Management of Commercial Mail Receiving Agencies

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Date Issued

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Submitting OIG

U.S. Postal Service OIG

Agencies Reviewed/Investigated

U.S. Postal Service

Report Number

24-146-R25

Report Description

Customers can receive mail and packages from the U.S. Postal Service in a variety of locations, including through private mailboxes at Commercial Mail Receiving Agencies (CMRA). Over 1.6 million customers nationwide (through nearly 12,000 CMRAs) were registered for this service as of February 2025. The Postal Service does not collect any related revenues but manages CMRA applications, quarterly reporting, mail sample tests, and overall program data quality. In 2018, we reported that insufficient oversight made CMRAs vulnerable to drug traffickers, and the Postal Service subsequently invested in an automated database to better track and monitor CMRA documentation.

Report Type

Audit

Agency Wide

Yes

Number of Recommendations

Questioned Costs

Funds for Better Use

Report updated under NDAA 5274

Open Recommendations

This report has 4 open recommendations.

Recommendation Number	Significant Recommendation	Recommended Questioned Costs	Recommended Funds for Better Use
1	Yes	$0	$0
Develop an approach to estimate and track Commercial Mail Receiving Agency program-related costs.
2	Yes	$0	$0
Develop and implement an approach to generate revenue to offset all Commercial Mail Receiving Agency-related costs.
4	Yes	$0	$0
Develop strategies to better communicate policies and related updates to Postal Service field staff and Commercial Mail Receiving Agencies, including those for reviewing, vetting, and documenting applications and conducting mail samples and data quality reviews.
5	Yes	$0	$0
Develop and implement internal controls for ensuring effective local staff compliance and oversight with key program responsibilities, including reviewing, vetting, and documenting applications (using the current PS Form 1583-A version) and conducting mail samples and data quality reviews.