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This version of the form is not currently in use and is provided for reference only. Download this version of
PS Form 8076
for the current year.
PS Form 8076 Authorization to Hold Mail
What Is a Hold Mail Request?
PS Form 8076, Authorization to Hold Mail , is a legal document used to inform postal workers about your decision to temporarily suspend the delivery of all mail and packages.
Alternate Name:
- Hold Mail Request Form.
Whether you travel for work, go on vacation, or prepare to stay in the hospital for up to thirty days, it is recommended to delay the mail delivery and prevent your correspondence from going to the wrong people, especially if your mailbox is accessible to others. This request can be submitted up to thirty days in advance.
This form was released by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) . The latest version of the form was issued on April 1, 2001 , with all previous editions obsolete. You can download a fillable Hold Mail Request through the link below.
How to Request a Hold on Mail?
You may put your mail on hold by completing the USPS Hold Mail Request. This document will furnish the USPS with your personal details that verify your identity, facilitate communication with you, and confirm your authorization to delay the mail delivery. It is required to provide the following information in the Hold Mail Request Form:
- Write down your name. You do not have to add the names of all your household members - the USPS will hold mail for all the residents who live at the address you indicate in the authorization;
- State your mailing address, phone number, and email address;
- Choose between picking up the accumulated mail from your local post office branch or receiving delivery at your residence on the end date of the mail holding;
- Enter the start date and end date of the authorization. The USPS is prepared to hold your mail between three and thirty days;
- Sign the form.
Once you complete the authorization, give it to the letter carrier or a local post office employee. You can also place the form in your mailbox if you enter your address on the reverse side of the authorization. If you have a post office box, you do not have to file a separate request to hold mail - your correspondence will be kept in the box until you decide to pick it up.
How to Cancel a Hold Mail Request?
It is recommended to obtain a confirmation number for your request - you either directly ask the post office worker for it or you can find it in the email sent to you by the USPS along with the link to your request. Follow this link and you can amend your authorization.
However, if for some reason you do not have a confirmation number, you can modify or cancel your authorization only after visiting your local post office branch. You will need to present identification - a government ID card, driver's license, passport, or another document that includes your photograph. If you cannot go to the post office, call them and discuss your options. Note that without a confirmation number, the postal worker can only extend your request, not cancel or amend it.
