Virtual mailbox
{{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.{{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}} 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, which some delivery services will not deliver to, because they tend to offer a real street address and additional services.{{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}} Services offered may include: mail forwarding, scanning, check depositing,{{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}} and recycling.{{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}} In the United States, virtual mailbox providers are classified as commercial mail receiving agencies (CMRA). Almost every popular virtual mailbox service provides customers with both a web version and a mobile application.{{Cite web|url=https://getnewmailbox.com/#mobile|title=Virtual Mailboxes in Mobile Apps|website=GetNewMailbox|language=en-US|access-date=2021-07-09}}
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.{{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}}
Once this form is complete, a virtual mailbox address can be used as the official business mailing address in most states.{{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}}