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USPS promotions may not be the most exciting part of planning a campaign—but saving on postage certainly helps.
For 2027, USPS has proposed five promotions, two stackable add-ons and three incentives. These programs are intended to reduce postage costs when mailers use specialty finishes, connect print to digital experiences, choose qualifying sustainable paper, grow mail volume or test direct mail for the first time.
Use this guide to compare the savings, timing, eligible mail and practical ways each program could work for your organization.
A quick note before we dive in: The 2027 programs are still being finalized, so dates, eligibility and technical requirements may change. Check back throughout summer 2026 for the latest updates as USPS releases additional guidance and final program details.
The Catalog Insights Promotion ended June 30, 2026 and is not returning as a promotion in 2027.
Catalog mailers may still have an opportunity to save through the returning Catalog Incentive, which provides $0.001 per qualifying piece. The savings structure is very different from the former 10% Catalog Insights Promotion, so the two programs should not be treated as interchangeable.
The Continuous Contact Promotion is not included in the proposed 2027 lineup.
Mailers that previously used it may want to explore other opportunities based on their campaign, including Integrated Technology, Informed Delivery or the Mail Growth Incentive.
Savings: 5% postage discount
Register: March 15–September 30, 2027
Runs: May 1–September 30, 2027
Impact Messaging is an entirely new promotion.
The qualifying message must focus on direct mail, postal offerings or mail-related best practices. A strong headline or call to action alone is not enough.
Business-to-business: A commercial printer sends a letter explaining how personalized mail can help a company reach prospects and support a larger campaign.
Business-to-consumer: A marketing services provider sends educational mail to local business owners about using direct mail for customer acquisition and retention.
Nonprofit: A professional association shares direct-mail fundraising tips with nonprofit communicators or development professionals.
The piece may promote your services, but it should also teach the recipient something meaningful about using mail.
Savings: 40% postage discount
Register: February 15–September 30, 2027
Runs: April 1–September 30, 2027
Up to 5,000 pieces per mailing
Up to 100,000 discounted pieces during the promotion period
Direct Mail Discovery is an entirely new promotion for businesses and organizations entering or returning to the mail channel.
Business-to-business: A SaaS company sends a flat mailer with onboarding materials and branded collateral to welcome a newly signed business customer and support a strong start to the relationship.
Business-to-consumer: A home services company introduces itself to households in its service area with a seasonal offer.
Nonprofit: A nonprofit organization sends a letter from its executive director to support a donor acquisition or membership campaign and re-engage its audience through direct mail.
A new campaign does not make an existing mailer “new.” The organization itself must meet the USPS new-mailer definition.
Savings: 5% postage discount
Register: February 15–December 31, 2027
Runs: April 1–December 31, 2027
Qualifying marketing messages may now appear on an insert included with the primary First-Class Mail communication.
That gives mailers more room to present the marketing message while keeping it separate from the bill, statement, notice or other primary communication.
Business-to-business: A financial services company includes an insert promoting treasury management with a business account communication.
Business-to-consumer: A healthcare organization includes a flu-shot reminder with clinic update.
Nonprofit: A membership organization includes information about an event, renewal opportunity or giving campaign with an annual report.
The bill, statement, notice or other communication must remain the primary purpose of the mailing. The advertising is the supporting act.
Savings: 3% for Tier 1 or 5% for Tier 2
Register: October 15, 2026–June 30, 2027
Runs: January 1–June 30, 2027
Tier 1: 3% for standard treatments and finishes
Tier 2: 5% for more complex finishes and techniques
Specialty inks, coatings, soft touch, embossing, pop-ups, interactive folds, zip strips and scratch-and-sniff features may qualify.
Final eligibility and tier assignments will be confirmed in the program guide.
Business-to-business: A manufacturer uses embossing or a textured coating to reinforce the quality of its materials.
Business-to-consumer: A home furnishings brand uses soft touch to evoke the feel of its products.
Nonprofit: A fundraising appeal uses an interactive fold to reveal a donor story or campaign result.
The physical feature should strengthen the message. Compare added production costs with the discount and potential campaign lift.
Savings: 5% postage discount
Register: November 15, 2026–December 31, 2027
Runs: Choose six consecutive months beginning and ending within 2027
Augmented reality, mixed reality, virtual reality, video in print, near-field communication, mobile shopping, voice integrations and qualifying artificial intelligence experiences may qualify.
Business-to-business: A manufacturer lets prospects explore equipment features through augmented reality.
Business-to-consumer: A retailer connects a mailpiece to an interactive product or mobile shopping experience.
Nonprofit: An organization links recipients to an immersive donor story or virtual facility tour.
A QR code alone may not do the heavy lifting. The digital experience should add something meaningful beyond the printed message.
Savings: 1% additional postage discount
Register: January 1–December 31, 2027
Runs: January 1–December 31, 2027
A branded digital image and linked call to action can create an additional impression before or around the time the physical piece arrives.
Business-to-business: Reinforce a prospecting letter with a campaign-specific landing page.
Business-to-consumer: Pair a mailed offer with a direct link to shop, register or book an appointment.
Nonprofit: Complement a fundraising appeal with a campaign image and donation link.
Informed Delivery is not a standalone promotion. It must be paired with an eligible base promotion.
Savings: 1% additional postage discount
Register: January 1–December 31, 2027
Runs: January 1–December 31, 2027
Final certification and documentation requirements will be included in the program guide.
Business-to-business: A company supports its environmental commitments with qualifying certified paper.
Business-to-consumer: A brand reinforces a responsible product or sourcing message.
Nonprofit: An organization aligns its fundraising materials with its environmental values.
Confirm the paper certification and documentation requirements before production. This is an add-on and must be paired with an eligible base promotion.
Informed Delivery and Sustainability are add-ons, not standalone promotions. A mailing must first qualify for an eligible base promotion before either add-on can be applied.
When all requirements are met, both add-ons may be used on the same qualifying mailing.
Savings: 20% discount
Runs: January 1–December 31, 2027
At least four different advertisers per mailpiece
At least 10 qualifying mailings annually
Marriage Mail is the classic “shared coupon packet” model. Multiple advertisers appear in one mailpiece, and that piece is mailed broadly across a route or neighborhood. Instead of targeting a narrow list of individual customers, Saturation and High Density Plus mailings are built to reach most or nearly all addresses in a defined delivery area.
Business-to-business: Local business service providers participate in a shared piece targeting small-business owners.
Business-to-consumer: Restaurants, retailers and home services companies combine offers in one household mailpiece.
Nonprofit: A community organization participates alongside local businesses to promote an event or service.
The individual advertiser generally does not qualify independently. The combined mailpiece and mailing program must meet all requirements.
Credit: 30% on qualifying incremental volume
Baseline: January–December 2026
Performance Period: January–December 2027
Register: March–May 2027
The credit applies only to qualifying volume above the applicable USPS-established baseline or threshold.
Business-to-business: Expand a successful prospecting or account-development program.
Business-to-consumer: Increase acquisition, loyalty or seasonal campaign volume.
Nonprofit: Grow donor-acquisition, renewal, membership or fundraising mail.
Registration, minimum-volume and credit-use rules will apply. Review expected volume before the registration window closes.
Incentive: $0.001 per qualifying piece
Effective: January 1, 2027
Expected to run through: December 31, 2027
Business-to-business: A manufacturer mails a product catalog to customers, dealers or purchasing teams.
Business-to-consumer: A retailer mails a seasonal or annual product catalog.
Nonprofit: A museum, school or association presents merchandise, programs or paid offerings in a qualifying catalog format.
This is not the former 10% Catalog Insights Promotion. Final 2027 catalog requirements are still pending.
Not every mail class, piece format or base promotion will qualify for every combination. Confirm eligibility before building stacked savings into the campaign budget.
The strongest promotion strategy starts with the audience and campaign goal—not the discount.
Before selecting a promotion or incentive, consider:
Planning early gives your team more time to choose the right format, develop qualifying creative and complete any required approvals.
Thysse can help you evaluate promotion opportunities, prepare mailing data and manage creative, production and postal execution.
The 2027 promotions, add-ons and incentives described here remain proposed and are subject to Postal Regulatory Commission review, final USPS approval and forthcoming program guides. Dates, discounts, eligible mail categories and technical requirements may change.
