mail (A) postage class for all pieces that weigh less than a pound. This is the postal class that this web site handles. Standard Mail (B) is the rate class for bulk mailings of pieces that weigh over one pound each.

Self-Mailer

The mailing term for a folded flier or card. For example, a tri-folded flier is a self-mailer.

Trust Account

See advance deposit account.

Upgradable

A mailing where the mail pieces are automation compatible and the 5-digit zip code has been verified by a program that meets the requirements of the USPS Coding Accuracy Standards System (CASS) within the past year. You do not need to use rubber bands on full trays if your mailing is upgradable.