Informed Delivery

Informed Delivery is a free service from the United States Postal Service (USPS) that sends subscribers digital previews of incoming mail before it arrives. Enrolled users receive a daily email or app notification containing grayscale scanned images of the exterior of letter-sized mailpieces scheduled for delivery that day. The service is available to individuals and businesses with a verified USPS-deliverable address and does not alter or intercept physical mail.

How Informed Delivery works

USPS scans the exterior of letter-sized mailpieces as they pass through mail processing equipment. Those scans are compiled into a daily digest, typically delivered before 9:00 a.m. local time.

1. Mail is scanned during sorting at a USPS processing facility.
2. USPS generates grayscale images of each qualifying mailpiece's exterior.
3. Subscribers receive a daily email or app notification with those images.
4. Physical mail is delivered on its normal schedule.

Packages are also tracked through Informed Delivery, though parcel notifications typically show tracking status updates rather than scanned images.

Why Informed Delivery matters

Informed Delivery gives recipients advance notice of time-sensitive correspondence: government notices, tax documents, legal filings, or checks, before mail physically arrives. This is especially useful for business owners who travel or work remotely.

The service also functions as a basic security tool. The FBI recommends it as a protective measure against mail theft-related check fraud. If a piece of mail appears in the daily digest but never arrives, it may indicate theft or misdelivery, giving the recipient an opportunity to act quickly.

Common uses

• Monitoring legal and government mail: A business owner sees a scanned image of an envelope from the Secretary of State's office before it arrives, allowing time to prepare.
• Tracking expected payments: A freelancer confirms a client's check is en route without repeatedly checking the mailbox.
• Identifying mail theft: A homeowner notices a piece of mail in their digest that never appears in their physical mailbox and reports it to USPS.
• Remote mail awareness: A business owner monitors correspondence at a registered address while traveling.

Limitations

Informed Delivery does not capture every piece of mail. Items that are too small, irregularly shaped, or processed at facilities without imaging equipment may not appear in the daily digest. The absence of an item in a notification does not confirm that nothing was sent.

Enrollment is generally limited to one account per address, which can create gaps for businesses with multiple staff expecting mail at the same location. Businesses using a P.O. box or a third-party mail facility should verify eligibility directly with USPS before relying on the service for time-sensitive correspondence.

Because the service scans only exteriors, it provides no access to mail contents, making it a notification tool rather than a document management solution.

Informed Delivery vs. virtual mailbox services

Informed Delivery provides exterior previews of incoming mail; it does not open, scan its contents, or store it digitally. A virtual mailbox service physically receives mail on a user's behalf, opens and scans the full contents, and makes those documents accessible online. Businesses that need a professional mailing address or full content access, not just envelope previews, will find a virtual mailbox more operationally useful.

Related terms

• Legal notice: A formal written communication required by law, often delivered by mail. Informed Delivery can help recipients anticipate and respond promptly.
• Compliance in business: Businesses responding to regulatory correspondence within specific timeframes benefit from early awareness of incoming mail.
• Known claims notice: A legal notice that may arrive by mail during business dissolution proceedings.
• Unknown claims notice: A similar document that’s mailed as part of a formal legal process.

FAQs about Informed Delivery

Does Informed Delivery show the contents of the mail or only the exterior of the envelope?

Informed Delivery scans only the exterior of mailpieces, showing the sender's name, return address, and envelope design. It has no mechanism for accessing or displaying mail contents.

Why does mail sometimes not appear in the notification?

Items that are too small, irregularly shaped, or processed at facilities without imaging equipment may not generate a scan. The absence of an item is not confirmation that nothing was sent.

Can a business use Informed Delivery to monitor a registered business address?

Yes, provided the address is USPS-deliverable. However, enrollment is generally limited to one account per address, which may create coverage gaps for businesses with multiple staff expecting mail at the same location.