1 General Information

1-1 How to Use This Publication

Publication 109 has been created to help Postal Service customers comply with requirements for creating Extra Services forms and labels and electronic files. Specifically, it is designed for customers who want to do the following:

1. Privately print extra services forms and labels.
2. Send and/or receive electronic files in order to obtain the delivery status of their accountable mailpieces.
3. Obtain their return receipts in bulk electronically.

Each of these topics is outlined in its own chapter of this publication. However, chapter 2 is the foundation for the other chapters. Everything covered by this publication presumes the private printing of forms and labels. Also, mail owners often designate third parties to do things for them — print their barcodes, do their mailings, transmit their files, and even receive delivery data — and so options involving third-party designees appear throughout this publication.

Although Publication 109 is a useful tool to help customers comply with the form and label requirements for domestic mailings as well as the electronic file format requirements, it does not provide detailed information about each extra service. Please refer to Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), section 503, for detailed information on each extra service. An electronic version of the DMM is accessible on the Internet at http://pe.usps.gov.