Expired Subscriptions – Periodicals

UPDATED July 2014

PS-153 (207.7.6)

This CSR discusses the eligibility of expired subscriptions of a general publication.

Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) 207.7.6, provides that copies of a general publication may be mailed at the appropriate subscriber prices for six months after a subscription has expired if the publisher makes a good-faith attempt to obtain payment or a promise of payment for a renewal during the six-month period. Postage must be paid at the regular prices for copies sent after the six months to persons who have not renewed.

This regulation means that after the expiration of a subscription, copies may be mailed at the same prices as subscriber copies (for up to six months) if an attempt is made to renew a subscription. However, such copies are considered to be nonsubscriber copies and as such may not be counted as subscriber copies when making determinations as to whether a publication is being distributed under the circulation standards required for general Periodicals publications in DMM 207.6.1.2.

Anita J. Bizzotto

Manager

Mailing Standards

Headquarters, US Postal Service

Washington, DC  20260-3436