What are Ancillary Service Endorsements?

Ancillary Service Endorsements allow the sender to obtain the addressee's new (forwarding) address (provided the appropriate endorsement is used and if the addressee filed a Change-of-Address Order with the Postal Service) or the reason for non-delivery.

Undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA) mail is forwarded, returned to sender, or discarded as authorized for the particular mail class. A mailer endorsement is used to instruct the Postal Service regarding the appropriate disposition upon determining that it is UAA. A return address is required on the face of the mailpiece when using ancillary service endorsements. The following endorsements may be used as an updating method to meet the Move Update standards for First-Class Mail^® and USPS Marketing Mail™.

Change Service Requested

Separate notice of new address or reason for non-delivery provided; in either case, address-correction fee is charged; mailpiece is not forwarded or returned, but discarded by the Postal Service. NOTE: This endorsement is not available for First-Class Mail unless used in conjunction with electronic ACS™.

Important Note: Full-Service and Seamless Acceptance mailers that print “Change Service Requested'' must request ACS in the Intelligent Mail^® barcode. Separate manual address corrections (PS Form 3547) are not available for full-service mail. 

Address Service Requested 

Mail is forwarded if possible, or returned if forwarding is not possible. A separate notice with new address information is provided for forwarded pieces and the address-correction fee is charged. First-Class Mail is forwarded or returned at no charge. USPS Marketing Mail is charged the weighted fee for mail that must be returned. The Weighted Fee is equal to the single-piece First-Class price multiplied by 2.472 (a one ounce letter is charged 73¢ x 2.472 = $1.804, rounded-up to $1.81).

• Months 1 - 12: the mailpiece is forwarded; no charge; a separate notice of the new address is provided.
• Months 13 - 18: the mailpiece is returned with the new address attached.
• After month 18 or if undeliverable at any time: the mailpiece is returned with reason for non-delivery attached.

Important Note: Full-Service and Seamless Acceptance mailers that print “Address Service Requested'' must request ACS in the Intelligent Mail^® barcode. Separate manual address corrections (PS Form 3547) are not available for full-service mail.

Return Service Requested

If UAA, the mailpiece is returned with the new address or reason for non-delivery. First-Class Mail is returned at no charge. USPS Marketing Mail and Parcel Select mail is returned at either the single-piece First-Class Mail or Priority Mail price, depending on the weight of the piece.

Temp-Return Service Requested

This endorsement option is available for First-Class Mail only. This endorsement is similar to Return Service Requested, however if the change-of-address is temporary, the piece will be forwarded to the temporary address. The temporary address information is not provided to the mailer. If there is a permanent change-of-address, the mail piece is handled the same as Return Service Requested.

Ancillary Service Endorsement Authorized Locations

Ancillary service endorsements may be placed under the return address, above the delivery address block, to the left of the postage area, or below the postage area (postage stamps, meter stamps, or permit imprints).