Move Update
The Move Update standard is a means of reducing the number of mailpieces in a mailing that require forwarding or return by the periodic matching of a mailer’s address records with change-of-address orders received and maintained by the Postal Service™. Mailers who claim First-Class Mail® presorted or automation prices and USPS Marketing Mail™ prices must demonstrate that they have updated their mailing list within 95 days before the mailing date.
Who is Move Update for?
Mailers who claim presorted or automation prices for First-Class Mail and USPS Marketing Mail prices.
First Class Mail
Parcels
Periodicals
Standard Mail
Description
The Postal Service offers three preapproved methods: Address Change Service (ACS™), National Change of Address Linkage System (NCOALink®), and ancillary service endorsements except for Forwarding Service Requested. Alternative methods that require separate approval also are offered for First-Class Mail. Mailers must use one of the preapproved or alternative methods to meet the Move Update standard.
The Move Update standard is met when an address used on a mailpiece in a mailing for any class of mail is updated with an approved method and the same address is used in a commercial First-Class Mail or USPS Marketing Mail mailing within 95 days after the address has been updated. Except for mail bearing an alternative address format, addresses used in a mailing at commercial First-Class Mail presorted or automation prices, and all pieces claiming USPS Marketing Mail prices are required to meet the Move Update standard.
Featured Resources
01/18/2024
Guide to Move Update
The Move Update standard is a means of reducing the number of mailpieces in a mailing that require forwarding or return by the periodic matching of a mailer’s address records with change-of-address orders received and maintained by the Postal Service.
03/22/2018
Move Update Webinar Presentation
In this presentation you'll learn about various important aspects of Move Update.
08/18/2020
11/10/2020
Move Update Methods Requirements Fact Sheet
This fact sheet identifies the variety of products and services that help improve the accuracy of mailing lists, the quality of the physical addresses, and provide Change-of-Address (COA) information.
11/05/2020
07/01/2016
Clarification to the Move Update Standard
This document contains information on the Move Update standards.
Move Update Assessment Documents
11/05/2020
Related Products
NCOALink®
NCOA is a system of record for all COA requests and is used to produce the NCOALink product. The NCOALink Product is a secure dataset of approximately 160 million permanent change-of-address (COA) records constructed from names and addresses of individuals, families, and businesses who have filed a change-of-address with the Postal Service™. Developed with secure data store technology to increase security of postal customer data and protect the privacy of this information, the NCOALink Product enables mailers to process mailing lists and update lists with new addresses prior to mailing. The NCOALink data is provided on a regular basis to companies that have been licensed by the Postal Service.
Ancillary Service Endorsements
Ancillary Service Endorsements allow for a sender to obtain an addressee’s forwarding/new address if the addressee has filed a Change-of-Address order with the Postal Service, or a reason for why a mailpiece has not been delivered.
99% Testing
The 99% Accurate test is a computer-based process that performs Postal Service ZIP + 4® coding and change-of-address processing utilizing the customer’s file as input. The 99% Accurate test is accomplished by submitting the mailer’s address file(s) to the Postal Service for processing.
Contact
For questions, please call (800) 238-3150 or email MoveUpdate.ncsc@usps.gov.