Why Is My Address Invalid On USPS?

Why Is My Address Invalid On Usps

Despite being one of the world’s most efficient postal systems, the United States Postal Service (USPS) isn’t perfect. It’s estimated that over 25% of mail pieces are delivered with some kind of address error.

There are many reasons why an address is considered invalid by the USPS, and it’s important to know what to do if your addresses get returned as invalid. Whether it’s because of an address that has been falsified or because of the way a USPS address validation API is set up, there are steps you can take to make sure your mail isn’t being returned as invalid.

The most common reason that a mail piece comes back as invalid is because it has incorrect information. This could be anything from a misspelled street name to an incorrect house number or zip code.

Another common reason is that the data doesn’t match the official address database maintained by the USPS. This can be because the address isn’t registered with the USPS or because it’s a new building or apartment.

When an address is compared against the official USPS database, it’s called “validating”. It involves a process of parsing and standardization, where the address is taken from a specific data set, standardized, and then matched to a specific address within that same data set.

When this process is done correctly, a matching address is returned as valid and marked as a real, active address. It’s a critical step in the address verification process that is used by every address provider and ensures deliverability.