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*Jan. 7, 2026*




*U.S. Postal Service Rule Changes: Postmarks and Processing*

We are writing to inform you of a federal rule change that may impact all licensees. Through news stories, we recently learned of changes by the U.S. Postal Service [ [link removed] ] (USPS) related to mail processing and postmarks. We are sharing this information to make sure you are aware.

The changes took effect Dec. 24, 2025 and include:


* Now a postmark explicitly means the date that the USPS processed the item, which could be days later than when it was mailed. 

* The postmark now reflects the date an envelope is "first processed" by an automated USPS sorting machine, "potentially days after it was dropped off – not the actual drop-off date."

 

The LCB, and many other agencies, have rules, processes, and timelines that are specific to postmark dates. The changes could result in late fees and penalties for anyone mailing time-sensitive documents or payments when a postmark is used to prove a deadline was met.

The changes mean that if you need to get a payment, official document, form, or other LCB-required correspondence submitted by a specific date or deadline, you may want to add extra time to allow for any delay between mail drop off and when a postmark is stamped.

 

*Taxes and reporting due dates in state rules: postmarks
 *

*Spirits: *WAC 314-02-109: [ [link removed] ]

(c) Submitted, with payment due, to the board on or before the twenty-fifth day following the tax quarter (e.g., Quarter 1 (Jan., Feb., Mar.) report is due April 25th). When the twenty-fifth day of the month falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday, the filing must be postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service no later than the next postal business day.

 

*Cannabis: *WAC 314-55-089: [ [link removed] ]

(c) Submitted, with payment due, to the LCB on or before the 20th day of each month, for the previous month. (For example, a report summarizing transactions for the month of January is due by February 20th.) When the 20th day of the month falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday, the filing must be postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service no later than the next postal business day.

 

*Beer/Wine : *WAC 314-19-015: [ [link removed] ]

c) Submitted, with the tax due, to the board on or before the 20th day of the month following the end of the reporting period, for the previous reporting period (for example, a monthly report listing transactions for the month of January is due by February 20; an annual report listing transactions for 2012 is due by January 20, 2013). When the twentieth day of the month falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday, the filing must be postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service no later than the next postal business day.

 








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This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board · 1025 Union Avenue SE · P.O. Box 43088 ·  Washington  98504-3088 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]

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