On April 9, 2025, the United States Postal Service formally filed their 2026 proposed postal rates to become effective July 13, 2025, once approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC).
Most notably, four of the current 2025 promotions continue into 2026, but each will have a 5% incentive. The Reply Mail IMbA promotion will be discontinued for next year.
Here is a more detailed overview of the proposed incentives for 2026, including an exciting new promotion for cataloguers:
Catalog-Specific Promotion
Designed exclusively for cataloguers!
The Postal Service is proposing a NEW promotion for catalogs. The promotion will be a 10% discount applicable to mail pieces that meet the definition of a catalog.*
The catalog promotion will run for nine months starting on October 1, 2025 running through June 30, 2026. The current Catalog Incentive of $0.001 p/p will be terminated as of July 13, 2025.
MH Insight: Add-ons may be Informed Delivery (+1%) and Sustainability (+1%) for up to 12% total. Please note that the USPS’ definition of “catalog” includes flats, slim jims, and certain letter-rate booklets.
*A catalog is a bound (stapled, stitched, glued or fastened together along one edge) mail piece with at least 12 pages, providing an organized listing of products or services offered for sale. A catalog mail piece may be letter-shaped, flat-shaped or parcel-shaped, and is mailed at USPS Marketing Mail rates. The product listing must include images, photographs or illustrations of the products or services, descriptive details, fulfillment information; and prices, or contain an alternate method for the reader to determine prices. Catalogs must contain enough information to allow an order to be placed, e.g., an order form, a phone number, a web address, or the means to access a web address. Catalogs will also enable fulfillment options for the products or services offered for sale.
Additional Proposed Promotions & Incentives for 2026
Tactile, Sensory and Interactive: 5%
- Promotion period: January 1, 2026 – June 30, 2026
- Marketing Mail / First-Class Letters & Flats
Integrated Technology: 5%
- Promotion period: USPS will again allow a mailer to choose their six-month time period
- Marketing Mail / First-Class Letters & Flats
Continuous Contact: 5%
- Promotion period: April 1, 2026 – September 30, 2026
- Marketing Mail Letters & Flats
First-Class Mail Advertising Promotion: 5%
- Promotion period: September 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026
- First-Class Letters & Flats
Add-Ons (Can Be Combined)
Mailers may take one or both Add-Ons at any time throughout the year as long as they are participating in another USPS Promotion.
Informed Delivery: 1%
- Registration period: November 15, 2025 – December 31, 2026
- Marketing Mail / First-Class Letters & Flats
Sustainability: 1%
- Registration period: November 15, 2025 – December 31, 2026
- Marketing Mail / First-Class Letters & Flats
- Discount for using sustainable mailing materials, could be envelope or letter
- Will require evidence of sustainability certification on the mail piece
First-Class and Marketing Mail Growth Incentive
The Postal Service is planning to continue the Mail Growth Incentive for both First-Class and Marketing Mail in 2026. It is proposed that mailers receive a 30% postage credit for qualifying volume in CY26 that is more than CY25 baseline volume, or 1M pieces, whichever is higher. The incentive will again be given as postage credits to be issued quarterly after June, September, and December 2026. The registration period will end May 31, 2025.
