We are grateful for your continued support of Polar Bears International, and we know many of our dedicated donors prefer to send their contributions by mail.
As the year comes to a close, we want to provide an important reminder to ensure your mailed gift is counted for the 2025 tax year and ensure that you are aware of USPS processing rule that could impact your taxes and charitable giving:
Postmark Deadline: According to IRS regulations, your mailed donation must be postmarked by December 31 to be considered a charitable contribution for the current tax year. Please plan to send your envelope early to ensure it meets this deadline.
A recent USPS postmark change means the postmark will reflect the date of postal processing, not necessarily the date the sender dropped off the mail at the Postal Service. This may mean that the postmark date may be 1-3+ days later than expected.
What does this mean? If your return is dropped into a mailbox on December 31 but not processed until after January 1, your donation may not count for the 2025 tax year.
To ensure your mailed donation is postmarked by December 31, here are three options for proof of timely mailing:
Buy postage at the USPS retail counter. When a customer pays for postage at a retail counter, the Postage Validation Imprint (PVI) label stamped on the mailpiece indicates the date of acceptance.
Ask for a manual postmark. Customers who want a postmark dated when the Postal Service first accepted possession of their mailpiece may, for no extra charge, request a manual postmark at any Post Office, station, or branch. Since a manual postmark is stamped upon acceptance at the retail counter, the postmark date aligns with the date the USPS first accepted possession.
Purchase a Certificate of Mailing. If you want proof of the date on which the USPS first accepted possession of the mailpiece, you can purchase a Certificate of Mailing through USPS. A Certificate of Mailing provides evidence that individual mailpieces have been presented for mailing. Registered mail and certified mail services also provide mailing receipts.
Whether you mail your gift or donate online, your contribution will strengthen the research, coexistence programs, education, and policy solutions that polar bears depend on.
Thank you for helping to protect polar bears and their Arctic home. Please contact Amy Lester at alester@pbears.org if you have any questions or would like to learn more.
