Clarendon County Government would like to make residents aware of a recent change in U.S. Postal Service (USPS) postmark practices that may affect time-sensitive mail.
Effective December 24, 2025, the USPS has clarified that the date shown on a postmark generally reflects the date when mail is first processed at a postal facility—not necessarily the date it is placed in a mailbox or dropped off at a post office. As a result, mail deposited close to a deadline may receive a postmark dated after the intended mailing date.
This change may impact documents with strict deadlines, such as tax filings, bill payments, legal paperwork, absentee ballots, and other official correspondence where a postmark is used to determine timeliness.
To help avoid issues, residents are encouraged to:
- Mail important or deadline-sensitive items several days early.
- Consider using certified mail, registered mail, or a certificate of mailing for proof of mailing date.
Clarendon County encourages residents to plan accordingly and contact their local post office with any questions about mailing options. This notice is provided for public awareness and does not change any county deadlines or requirements.