How to hold post office mail

Holding mail at the post office, also known as "holding mail at the post office box" or "mail hold," is a service offered by the United States Postal Service (USPS) that allows you to temporarily hold your mail at a post office instead of having it delivered to your home or business. Here's how to hold post office mail:

Why hold mail?

You may want to hold your mail for various reasons, such as:

• Going out of town and don't want your mail to pile up
• Moving to a new address and want to receive your mail at a temporary location
• Taking a break from your usual mail delivery location
• Receiving sensitive or important mail that you want to keep secure

How to hold mail at the post office:

1. Visit a post office: Go to a post office near you and let the postal clerk know that you'd like to hold your mail.
2. Provide identification: Show a valid government-issued ID, such as a driver's license or passport, to prove your identity.
3. Fill out a form: The postal clerk will provide you with a "Hold Mail" form, which you'll need to fill out with your name, address, and the dates you'd like to hold your mail.
4. Specify the dates: Indicate the dates you'd like to hold your mail, including the start and end dates. You can hold your mail for up to 30 days.
5. Pay the fee (if applicable): There may be a small fee for holding your mail, which varies depending on the post office and the length of time you want to hold your mail.
6. Pick up your mail: Once your hold period is over, you can pick up your mail at the post office during regular business hours.

Tips and considerations:

• Make sure to specify the correct dates and address on the "Hold Mail" form to ensure that your mail is held correctly.
• If you're holding mail for an extended period, you may want to consider having it forwarded to your new address or a temporary location.
• Some post offices may have limited hours or availability for holding mail, so it's a good idea to call ahead to confirm.
• If you're holding mail for a business, you may need to provide additional documentation, such as a business license or tax ID number.

By following these steps, you can easily hold your post office mail at a post office near you.