New USPS Rule Could Impact 2025 Tax Deductions for Mailed Donations
Here’s What You Need to Know
As the end of the year approaches, many donors plan their year-end charitable giving, and at Hagley Museum and Library, we are deeply grateful for every gift.
However, a new rule from the United States Postal Service (USPS) may affect whether your mailed donation counts as a 2025 tax-deductible gift, even if you send it before December 31.
Here’s what you need to know to ensure your gift is counted this year:
What Changed?
As of Wednesday, December 24, 2025, the USPS now applies the official postmark at a regional processing center, not your local mailbox or post office. That means if you drop a donation envelope in a blue collection box, or even inside your neighborhood post office, it could be days before the envelope is officially postmarked.
And that delay matters.
Why the Postmark Matters for Charitable Giving
According to IRS rules, a charitable donation is considered made on the date it is mailed (not the date on the check), but only if you have proof of that date.
Previously, the postmark date served as that proof. But now, since the postmark is applied later in the process, it may no longer reflect when you actually mailed your donation. If your donation is postmarked January 2, 2026, but you mailed it on December 31, 2025, it may still count for 2026, not 2025, unless you take extra steps to document the mailing date.
How to Make Sure Your Mailed Donation Counts for 2025
To protect your tax deduction and ensure your donation is counted for this year, follow these simple steps:
- Visit your local post office in person. Don’t drop your envelope in a mailbox or use a self-service kiosk.
Request one of the following:
- A Postage Validation Imprint (PVI) from the USPS counter
- A manual postmark (hand-stamped by a USPS employee)
- Certified Mail or Registered Mail options that include a dated receipt
These are all considered valid ways to document the date you mailed your gift.
Avoid these methods:
- Mailing from a blue collection box
- Using a self-service kiosk
- Sending via UPS or FedEx (which do not qualify under IRS guidance for charitable mailing dates)
Key Deadline
All donations must be mailed, with proof of mailing, by December 31, 2025, to qualify as a 2025 tax-deductible contribution.
We recommend visiting your post office by December 30 to be safe and avoid long lines.
Prefer to Donate Online?
The easiest way to ensure your Hagley Fund gift is received and counted for 2025 is to donate securely online at hagley.org/donate.
If you are donating to other funds, please do not use the above link. Email jthomas@hagley.org or call Joan Thomas between now and December 31 at 302-658-2400 x329.
All online gifts completed by 11:59 p.m. on December 31 will count toward your 2025 taxes.
Prefer to Walk In Your Gift?
The second easiest way to ensure your gift is received and counted for 2025 is to stop by the Hagley Library offices (298 Buck Road, Wilmington) on weekdays between now and December 31, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and drop off your gift.
Ask our receptionist for someone in Development, and we will gladly accept your gift.