A) Business Reply Legend Box
This enclosed box contains the following:
- The words BUSINESS REPLY MAIL in upper case letters at least 3/16" high.
- The words FIRST-CLASS MAIL PERMIT NO. followed by the permit number and issuing post office name (city and state), also in capital letters.
B) Postage Paid Line
POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE must appear in upper case letters below the business reply legend box.
C) Company Logo
A company logo may appear in the address block, but the logo may not extend below the top of the delivery address line or interfere with any of the required business reply elements.
D) Facing Identification Mark (FIM)
Vertical bars printed on the top right portion of the address side of the piece. This postal barcode is used in computerized mail processing. A type B or type C FIM is required on all BRM postcard and letter-size pieces so computerized cancellation equipment can properly align, postmark and direct the piece. A type B FIM is for pieces without a barcode, type C for pieces with barcodes. (Type A FIMs are used for courtesy reply mail.)
FIM placement: A clear zone must be maintained, containing only the appropriate FIM pattern. The right boundary must be 1.75" from the right edge of the piece. The left boundary must be 3" from the right edge. The bar tops cannot be any lower than 0.125" from the top edge, and may extend over the envelope's top edge to the back. Bar bottoms should be within plus or minus 0.125" of the bottom edge of the clear zone. The clear zone is 0.625" deep, measured from the top edge of the piece. The right-most FIM bar should be 2" (plus or minus 0.125") from the right edge of the piece. Bars should be 0.5" minimum and 0.75" maximum in height and at least 0.03125" plus or minus 0.008" wide.
E) Postage Endorsement Box
The endorsement NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES should appear in the upper right corner on the front of the piece enclosed in a box, but must not extend any further than 1.75" from the right edge of the piece.
F) Horizontal Bars
A series of horizontal bars should appear immediately beneath the NO POSTAGE endorsement. Uniform in size and evenly spaced, these bars must be at least 1" in length, 0.0625" to 0.1875" in thickness. They must not extend below the delivery address line located directly above the the city, state and ZIP Code. At least 0.5" clearance between the ZIP Code and the horizontal bars must be maintained.
G) Postnet Barcode
This barcode is a series of tall and short bars that represents the 9-digit ZIP + 4 code. A free camera-ready positive can be obtained from your local Postal Business Center.
Postnet Barcode Position: This barcode appears on the address side within a clear read zone. This area must be free of any other printing. A clear zone extends up 5.125" from the bottom-right edge and at least 4.5" leftward from the piece's right edge. Within this clear zone, the left-most bar of the barcode should be no more than 4" and not less the 3.25" from the right edge. The bottom of the barcode must be 0.25" (plus or minus 0.0625") from the piece's bottom edge. The barcode must be completely within the barcode area.
Postal regulations change. To confirm current postage rates, size requirements and other valuable mailing information, visit the USPS site or go to your local post office.
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