# Virtual mailbox

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_mailbox
> Source revision: 1302932456
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|Service to receive physical mail for someone}}
{{Third-party|date=April 2023}}

A '''virtual mailbox''' is a service that receives physical mail on behalf of the addressee and usually scans the outside of the mail.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/virtual-mailbox/|title=What Is a Virtual Mailbox? (And Why You Should Get One)|website=MakeUseOf|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-13}}</ref> Some providers also scan the inside contents of the mail as well. These scans may be photos, PDFs, or text-searchable PDFs. Reasons for using virtual mailboxes may include accepting mail from couriers, accessing mail while traveling, and keeping a home address private.

== Virtual mailbox and P.O. boxes ==
Virtual mailboxes are different from [P.O. boxes](/source/Post_office_box), which some delivery services will not deliver to, because they tend to offer a real street address and additional services.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.techjunkie.com/how-to-use-usps-general-delivery-when-online-retailers-wont-ship-to-a-po-box/|title=How To Use USPS General Delivery When Online Retailers Won’t Ship To A PO Box|website=Tech Junkie|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-13}}</ref> Services offered may include: [mail forwarding](/source/mail_forwarding), scanning, check depositing,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Automated Check Deposits {{!}} Earth Class Mail|url=https://www.earthclassmail.com/check-deposit|access-date=2021-10-20|website=www.earthclassmail.com|language=en}}</ref> and recycling.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theprofessionalhobo.com/financial-travel-tip-109-virtual-mailing-services/|title=Virtual Mailbox: The Easy Way to Get Mail When You Travel|date=2018-04-30|website=The Professional Hobo|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-13}}</ref> In the United States, virtual mailbox providers are classified as [commercial mail receiving agencies](/source/Commercial_mail_receiving_agency) (CMRA). Almost every popular virtual mailbox service provides customers with both a web version and a mobile application.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://getnewmailbox.com/#mobile|title=Virtual Mailboxes in Mobile Apps|website=GetNewMailbox|language=en-US|access-date=2021-07-09}}</ref>

== Legality ==
In the United States, virtual mailbox providers are classified as commercial mail receiving agencies (CMRA). Commercial mail receiving agencies are allowed to receive, access, and open third-party mail only when someone completes a USPS 1583 and has it notarized.<ref>{{cite web|title=USPS Form 1583|url=https://about.usps.com/forms/ps1583.pdf|access-date=2021-07-09|website=United States Postal Service|language=en-US}}</ref> 

Once this form is complete, a virtual mailbox address can be used as the official business mailing address in most states.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Registered Agents vs. Virtual Offices, Virtual Business Addresses, and Virtual Mailing Services|url=https://howtostartanllc.com/registered-agent/registered-agent-vs-virtual-office|access-date=2021-10-20|website=howtostartanllc.com|language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [Digital nomad](/source/Digital_nomad)
* [Poste restante](/source/Poste_restante)
* [Mail forwarding](/source/Mail_forwarding)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

Category:Postal infrastructure
Category:Postal services

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Virtual mailbox](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_mailbox) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_mailbox?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.