As the end of the year approaches, many donors plan their year-end charitable giving, and at Foster Success, we are grateful for every gift that helps us support older foster youth on their journey to self-sufficiency.
But, 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 December 24, 2025, the USPS now applies the official postmark at a regional processing center, not your local mailbox or post office. Meaning if you drop a donation in a blue collection box, or even inside your local/neighborhood post office, it could be days before the envelope is officially postmarked.
Why the Postmark Matters for Charitable Giving
According to IRS rules, a charitable donation is considered made on the date it is mailed, but only if you have proof of that date.
Previously, the postmark date served as that proof. 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 mailed 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 2025, follow these 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.
Planning a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)?
If you’re making a year-end gift from your IRA using a QCD, the timing is even more critical. The gift is only considered made when your IRA administrator transfers the funds. If you have completed this, we recommend you reach out to your custodian to ensure it has been sent!
Prefer to donate online?
The easiest way to ensure your gift is received and counted for 2025 is to donate securely online here. All online gifts completed by 11:59 p.m. on December 31 will count toward your 2025 taxes.
Questions? Contact Travis D. Tester at travis@fostersuccess.org.