USPS introduces changes to mail delivery, including zero-emission electric vehicles in Illinois
The changes come after former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy stepped down after with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to 'assist [USPS] in identifying and achieving further efficiencies.'
That included a pledge to reduce spending and its workforce by 10,000 employees through an early retirement program.
This month, mail delivery changes went into effect, including refining service standards for different classes of mail.
USPS said 75% of first class mail deliveries would experience no change, but 14% would be upgraded to a faster standard while 11% would be delivered slower, with mail delivery taking no more than 5 days.
'Under the new approach, while most mail will retain the same service standard, some mail will have a faster standard, and some will have a slightly slower standard. For First-Class Mail, the current service standard day range of 1-5 days is staying the same, while the day ranges (the estimated delivery time) for end-to-end Marketing Mail, Periodicals, and Package Services are being shortened,' USPS .
The Post Office also said the USPS Ground Advantage service would stay the same, and certain postage, like marketing materials, periodicals, and other packages, may be delivered even faster.
USPS has a Service Standards Map to show expected delivery times from zip code to zip code.
The Next Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDVs), built by Oshkosh Defense, were showcased at the Rockford Sorting and Delivery Center on Wednesday as part of the first modernization of America's largest and oldest federal fleet.
The outgoing Long Life Vehicle (LLV) debuted in 1987.
The rollout is part of USPS' nearly $497 million investment in Illinois as part of a nationwide 10-year Delivering For America plan, which allocates $164 million for the purchase of modern, efficient vehicles; $7 million for charging infrastructure; $121 million to renovate 277 existing facilities and $82 million to build new ones; and more than $123 million to purchase 23 state-of-the-art package sorting machines.
The USPS said the electric vehicles are purpose-built to meet the specific needs of the Postal Service, with improved visibility, air conditioning, ergonomic seating, increased cargo capacity, and a driver-friendly interface.
Over the next five years, the northern Illinois region is set to receive dozens more electric and fuel-efficient vehicles.
'Through the Delivering for America plan, we are transforming and modernizing the Postal Service. The introduction of our new facilities and vehicles in Rockford is a clear demonstration of this progress,' said Acting Postmaster General and CEO Doug Tulino.
The 10-year Delivering for America plan was launched in 2021.
The Postal Service said it expects to save $36 billion in savings from transportation, mail processing, and facility cost reductions.
The Postal Regulatory Commission
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NBC News
11 hours ago
- NBC News
Republicans look to make a U-turn on federal commitment to electric vehicles for the Postal Service
A year after being lauded for its plan to replace thousands of aging, gas-powered mail trucks with a mostly electric fleet, the U.S. Postal Service is facing congressional attempts to strip billions in federal EV funding. In June, the Senate parliamentarian blocked a Republican proposal in a major tax-and-spending bill to sell off the agency's new electric vehicles and infrastructure and revoke remaining federal money. But efforts to halt the fleet's shift to clean energy continue in the name of cost savings. Donald Maston, president of the National Rural Letter Carriers' Association, said canceling the program now would have the opposite effect, squandering millions of dollars. 'I think it would be shortsighted for Congress to now suddenly decide they're going to try to go backwards and take the money away for the EVs or stop that process because that's just going to be a bunch of money on infrastructure that's been wasted,' he said. Beyond that, many in the scientific community fear the government could pass on an opportunity to reduce carbon emissions that contribute to global warming when urgent action is needed. Electrified vehicles reduce emissions A 2022 University of Michigan study found the new electric postal vehicles could cut total greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20 million tons over the predicted, cumulative 20-year lifetime of the trucks. That's a fraction of the more than 6,000 million metric tons emitted annually in the United States, said professor Gregory A. Keoleian, co-director of the university's Center for Sustainable Systems. But he said the push toward electric vehicles is critical and needs to accelerate, given the intensifying impacts of climate change. 'We're already falling short of goals for reducing emissions,' Keoleian said. 'We've been making progress, but the actions being taken or proposed will really reverse decarbonization progress that has been made to date.' Many GOP lawmakers share President Donald Trump's criticism of the Biden-era green energy push and say the Postal Service should stick to delivering mail. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said 'it didn't make sense for the Postal Service to invest so heavily in an all-electric force.' She said she will pursue legislation to rescind what is left of the $3 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act allocated to help cover the $10 billion cost of new postal vehicles. Ernst has called the EV initiative a 'boondoggle' and 'a textbook example of waste,' citing delays, high costs and concerns over cold-weather performance. 'You always evaluate the programs, see if they are working. But the rate at which the company that's providing those vehicles is able to produce them, they are so far behind schedule, they will never be able to fulfill that contract,' Ernst said during a recent appearance at the Iowa State Fair, referring to Wisconsin-based Oshkosh Defense. 'For now,' she added, 'gas-powered vehicles — use some ethanol in them — I think is wonderful.' Corn-based ethanol is a boon to Iowa's farmers, but the effort to reverse course has other Republican support. Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, a co-sponsor of the rollback effort, has said the EV order should be canceled because the project 'has delivered nothing but delays, defective trucks, and skyrocketing costs.' The Postal Service maintains that the production delay of the Next Generation Delivery Vehicles, or NGDVs, was 'very modest' and not unexpected. 'The production quantity ramp-up was planned for and intended to be very gradual in the early months to allow time for potential modest production or supplier issues to be successfully resolved,' spokesperson Kim Frum said. EVs help in modernization effort The independent, self-funded federal agency, which is paid for mostly by postage and product sales, is in the middle of a $40 billion, 10-year modernization and financial stabilization plan. The EV effort had the full backing of Democratic President Joe Biden, who pledged to move toward an all-electric federal fleet of car and trucks. The 'Deliver for America' plan calls for modernizing the ground fleet, notably the Grumman Long Life Vehicle, which dates back to 1987 and is fuel-inefficient at 9 mpg. The vehicles are well past their projected 24-year lifespan and are prone to breakdowns and even fires. 'Our mechanics are miracle workers,' said Mark Dimondstein, president of the American Postal Workers Union. 'The parts are not available. They fabricate them. They do the best they can.' American Postal Workers Union President Mark Dimondstein speaks at a rally, Oct. 8, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) The Postal Service announced in 2022 it would deploy at least 66,000 electric vehicles by 2028, including commercial off-the-shelf models, after years of deliberation and criticism it was moving too slowly to reduce emissions. By 2024, the agency was awarded a Presidential Sustainability Award for its efforts to electrify the largest fleet in the federal government. Building new postal trucks In 2021, Oshkosh Defense was awarded a contract for up to 165,000 battery electric and internal combustion engine Next Generation vehicles over 10 years. The first of the odd-looking trucks, with hoods resembling a duck's bill, began service in Georgia last year. Designed for greater package capacity, the trucks are equipped with airbags, blind-spot monitoring, collision sensors, 360-degree cameras and antilock brakes. There's also a new creature comfort: air conditioning. Douglas Lape, special assistant to the president of the National Association of Letter Carriers and a former carrier, is among numerous postal employees who have had a say in the new design. He marvels at how Oshkosh designed and built a new vehicle, transforming an old North Carolina warehouse into a factory along the way. 'I was in that building when it was nothing but shelving,' he said. 'And now, being a completely functioning plant where everything is built in-house — they press the bodies in there, they do all of the assembly — it's really amazing in my opinion.' Where things stand now The agency has so far ordered 51,500 NGDVs, including 35,000 battery-powered vehicles. To date, it has received 300 battery vehicles and 1,000 gas-powered ones. Former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said in 2022 the agency expected to purchase chiefly zero-emissions delivery vehicles by 2026. It still needs some internal combustion engine vehicles that travel longer distances. Frum, the Postal Service spokesperson, said the planned NGDV purchases were 'carefully considered from a business perspective' and are being deployed to routes and facilities where they will save money. The agency has also received more than 8,200 of 9,250 Ford E-Transit electric vehicles it has ordered, she said. Ernst said it's fine for the Postal Service to use EVs already purchased. 'But you know what? We need to be smart about the way we are providing services through the federal government,' she said. 'And that was not a smart move.' Maxwell Woody, lead author of the University of Michigan study, made the opposite case. Postal vehicles, he said, have low average speeds and a high number of stops and starts that enable regenerative braking. Routes average under 30 miles and are known in advance, making planning easier. 'It's the perfect application for an electric vehicle,' he said, 'and it's a particularly inefficient application for an internal combustion engine vehicle.'
Forbes
19 hours ago
- Forbes
Moving? Address Change? Properly Notify IRS (Especially If Abroad)
It is imperative to keep IRS informed of a change of address. Taxpayers need to do it correctly, and understand what can go wrong if they don't, including tax penalties, IRS levies, and passport revocation. Americans abroad face special U.S. tax issues and it is especially critical for this group who often rely on foreign mail services to understand the nuances of notifying IRS of address changes. getty It's summer and many people move to a new home while school is out for a few months. This is especially true in the expat community where changes in work location occur with regularity. Moving can be chaotic, and amid all the packing and logistics, it's easy to forget one critical task—properly advising the IRS of your new address. Skip this step, and you risk missing key correspondence, such as a Notice of Deficiency which can trigger tax assessments, penalties, collection activity and even a passport revocation if you fall into 'seriously delinquent tax debt.' This article explains the imperative of updating your IRS address, how to do it correctly, and what can go wrong if you don't. Many Americans are moving abroad. This group faces various U.S. tax issues and it is especially critical for Americans overseas who rely on foreign mail services to understand the nuances of notifying IRS of address changes. Overseas Americans know all too well the extreme challenges faced by frequent relocations for work and sometimes unreliable foreign postal services. Making sure the IRS is properly notified must be at the top of the moving 'to-do' list. A notice from the IRS is generally deemed valid if it is sent by certified or registered mail to what is called the taxpayer's 'last known address.' If the notice was properly mailed to that address, actual receipt by the taxpayer is immaterial. The address listed on the taxpayer's most recently filed and properly processed tax return is the 'last known address', unless a taxpayer has provided the IRS with clear and concise notice of a new address. Notifying a third party, such as a different government agency, of a change-of-address is not considered clear and concise notification for tax purposes. In Phillips v. Commissioner (T.C. Memo 2024‑44), decided in July 2024, the Tax Court rejected the IRS' claim that it had properly updated its records using the United States Postal Service National Change of Address system. The IRS could not convince the Tax Court that the new address was properly matched under special procedures, leading the court to invalidate the entire notice of deficiency. This case highlights the importance of relying on the USPS's NCOA database. It is understandable that taxpayers might assume that filing a change-of-address with the USPS is enough. While the IRS receives weekly updates from the USPS NCOA database and cross-checks it against taxpayer records, the process is not foolproof. In Phillips the taxpayer's son shared his father's name, and it was the son who had filed a change-of-address with the USPS. The IRS system mistakenly applied the son's new address to the father's tax record and sent a deficiency notice there. The court held the notice invalid because it was not sent to the taxpayer's true last known address. The case is a reminder that while the NCOA system can be very helpful, it can also cause errors for both the IRS and the taxpayer. While notifying the U.S. Postal Service can ensure mail forwarding, this method does not necessarily update IRS records and should not be exclusively relied upon when it comes to U.S. tax matters. The surest way to update the IRS is through means detailed below, filing a Form 8822 or by a direct written notice. In Davis v. Commissioner , T.C. Memo. 2025-72 (July 10, 2025) the Tax Court decided a case involving a taxpayer who moved in 2021 but failed to update the IRS. Even though the taxpayer provided a handwritten letter and claimed to have spoken to IRS agents about the address change, she lacked proof of mailing or official IRS acknowledgment. The court held that because the IRS records still showed the old address, the notice of deficiency sent to her old address was valid. As a result, the petition she had filed with the Tax Court was treated as untimely and her case was dismissed. The lesson is clear: verbal claims and informal letters concerning a change of address just don't cut it. Without verifiable proof, the courts will uphold the IRS if its notice was sent to the 'last known address.' If your move occurs before filing your tax return, simply list your current address on your return. Once processed, the IRS will update its records. Tax returns should always be sent through a method permitting verification (proof of mailing or electronic submission) so that it can be established that the return and updated address was properly delivered. Another option is to file Form 8822 for individuals or Form 8822‑B for businesses. Both of these forms must be processed, which IRS estimates will take four to six weeks' time. They should be sent by certified or registered mail, with proof of mailing retained. You may also write a letter to the IRS that includes your full name, both the old and new addresses, Social Security Number, and signature. If you filed a joint tax return, then the information and signatures for both spouses must be included. Send the written address change information to the IRS processing center that handles your tax return. Again, use registered or certified mail to send in the form and retain the proof. The IRS also permits taxpayers to call and inform the agency that their address is changing. However, this method is not nearly as reliable as written communication backed up by verifiable proof of mailing. Foreign postal systems can be unreliable. If you are living abroad, the rules become complex when it comes to the tax law and acceptance of foreign postmarks. The tax code itself does not recognize foreign postmarks, but, fortunately, the IRS has had a long-standing policy on accepting official foreign postmarks for federal tax returns, refund claims, statements, or other documents. It is highly recommended that a taxpayer use the foreign country's version of certified or registered mail because the receipt can serve as proof of timely mailing/filing. Keep in mind, however, that private couriers such as FedEx or DHL are not covered by this rule unless they are specifically designated as IRS-approved private delivery services. Address changes may feel like a minor administrative detail, but when it comes to U.S. tax matters, making sure that all address changes are properly reported to the IRS is imperative. By updating your address properly, through your tax return, Form 8822 or 8822‑B, or a properly mailed written notice, you protect yourself from missed IRS correspondence and notices, unanticipated penalties, and even messy passport issues. Take care of this step early, especially if you're moving abroad, and keep proof of your notification. Having the proper proof could save you from a bureaucratic nightmare later on. Stay on top of tax matters around the globe. Reach me at vljeker@ Visit my US tax blog NO ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP OR LEGAL ADVICE This communication is for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to constitute tax advice or a recommended course of action. Professional tax advice should be sought as the information here is not intended to be, and should not be, relied upon by the reader in making a decision.
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Los Angeles Times
Republicans look to reverse federal commitment to EVs for the Postal Service
WASHINGTON — A year after being lauded for its plan to replace thousands of aging, gas-powered mail trucks with a mostly electric fleet, the U.S. Postal Service is facing congressional attempts to strip billions in federal EV funding. In June, the Senate parliamentarian blocked a Republican proposal in President Trump's massive tax-and-spending bill to sell off the agency's new electric vehicles and infrastructure and revoke remaining federal money. But efforts to halt the fleet's shift to clean energy continue in the name of cost savings. Donald Maston, president of the National Rural Letter Carriers' Assn., said canceling the program now would have the opposite effect, squandering millions of dollars. 'I think it would be shortsighted for Congress to now suddenly decide they're going to try to go backwards and take the money away for the EVs or stop that process, because that's just going to be a bunch of money on infrastructure that's been wasted,' he said. Beyond that, many in the scientific community fear the government could pass on an opportunity to reduce carbon emissions that contribute to global warming when urgent action is needed. A 2022 University of Michigan study found the new electric postal vehicles could cut total greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20 million tons over the predicted, cumulative 20-year lifetime of the trucks. That's a fraction of the more than 6 billion metric tons emitted annually in the United States, said Professor Gregory A. Keoleian, co-director of the university's Center for Sustainable Systems. But he said the push toward electric vehicles is critical and needs to accelerate, given the intensifying effects of climate change. 'We're already falling short of goals for reducing emissions,' Keoleian said. 'We've been making progress, but the actions being taken or proposed will really reverse decarbonization progress that has been made to date.' Many GOP lawmakers share Trump's criticism of the Biden-era green energy push and say the Postal Service spending should focus only on delivering mail. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) said that 'it didn't make sense for the Postal Service to invest so heavily in an all-electric force.' She said she will pursue legislation to rescind what is left of the $3 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act allocated to help cover the $10-billion cost of new postal vehicles. Ernst has called the EV initiative a 'boondoggle' and 'a textbook example of waste,' citing delays, high costs and concerns over cold-weather performance. 'You always evaluate the programs, see if they are working. But the rate at which the company that's providing those vehicles is able to produce them, they are so far behind schedule, they will never be able to fulfill that contract,' Ernst said during a recent appearance at the Iowa State Fair, referring to Wisconsin-based Oshkosh Defense. 'For now,' she added, 'gas-powered vehicles — use some ethanol in them — I think is wonderful.' Corn-based ethanol is a boon to Iowa's farmers, but the effort to reverse course has other Republican support. Rep. Michael Cloud (R-Texas), a co-sponsor of the rollback effort, has said the EV order should be canceled because the project 'has delivered nothing but delays, defective trucks and skyrocketing costs.' The Postal Service maintains that the production delay of the Next Generation Delivery Vehicles was 'very modest' and not unexpected. 'The production quantity ramp-up was planned for and intended to be very gradual in the early months to allow time for potential modest production or supplier issues to be successfully resolved,' spokesperson Kim Frum said. The independent, self-funded federal agency, which is paid for mostly by postage and product sales, is in the middle of a $40-billion, 10-year modernization and financial stabilization plan. The EV effort had the full backing of Democratic President Biden, who pledged to move toward an all-electric federal fleet of car and trucks. The 'Deliver for America' plan calls for modernizing the ground fleet, notably the Grumman Long Life Vehicle, which dates to 1987 and is very fuel-inefficient, at 9 mpg. The vehicles are well past their projected 24-year lifespan and are prone to breakdowns and even fires. 'Our mechanics are miracle workers,' said Mark Dimondstein, president of the American Postal Workers Union. 'The parts are not available. They fabricate them. They do the best they can.' The Postal Service announced in 2022 it would deploy at least 66,000 electric vehicles by 2028, including commercial off-the-shelf models, after years of deliberation and criticism it was moving too slowly to reduce emissions. By 2024, the agency was awarded a Presidential Sustainability Award for its efforts to electrify the largest fleet in the federal government. In 2021, Oshkosh Defense was awarded a contract for up to 165,000 battery electric and internal combustion engine Next Generation vehicles over 10 years. The first of the odd-looking trucks, with hoods resembling a duck's bill, began service in Georgia last year. Designed for greater package capacity, the trucks are equipped with airbags, blind-spot monitoring, collision sensors, 360-degree cameras and antilock brakes. There's also a new creature comfort: air-conditioning. Douglas Lape, special assistant to the president of the National Assn. of Letter Carriers and a former carrier, is among numerous postal employees who have had a say in the new design. He marvels at how Oshkosh designed and built a new vehicle, transforming an old North Carolina warehouse into a factory along the way. 'I was in that building when it was nothing but shelving,' he said. 'And now, being a completely functioning plant where everything is built in-house — they press the bodies in there, they do all of the assembly — it's really amazing, in my opinion.' The agency has so far ordered 51,500 New Generation vehicles, including 35,000 battery-powered vehicles. To date, it has received 300 battery vehicles and 1,000 gas-powered ones. Then-Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said in 2022 the agency expected to purchase chiefly zero-emissions delivery vehicles by 2026. It still needs some internal combustion engine vehicles that travel longer distances. Frum, the Postal Service spokesperson, said the planned electric vehicle purchases were 'carefully considered from a business perspective' and are being deployed to routes and facilities where they will save money. The agency has also received more than 8,200 of 9,250 Ford E-Transit electric vehicles it has ordered, she said. Ernst said it's fine for the Postal Service to use EVs already purchased. 'But you know what? We need to be smart about the way we are providing services through the federal government,' she said. 'And that was not a smart move.' Maxwell Woody, lead author of the University of Michigan study, made the opposite case. Postal vehicles, he said, have low average speeds and a high number of stops and starts that enable regenerative braking. Routes average under 30 miles and are known in advance, making planning easier. 'It's the perfect application for an electric vehicle,' he said, 'and it's a particularly inefficient application for an internal combustion engine vehicle.' Haigh writes for the Associated Press. AP writer Hannah Fingerhut in Des Moines contributed to this report.
