# Mail tracking: IV-MTR, IMb Tracing and Informed Delivery

Mailers track letters, flats and their containers in [Informed Visibility Mail Tracking & Reporting](https://postalref.com/products/iv-mtr.md), IV-MTR, a free USPS application built on scan data.[^1] Its logical delivery events show, in near real time, when pieces reach the recipient.[^2] [Informed Delivery](https://postalref.com/products/informed-delivery.md) shows consumers images of their letter mail before it arrives, and mailers can add images and a link.[^3]

Updated November 5, 2026. 80 sources.

## Questions

### What is USPS Informed Visibility Mail Tracking?

[Informed Visibility Mail Tracking & Reporting](https://postalref.com/products/iv-mtr.md), IV-MTR, is a free USPS application that gives mailers near real-time tracking data for domestic-bound mail.[^1][^4] It tracks letters and flats at all levels, from each piece to the container that holds it, using scan data.[^1] International-bound and package tracking data is not in IV-MTR.[^1]

### How do you track a USPS Intelligent Mail barcode?

A mailer queries a single Intelligent Mail barcode through the [IV-MTR](https://postalref.com/products/iv-mtr.md) API, which returns the piece's attributes and handling events.[^5] That query needs the full barcode, and a separate query finds a piece from its [Mailer ID](https://postalref.com/products/mid.md) and serial number.[^5] The API holds 30 days of data after the scan, and a one-time query in the IV-MTR web application reaches back 120 days.[^5]

### How do you track presorted First-Class Mail?

Commercial mailers track barcoded First-Class Mail letters and flats in [IV-MTR](https://postalref.com/products/iv-mtr.md), with the bundles, trays and containers that hold them.[^4] Each piece's [Service Type Identifier](https://postalref.com/products/stids.md) depends on its mail class, whether it is Full-Service and whether the mailer wants IV-MTR tracking data.[^6][^7] Without the mailing's [eDoc](https://postalref.com/products/edoc.md), its electronic documentation, IV-MTR has only each piece's own scans, not events passed down from trays or generated from business rules.[^5][^8][^9]

### What is the purpose of USPS Informed Delivery?

[Informed Delivery](https://postalref.com/products/informed-delivery.md) is a free, optional USPS notification service that lets eligible consumers preview their letter-sized mail and manage packages scheduled to arrive soon.[^10] USPS images the address side of letters and cards on its automation equipment and shares the images with users before delivery.[^3] Mailers can add content to a piece's preview that lets users act on it at once.[^10]

### Do you have to pay for USPS Informed Delivery?

No: [Informed Delivery](https://postalref.com/products/informed-delivery.md) is free for consumers, and USPS offers mailers its basic campaign functionality for no additional fee.[^10] From January 1 to December 31, 2026, the [Informed Delivery Add-On/Upgrade Promotion](https://postalref.com/guides/promotions.md) takes an extra one percent off qualifying postage for mailings with Informed Delivery campaigns.[^11] To get it, a mailer must already receive an eligible base promotion.[^11]

### Can you get USPS Informed Delivery for a business or a PO Box?

Yes: [Informed Delivery](https://postalref.com/products/informed-delivery.md) gives eligible residential, business and PO Box consumers digital previews of their mail and lets them manage their packages.[^12][^3] Mailers' campaign content reaches users by email notification, on an online dashboard or in the USPS mobile app.[^3]

### Does Informed Delivery show all mail?

No: a piece appears in [Informed Delivery](https://postalref.com/products/informed-delivery.md) only when it is automation compatible and scanned on USPS automation equipment.[^3] Users see grayscale images of letter mail, and a campaign's representative image can take the place of a piece's grayscale image.[^3]

### What are the Informed Delivery ride-along image specs?

An Informed Delivery ride-along image is a clickable color JPG image in RGB, at most 300 pixels wide, 200 pixels high and 200 KB.[^3][^13][^14] Every campaign needs one, and the [Informed Delivery API](https://postalref.com/products/informed-delivery-api-application-programming-interface.md) takes it encoded as BASE64.[^3][^13] A representative image, required for flats, may be up to 780 by 500 pixels and 200 KB.[^3][^14]

## How it fits together

Tracking starts with the barcode: an [Intelligent Mail barcode](https://postalref.com/guides/intelligent-mail.md) is the USPS barcode used to sort and track letters and flats.[^15] [IV-MTR](https://postalref.com/products/iv-mtr.md) shows only mail objects that carry one, or an Intelligent Mail tray or container barcode.[^16] USPS mail processing machines, handheld scanners and location tracking devices generate scan data as mail moves.[^17] IV-MTR turns the scans into handling events at every level, from single pieces to whole containers.[^2][^1] Before IV-MTR, IMb Tracing gave mailers piece and bundle data, and PostalOne! gave container and handling unit data.[^1]

Mailers get the data by one-time query, by recurring data feed or through the IV-MTR API.[^18][^5] Roles set what a user can do, and permissions set whose data the user sees.[^19] Both work inside a [CRID](https://postalref.com/products/crid.md), the USPS code that identifies a business at a specific location.[^19][^20] Data delegation shares data between a company's own CRIDs or with other companies.[^19] IV-MTR also passes on data from other USPS systems, such as [Mail Quality Data](https://postalref.com/products/mail-quality-data-through-iv-mtr.md), the error detail behind the Mailer Scorecard.[^21][^22]

USPS measures how many days [Full-Service](https://postalref.com/guides/full-service.md) mail takes from entry to delivery, against its published service standards.[^23][^24] The IV-MTR scan for a container's entry into the USPS network is also the scan for Start-the-Clock, the recorded time a mailpiece enters the mailstream.[^25][^26] [Service Performance Measurement Mail Exclusions](https://postalref.com/products/service-performance-measurement-spm-mail-exclusions.md) gives Full-Service mailers information and tools on the mail left out.[^27]

[Informed Delivery](https://postalref.com/products/informed-delivery.md) turns the images USPS takes of letters on its automation equipment into previews for consumers.[^3] Mailers enter campaigns for their pieces by hand in the Mailer Campaign Portal, Informed Delivery's portal for mailers.[^28][^29] They can also send campaigns in eDoc or manage them through the [Informed Delivery API](https://postalref.com/products/informed-delivery-api-application-programming-interface.md).[^30][^31] IV-MTR carries each campaign's results, such as email opens, click-through rates and delivery dates.[^29]

## Mail objects and handling events

A mail object is any unit IV-MTR tracks, from a single mailpiece to a container or the transportation that carries it.[^32] As USPS processes mailpieces, it nests them in trays and containers, de-nests them and re-nests them.[^1] IV-MTR captures these nesting associations to track mail end to end.[^33]

A handling event is any change in a mail object's state, such as sorting, scanning or transporting.[^34] Each carries a three-digit operation code that names the processing operation behind it.[^25] Actual handling events come from physical scans, and assumed ones from nesting associations.[^8] A logical handling event is one the system generates from business rules.[^8]

Assumed handling events pass one scan to the mail inside: when a tray is scanned, IV-MTR can assume that scan for every piece in it.[^9] They depend on the mailer's eDoc for its containers, trays and bundles, and on USPS nesting information for USPS containers and trays.[^35]

IV-MTR calculates each piece's Predicted Delivery Date, when it is most likely to go out for delivery, at its first enroute handling event.[^36][^37] An enroute event is one outside the destination facility.[^36] IV-MTR recalculates the date at each later enroute or destination handling event.[^36]

1. IV-MTR takes the event's date, plus one day if the event came after its operation's clearance cutoff.[^36]
2. For an enroute event, it adds the service standard from that facility to the destination ZIP Code.[^36]
3. It moves the result to the next Postal Service delivery date, if necessary.[^36]

At a last processing event in the destination facility, IV-MTR takes the first and last steps and adds no service standard.[^38]

A logical out for delivery event shows that a bundle reached the delivery unit, was distributed and is expected to go out for delivery.[^39] At the delivery unit, containers with mail for that day's delivery are scanned as `Distributed`.[^39] Bundles that did not go out for delivery that day are scanned as `Curtailed`.[^39] When the unit scans its `Inventory Complete` barcode, IV-MTR creates the event for each bundle with a `Distributed` scan but no `Curtailed` scan.[^39]

A logical delivery event, with operation code `517`, is an implied delivery.[^39] Its time is the moment its trigger occurs.[^39] For on-street delivery, the trigger is the carrier's device leaving the geofence for the piece's ZIP+4.[^40]

- **mail object**: “Generic term referring to a mailpiece, bundle, handling unit (tray, tub, or sack), container, or transportation”[^32]
- **nesting**: “Insertion of smaller mail objects into a larger mail object. The smaller mail objects are then referred to as nested mail objects, while the larger mail object is then referred to as a composite mail object.”[^32]
- **actual handling event**, also called actual scan: “Capture of a scan or other handling of a physical mail object”[^34]
- **operation code**, also called opcode, Scan Event Code: “Each handling event has a three-digit Scan Event Code, or operation code (opcode), that describes the type of processing operation that generated the event.”[^25]
- **Predicted Delivery Date**, also called PDD: “The Predicted Delivery Date (PDD) indicates when a mailpiece is most likely to go out for delivery.”[^36]
- **logical out for delivery event**: “A logical out for delivery event indicates that a bundle has arrived and been distributed at the Delivery Unit and is expected to be out for delivery.”[^39]
- **handling event**, also called scan event: “Any change in the state of a mail object including actions such as assembling, processing, sorting, scanning, staging, and transporting. May also be referred to as a scan event.”[^34]
- **assumed handling event**: “a system-generated event that is an implied handling of a nested mail object based on a handling event associated to the composite mail object”[^35]
- **logical handling event**: “System-generated event for a mail object based on business rules. For example, the system could create a logical handling event for “Out for Delivery” based on an actual handling event of “Arrived at Unit.””[^34]
- **Logical Delivery Events**, also called LDEs: “Implied event indicating when the mailpiece should have been delivered.”[^41]

## IMb Tracing

IMb Tracing, formerly CONFIRM, was the USPS system that gave mailers automated piece and bundle tracking data.[^1] That system is retired, and IV-MTR holds the tracking for pieces, bundles, trays and containers in one application.[^42][^33] A one-time query or data feed can still deliver the retired system's format, the IMb Tracing legacy file format, which holds piece data only.[^42][^43]

Destination IMb Tracing covered outgoing mail and told a mailer when it would reach its destination.[^15] Origin IMb Tracing covered incoming mail, so a business could expect customers' checks, replies or orders.[^15] In IV-MTR, a user who checks Include Origin Scans can add a routing code mapped to the mailer's CRID to a query.[^44]

The [Service Type Identifier](https://postalref.com/products/stids.md), STID, is the barcode field that identifies the services requested on a piece.[^45] A mailer picks it by mail class and by the [Address Change Service](https://postalref.com/guides/undeliverable-mail.md) and IV-MTR services it wants.[^7][^6] In general, an IV-MTR data feed carries data only for Tracing STIDs, the ones the STID Table lists with IV-MTR.[^46] The IV-MTR API returns a piece's data whether or not its STID is a tracing one.[^5]

First-Class Mail STIDs with IV-MTR, by option and service level.

| STID | Group | Option | Service level | Informed Visibility Mail Tracking & Reporting |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `310` |  | No Address Corrections – No Printed Endorsements | Basic or Nonautomation | With IV® MTR |
| `270` |  | No Address Corrections – No Printed Endorsements | Full-Service | With IV® MTR |
| `040` |  | Manual Corrections ** | Basic or Nonautomation | With IV® MTR |
| `220` | OneCode ACS® | Address Service Requested Opt 1 | Basic or Nonautomation | With IV® MTR |
| `140` | OneCode ACS® | Address Service Requested Opt 2 | Basic or Nonautomation | With IV® MTR |
| `502` | OneCode ACS® | Change Service Requested Opt 1 ♻ | Basic or Nonautomation | With IV® MTR |
| `240` | OneCode ACS® | Change Service Requested Opt 2 ♻ | Basic or Nonautomation | With IV® MTR |
| `340` | OneCode ACS® | Return Service Requested Opt 2 | Basic or Nonautomation | With IV® MTR |
| `344` | OneCode ACS® | Temp-Return Service Requested Opt 2 | Basic or Nonautomation | With IV® MTR |
| `314` | Full-Service ACS™ | Address Service Requested Opt 1 | Full-Service | With IV® MTR |
| `141` | Full-Service ACS™ | Address Service Requested Opt 2 | Full-Service | With IV® MTR |
| `514` | Full-Service ACS™ | Change Service Requested Opt 1 ♻ | Full-Service | With IV® MTR |
| `241` | Full-Service ACS™ | Change Service Requested Opt 2 ♻ | Full-Service | With IV® MTR |
| `342` | Full-Service ACS™ | Return Service Requested Opt 2 | Full-Service | With IV® MTR |
| `222` | Full-Service ACS™ | Temp-Return Service Requested Opt 2 | Full-Service | With IV® MTR |
| `500` | Traditional ACS™ | Address Service Requested Opt 1** | Basic or Nonautomation | With IV® MTR |
| `503` | Traditional ACS™ | Address Service Requested Opt 1** | Full-Service | With IV® MTR |
| `506` | Traditional ACS™ | Address Service Requested Opt 2** | Basic or Nonautomation | With IV® MTR |
| `508` | Traditional ACS™ | Address Service Requested Opt 2** | Full-Service | With IV® MTR |
| `515` | Traditional ACS™ | Change Service Requested Opt 1** ♻ | Basic or Nonautomation | With IV® MTR |
| `519` | Traditional ACS™ | Change Service Requested Opt 1** ♻ | Full-Service | With IV® MTR |
| `530` | Traditional ACS™ | Change Service Requested Opt 2** ♻ | Basic or Nonautomation | With IV® MTR |
| `511` | Traditional ACS™ | Change Service Requested Opt 2** ♻ | Full-Service | With IV® MTR |
| `534` | Traditional ACS™ | Return Service Requested Opt 2** | Basic or Nonautomation | With IV® MTR |
| `536` | Traditional ACS™ | Return Service Requested Opt 2** | Full-Service | With IV® MTR |
| `538` | Traditional ACS™ | Temp-Return Service Requested Opt 2** | Basic or Nonautomation | With IV® MTR |
| `544` | Traditional ACS™ | Temp-Return Service Requested Opt 2** | Full-Service | With IV® MTR |

27 codes in the Service Type IDentifier (STID) Table, effective January 21, 2024, where Table is First-Class Mail® and Informed Visibility Mail Tracking & Reporting is With IV® MTR.

An Origin IMb Tracing barcode need not include a Mailer ID.[^45] The mailer identifies each piece with a 15-digit Origin IMb Tracing Customer Number instead.[^45] That number may be any digits, even all zeros, if the barcode's STID is associated with Origin IMb Tracing.[^45] The barcode's delivery point ZIP Code is the subscriber's ID for Origin IMb Tracing.[^45]

Some reply mail STIDs form a group, [Reply Mail by ZIP](https://postalref.com/guides/reply-mail.md#artwork-and-barcodes).[^47] On a piece with one of these, IV-MTR uses the barcode's routing code to decide who sees the data.[^48] It shows the data to the CRIDs associated with that routing code.[^49]

- **Destination IMb Tracing**, also called Destination Confirm: “Destination IMb Tracing is for outgoing mail that gives you advanced information about when you mail will reach its destination.”[^15]
- **Origin IMb Tracing**, also called Origin Confirm: “Origin IMb Tracing for incoming mail lets you anticipate when customers’ checks, replies, or orders are on the way back to you.”[^15]
- **IMb Tracing Legacy File Format**: “Legacy IMb Tracing format with pre-defined data fields”[^50]
- **Scan Data**, also called Mail Tracking (Scan) Data, Mail Tracking (Scan): “mail tracking data that is generated by Postal processing and tracking equipment, including mail processing machines, handheld scanners, and location tracking devices”[^17]

## Queries, data feeds and the API

A one-time query is an ad hoc search that any IV-MTR user can run, for data up to 120 days old.[^18] A data feed is a recurring subscription that sends results at a set interval, from the time it is set up forward.[^18] IV-MTR keeps scan-level tracking data for 120 days.[^51]

Online View shows a one-time query's results without downloading a file.[^42] Online Download makes files and lists them in an output history to download.[^52] Send to Address sends a query's files to a server by Secure File Transfer Protocol.[^53][^52] IV-MTR can also push data to the mailer's web service, or the web service pulls it.[^52] A server or web service must first be in the IV-MTR address book.[^54]

A saved report stores a query's whole set of choices, from the entities it covers to the data fields it returns.[^55] Mailers reuse saved reports, or saved portions such as entities or data fields, in queries, data feeds and data delegation rules.[^55] A public saved report is open to all the owning CRID's IV-MTR users, and a private one only to its maker.[^55]

The IV-MTR API connects a mailer's web or mobile applications to near real-time IV-MTR data without the overhead of data feeds.[^5] Besides single-barcode and job queries, it lets users with very large data feeds or delegations update them faster.[^5] API data is available for 30 days after the scan date.[^5] The API processes at most 500 requests a minute for each CRID.[^56]

- **saved report**: “a set of entities (CRIDs, MIDs, routing codes, and/or STIDs), mail object and handling event types, filters, and data fields for which to receive data through a one-time query or data feed”[^57]
- **Saved Entity**, also called Saved Entities: “a set of selected CRIDs, MIDs, routing codes, and/or STIDs for which you want to receive mail tracking data”[^55]
- **Saved Filter**: “A saved filter is a set of data field filters that limit the mail tracking data returned in a one-time query or data feed or available in a data delegation rule.”[^58]
- **Saved View**: “a set of data fields, in a specified order, that you can receive through a one-time query or data feed”[^59]
- **Online View**: “allows you to view the results of a one-time query without downloading a file”[^42]
- **Online Download**, also called Prepare for Data Download (Online Download), Data Download: “IV-MTR will display the output files within the IV-MTR application, where you can download them”[^60]
- **Send to Address**: “The application prepares a file or files of the query results in your selected format and sends the file to an SFTP server.”[^53]
- **Address Book**: “In the address book, you can save server locations and people’s contact information for use within the application.”[^61]
- **One-Time Query**, also called OTQ, one-time queries: “a one-time (ad hoc) search for a particular set of records”[^18]
- **data feed**, also called IV-MTR data feeds, Data Feed (Subscription): “a recurring search (subscription) that provides results at a specified interval”[^18]

## Roles and data delegation

To use IV-MTR, a user needs a [Business Customer Gateway](https://postalref.com/products/business-customer-gateway.md) account and then requests access to IV-MTR.[^62][^63] The request goes to the CRID's Business Service Administrator, its BSA, and any BSA Delegates.[^64][^65] The BSA has the highest level of access and grants other users access to the CRID.[^65] A BSA Delegate is a user who isn't the BSA but has been granted the BSA's powers for the CRID.[^65] Either one approves or denies the request and assigns one of five user levels.[^65]

Roles give a user functions, and permissions give the user visibility of particular CRIDs, Mailer IDs or routing codes.[^19] IV-MTR has five application roles, such as the Subscription Manager, who creates and manages a CRID's data feeds.[^66] A role assigned at the CRID level covers every Mailer ID that belongs or will belong to the CRID.[^66] Only a BSA, a BSA Delegate or a Subscription Manager can create a data feed.[^18]

> To manage data delegations, a user must be the IV-MTR BSA, a BSA Delegate, or a Data Delegation Manager for the CRID.[^67]

**Must.** To manage a CRID's data delegations, a user must be its IV-MTR BSA, a BSA Delegate or a Data Delegation Manager.

Data delegation shares data with another CRID or Mailer ID: the side that shares is the delegator, and the side that receives is the receiver.[^68] Scan data can be shared at the CRID or Mailer ID level.[^68] Each data type needs its own delegation.[^69] Organizations with IV-MTR accounts set up delegations themselves, without contacting USPS.[^68] When one side has no IV-MTR access, the [IV Solutions Center](https://postalref.com/guides/getting-help.md) can help set the delegation up.[^70]

- **permissions**: “permissions provide data visibility to particular CRIDs, MIDs, or routing codes”[^19]
- **CRID-level role**: “When a role is assigned at the CRID level, the user can perform the role’s functions for an entire CRID, including all MIDs that belong, or will belong, to that CRID.”[^66]
- **Address Book Manager**: “Manages a CRID’s address book”[^66]
- **Report Manager**: “Creates and manages a CRID’s public saved reports and portions of reports”[^66]
- **Roles and Permissions Manager**: “Assigns roles and permissions for a CRID or MID”[^66]
- **IV-MTR BSA**, also called IV-MTR Business Service Administrator: “The IV-MTR Business Service Administrator (BSA) is responsible for all administrative actions in IVMTR”[^71]
- **Subscription Manager**: “Creates and manages a CRID’s data feeds (subscriptions)”[^66]
- **Data Delegation Manager**: “Manages data delegation for a CRID or MID”[^66]
- **Data Delegation**, also called data delegation functionality: “Data delegation is used to share data between CRIDs—to provide visibility of a CRID or MID’s data to another CRID or MID’s users.”[^19]

## Mail quality and service measurement

Mail Quality Data is the uncapped error detail from the [Mailer Scorecard](https://postalref.com/products/mailer-scorecard.md), which mailers receive through IV-MTR.[^22] It is pass-through data that IV-MTR does not generate itself.[^72] It comes only through data feeds, with no history.[^72] It is delegated only at the CRID level.[^73]

Service performance is the number of days mail takes from the mailer's point of entry to delivery by USPS.[^23] Start-the-Clock is the recorded time a mailpiece enters the mailstream, usually from a scan of a container or piece barcode.[^26] In IV-MTR, the `Entered at USPS` scan marks a container's induction and is the scan used for Start-the-Clock.[^25]

Some Full-Service mail is not measured, and each piece left out gets an exclusion reason.[^24] Mailers reach the SPM Exclusions by CRID application through the Business Customer Gateway.[^27] USPS names four exclusions as the top preventable ones.[^24] One is a duplicate barcode: a piece whose barcode is not unique within 45 days is excluded.[^24]

- **MQD Data Feeds**: “subscriptions that allow you to receive MQD at intervals you select”[^72]
- **Pass-through data**: “non-scan data that is generated by other Postal systems and provisioned through the IV-MTR application”[^21]
- **service performance**: “In general, the time it takes mail to enter and exit the mailstream measured in the number of days from the point of entry by the mailer to the point of delivery by USPS.”[^23]
- **Start-the-Clock**, also called STC: “The recorded date and time when a mailpiece enters the mailstream, usually captured by scanning a container or mailpiece barcode.”[^26]

## Informed Delivery previews and campaigns

USPS images the address side of every letter and card that runs through its automation equipment.[^3] Informed Delivery users see these grayscale images in the Daily Digest email before the mail arrives.[^3][^10] A Mail Delivery Notification email tells a user when the mail has arrived at the delivery point.[^10]

> Therefore, a mailpiece must be automation compatible and scanned through USPS automation equipment to be presented to an Informed Delivery user.[^3]

**Must.** A mailpiece must be automation compatible and scanned on USPS automation equipment, or Informed Delivery users never see it.

An interactive campaign gives a piece supplemental content: a ride-along image, a target URL and a representative image.[^3] Every campaign needs the ride-along image, a clickable color image that leads to the target URL.[^3] The representative image is a color image that replaces the piece's grayscale image.[^3] Flats need one, and letters may have one.[^3]

A campaign treatment is the set of images and target URL applied to a piece's barcode.[^29] When scan and image data arrive from mail processing equipment, Informed Delivery matches each barcode's Mailer ID and serial number to a campaign.[^29] It then applies that campaign's treatment to the piece for users to see.[^29] A campaign is set at one of two levels: MID Level, for every piece whose barcode holds the campaign's Mailer ID, or Serial-Range Level, for pieces with that Mailer ID and its serial numbers.[^74] A MID Level campaign can be set up in the Mailer Campaign Portal or in Mail.dat, but not in Mail.XML.[^74]

Submitting campaigns in eDoc removes manual entry in the Mailer Campaign Portal and reduces errors.[^28] The Informed Delivery API lets mailers and shippers manage mail and package campaigns from their own front-end applications.[^31] Pre-campaign analysis and post-campaign reports are in the Mailer Campaign Portal.[^29] IV-MTR carries the post-campaign data, including email opens, click-throughs and delivery dates.[^29]

- **Informed Delivery**, also called ID: “Informed Delivery is a free, optional feature that gives eligible residential, business, and PO Box™ consumers the ability to digitally preview their mail and manage their packages.”[^12]
- **campaign treatment**: “Campaign treatment is defined as a set of images (Ride-Along Image and Representative Image) and the Target URL that are applied to a mailpiece IMb.”[^29]
- **Ride-along Image**: “The required Ride-along Image is a clickable color image that directs the user to the Target URL.”[^3]
- **Representative Image**, also called Replacement Image: “The Representative Image (available only on mail campaigns) is a color image chosen by the mailer that will be used in place of the scanned grayscale image of the mailpiece.”[^3]
- **Informed Delivery Post Campaign**, also called IDPC, Informed Delivery Post-Campaign (IDPC) data, Informed Delivery Post-Campaign (IDPC) Detailed Data, Informed Delivery (IDPC), IDPC data: “processing, open, and click-through results for Informed Delivery interactive campaigns”[^21]

## What goes wrong

- IV-MTR holds no international-bound or [package tracking](https://postalref.com/guides/package-tracking.md) data.[^1]
- Mailings documented in Postal Wizard, the online tool small-volume mailers use to submit postage statements, get only actual handling events in IV-MTR.[^75][^76][^77] They get no assumed or logical events, and no tracking by Job ID, the Mail.dat identifier of a mailing's eDoc.[^67][^78] Those need [eDoc](https://postalref.com/guides/edoc.md) sent in Mail.dat or Mail.XML.[^67]
- A [single-piece query](#data) without eDoc returns only actual handling events, because assumed and logical events need eDoc.[^5]
- The IV-MTR API's single-piece query returns no data for [Business Reply Mail](https://postalref.com/guides/reply-mail.md).[^5]
- The IV-MTR API has a limit of 500 requests a minute.[^56] It counts each CRID's requests separately, and it answers any beyond the limit with error `429`, "Too many requests", without processing them.[^56]
- An IV-MTR [data feed](https://postalref.com/products/iv-mtr.md#provisioning) has no history, and a one-time query reaches back only 120 days.[^18]
- When a delivery unit does not scan its `Inventory Complete` barcode, that day's `Distributed` mail reverts to `Curtailed`.[^39] IV-MTR then creates no [logical out for delivery events](#events) for it.[^39]
- Delegated data does not join the receiver's existing data feeds or saved reports in [IV-MTR](https://postalref.com/products/iv-mtr.md#delegation).[^79] The receiver must update those feeds and reports or create others by hand.[^79]
- A piece whose Intelligent Mail barcode is not unique within 45 days is left out of [service measurement](https://postalref.com/products/service-performance-measurement-spm-mail-exclusions.md#preventable).[^24] A bundle, tray or container with a non-unique barcode gets no Full-Service feedback.[^80]

## Index: 97 entries

### Services (7)

- [Destination IMb Tracing](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#imb-tracing)
- [IMb Tracing](https://postalref.com/?q=IMb%20Tracing)
- [Informed Delivery API](https://postalref.com/products/informed-delivery-api-application-programming-interface.md)
- [IV-MTR API](https://postalref.com/?q=IV-MTR%20API)
- [Mail Quality Data through IV-MTR](https://postalref.com/products/mail-quality-data-through-iv-mtr.md)
- [MQD Data Feeds](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#measurement)
- [Origin IMb Tracing](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#imb-tracing)

### Systems (35)

- [Address Book](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#data)
- [Address Book Area](https://postalref.com/?q=Address%20Book%20Area)
- [Data Delegated to My CRID](https://postalref.com/?q=Data%20Delegated%20to%20My%20CRID)
- [Data Delegation](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#sharing)
- [Data Delegation Area](https://postalref.com/?q=Data%20Delegation%20Area)
- [Data Delegation Authorization History](https://postalref.com/?q=Data%20Delegation%20Authorization%20History)
- [data feed](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#data)
- [Delegate Data to Others](https://postalref.com/?q=Delegate%20Data%20to%20Others)
- [Informed Delivery](https://postalref.com/products/informed-delivery.md)
- [Informed Visibility Mail Tracking & Reporting](https://postalref.com/products/iv-mtr.md)
- [IV-MTR PostalPro page](https://postalref.com/?q=IV-MTR%20PostalPro%20page)
- [IV-MTR service](https://postalref.com/?q=IV-MTR%20service)
- [Manage CRIDs tab](https://postalref.com/?q=Manage%20CRIDs%20tab)
- [Manage Data Delegation](https://postalref.com/?q=Manage%20Data%20Delegation)
- [Manage Users tab](https://postalref.com/?q=Manage%20Users%20tab)
- [Online Download](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#data)
- [Online View](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#data)
- [private saved entity](https://postalref.com/?q=private%20saved%20entity)
- [private saved filter](https://postalref.com/?q=private%20saved%20filter)
- [private saved report](https://postalref.com/?q=private%20saved%20report)
- [private saved view](https://postalref.com/?q=private%20saved%20view)
- [public saved entity](https://postalref.com/?q=public%20saved%20entity)
- [public saved filter](https://postalref.com/?q=public%20saved%20filter)
- [public saved report](https://postalref.com/?q=public%20saved%20report)
- [public saved view](https://postalref.com/?q=public%20saved%20view)
- [Request Data Delegation](https://postalref.com/?q=Request%20Data%20Delegation)
- [Roles & Permissions Area](https://postalref.com/?q=Roles%20%26%20Permissions%20Area)
- [Roles and Permissions](https://postalref.com/?q=Roles%20and%20Permissions)
- [Saved Entity](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#data)
- [Saved Filter](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#data)
- [saved report](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#data)
- [Saved View](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#data)
- [Send to Address](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#data)
- [single piece IMb query](https://postalref.com/?q=single%20piece%20IMb%20query)
- [Visibility Permissions table](https://postalref.com/?q=Visibility%20Permissions%20table)

### Files (3)

- [Enriched scans](https://postalref.com/products/iv-mtr.md#terms)
- [IMb Tracing Legacy File Format](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#imb-tracing)
- [Informed Delivery Post Campaign](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#informed-delivery)

### Identifier (1)

- [operation code](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#events)

### Documents (4)

- [Informed Delivery Case Study](https://postalref.com/?q=Informed%20Delivery%20Case%20Study)
- [Informed Visibility Data Feed Instructions](https://postalref.com/products/mailing-promotions.md#iv-data-feed)
- [Service Performance Measurement (SPM) Mail Exclusions](https://postalref.com/products/service-performance-measurement-spm-mail-exclusions.md)
- [USPS Informed Delivery PostalOne! eDoc Technical Support for Mailers](https://postalref.com/products/informed-delivery.md#postalone-edoc)

### Container (1)

- [potential physical parent mail object](https://postalref.com/?q=potential%20physical%20parent%20mail%20object)

### Roles (10)

- [Address Book Manager](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#sharing)
- [Data Delegation Manager](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#sharing)
- [delegator](https://postalref.com/products/mail-quality-data-through-iv-mtr.md#terms)
- [General User with Role(s) and/or Permission(s)](https://postalref.com/?q=General%20User%20with%20Role(s)%20and%2For%20Permission(s))
- [IV-MTR BSA](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#sharing)
- [IV-MTR BSA Delegate](https://postalref.com/?q=IV-MTR%20BSA%20Delegate)
- [receiver](https://postalref.com/products/mail-quality-data-through-iv-mtr.md#terms)
- [Report Manager](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#sharing)
- [Roles and Permissions Manager](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#sharing)
- [Subscription Manager](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#sharing)

### Terms (36)

- [actual handling event](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#events)
- [assumed actual handling event](https://postalref.com/?q=assumed%20actual%20handling%20event)
- [assumed handling event](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#events)
- [assumed logical handling event](https://postalref.com/?q=assumed%20logical%20handling%20event)
- [campaign treatment](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#informed-delivery)
- [composite mail object](https://postalref.com/?q=composite%20mail%20object)
- [CRID-level](https://postalref.com/?q=CRID-level)
- [CRID-level delegation rule](https://postalref.com/?q=CRID-level%20delegation%20rule)
- [CRID-level query](https://postalref.com/?q=CRID-level%20query)
- [CRID-level role](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#sharing)
- [CRID-level subscription](https://postalref.com/?q=CRID-level%20subscription)
- [de-nesting](https://postalref.com/?q=de-nesting)
- [Frequency](https://postalref.com/products/mail-quality-data-through-iv-mtr.md#terms)
- [handling event](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#events)
- [Logical Delivery Events](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#events)
- [logical handling event](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#events)
- [logical mail object](https://postalref.com/?q=logical%20mail%20object)
- [logical nesting association](https://postalref.com/?q=logical%20nesting%20association)
- [mail object](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#events)
- [Mail Phase](https://postalref.com/?q=Mail%20Phase)
- [MID-level](https://postalref.com/?q=MID-level)
- [nested mail object](https://postalref.com/?q=nested%20mail%20object)
- [nesting](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#events)
- [nesting association](https://postalref.com/?q=nesting%20association)
- [One-Time Query](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#data)
- [Pass-through data](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#measurement)
- [permissions](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#sharing)
- [physical mail object](https://postalref.com/?q=physical%20mail%20object)
- [physical nesting association](https://postalref.com/?q=physical%20nesting%20association)
- [physical-logical mail object association](https://postalref.com/?q=physical-logical%20mail%20object%20association)
- [Representative Image](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#informed-delivery)
- [Ride-along Image](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#informed-delivery)
- [Scan Data](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#imb-tracing)
- [service performance](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#measurement)
- [Source Frequency](https://postalref.com/products/mail-quality-data-through-iv-mtr.md#terms)
- [Start-the-Clock](https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility.md#measurement)

## Sources

[^1]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=13), page 1: “The IV-MTR application is a free service provided by the Postal Service™ that allows mailers to: … Track domestic-bound letter and flat mail at all levels (including containers; handling units of trays, tubs, and sacks; bundles; and pieces) using scan data … International-bound and package tracking data is not available in IV-MTR at this time. … Intelligent Mail® barcode (IMb®) Tracing® (formerly CONFIRM®) provided automated piece and bundle tracking data … PostalOne!® provided container and handling unit tracking data … As mailpieces are processed, they are nested, de-nested, and re-nested in and out of handling units and containers”

[^2]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) Fact Sheet](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-07/IV%20MTR%20Facts%20Sheet%20v7.2.pdf#page=2), PDF page 2: “implied delivery events that provide near real-time insight into when mailpieces are delivered to the recipient … actual & assumed handling events that increase accuracy and trackability of mailpieces through the mail stream”

[^3]: [Informed Delivery API Technical Specifications V1.0_5.1](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-10/Informed%20Delivery%20Mail%20API%20Technical%20Specifications%20V1.0_5.1_0.pdf#page=6), page 6: “Informed Delivery users can view grayscale images of Letter mail processed through automation equipment. … These images are then used to provide digital notifications to users in advance of the delivery of physical mail. … Participating commercial mailers and shippers can conduct an interactive Informed Delivery campaign by providing USPS with supplemental content: a Ride-along Image, a Target URL, and a Representative Image. … USPS digitally images the address side of every Letter and Card that runs through automation equipment and shares those digital images with Informed Delivery users. … Informed Delivery is an optional, free feature that gives residential and PO Box™ consumers the ability to digitally preview their mail and manage their packages arriving soon. … Supplemental content from participating commercial mailers is made available via email notification, an online dashboard, or the USPS mobile app. … Therefore, a mailpiece must be automation compatible and scanned through USPS automation equipment to be presented to an Informed Delivery user. … The Representative Image (available only on mail campaigns) is a color image chosen by the mailer that will be used in place of the scanned grayscale image of the mailpiece. … The required Ride-along Image is a clickable color image that directs the user to the Target URL. … The Representative Image is optional for Letters but required for Flats.”

[^4]: [PostalPro: Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR)](https://postalpro.usps.com/informedvisibility): “Informed Visibility Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV-MTR) is a near real-time, single source for all domestic-bound mail and mail aggregate tracking information. … Commercial mailers who are tracking domestic-bound barcoded letters, flats, bundles, handling units (trays, tubs, and sacks), and containers … First Class Mail”

[^5]: [FAQs for the IV-MTR API](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2024-05/FAQ_IV-MTR_API_v3.0_0.pdf#page=1), PDF page 1: “Users can query single Intelligent Mail® barcode (IMb) information as well as have campaign or job information delivered to an application. … The single piece IMb query requires a full IMb and returns attributes and handling events (scans) for the piece. … There is a separate query that allows you to look up an IMb based on a partial IMb. For that query, the MID and serial number are required, and you may also include the STID or routing code. … Data is available for 30 days after the scan date using the API. For data more than 30 days past scan date, customers can leverage the IV-MTR web application to manually perform a One-Time Query up to 120 days after the scan date. … However, only actual handling events would be available, as assumed and logical events require eDoc. … enables the mailing industry to integrate their mobile or web-based applications with near real-time IV-MTR data through a lightweight data exchange, eliminating the overhead of data feeds. … The API does not restrict the return of data based on Tracing or Non-Tracing STID. … These APIs enable users who manage very large numbers of records in their data feeds or data delegations to query the database and receive faster responses when retrieving information, updating data feeds, or updating data delegation rules. … NOTE: The single piece IMb query does not provide data for Business Reply Mail.”

[^6]: [A Guide to Full Service](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2018-03/AGuidetoFullService.pdf#page=18), page 12: “Determine the appropriate Mail Class; 2. Determine the Mailing Type: Basic/Non-Automation or Full-Service; 3. Determine if the user wants IMb Tracing scan data;”

[^7]: [Service Type Identifier (STID) Table Effective January 21, 2024](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2024-04/STID%20Table%20Effective%2021%20January_FINAL.pdf#page=1), Effective January 21, 2024, PDF page 1: “use the appropriate STID for the mail class and ACS/IV-MTR services desired”

[^8]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=299), page 287: “Logical handling events are different from actual handling events (based on physical scans) and assumed handling events (based on nesting associations). … A logical handling event is a system-generated, implied handling event for a mail object based on business rules.”

[^9]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=35), page 23: “if a tray of mail receives an actual scan, IV-MTR can assume that scan to all the mailpieces inside the tray as well.”

[^10]: [PostalPro: Informed Delivery®](https://postalpro.usps.com/id): “The U.S. Postal Service® is enhancing the mail experience with Informed Delivery®, a free and optional notification service that gives eligible residential consumers the ability to digital preview their letter-sized mail pieces and manage their packages scheduled to arrive soon. … Participating mailers can provide supplemental content, allowing users to take immediate action on a mailpiece. … The United States Postal Service (USPS®) currently offers the basic campaign functionality for no additional fee. … Updated the ID Daily Digest email template. … Updates to the Mail Delivery Notification feature. … Informed Delivery implemented a feature that will allow users to be notified when their mail has arrived at their delivery point. … The notification will be an email that a user receives letting them know their mail has been delivered.”

[^11]: [PRC: Mail Classification Schedule through July 12, 2026 (docx, converted to HTML with mammoth)](https://www.prc.gov/sites/default/files/mcs/MCS%20Through%2007122026.docx): “Informed Delivery Add-On/Upgrade Promotion (January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026) … Provide an additional one percent discount for the mailer and a half percent credit for the mail preparer on the qualifying postage for First-Class Mail Single-Piece and Presort letters, postcards, and flats, and USPS Marketing Mail letters and flats that are sent during the established program period, and which incorporate Informed Delivery campaigns as a component of their mailings. … To receive the discount, mailers must already be receiving an eligible base/primary promotion and comply with the eligibility requirements of the program.”

[^12]: [Informed Delivery Mail.dat Mailer Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2025-06/Informed%20Delivery%20Mail.dat%20Mailer%20Guide%20v7.0%206-13-2025.pdf#page=5), page 5: “Informed Delivery is a free, optional feature that gives eligible residential, business, and PO Box™ consumers the ability to digitally preview their mail and manage their packages.”

[^13]: [Informed Delivery API Technical Specifications V1.0_5.1](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-10/Informed%20Delivery%20Mail%20API%20Technical%20Specifications%20V1.0_5.1_0.pdf#page=44), page 44: “Ride-Along Image must be formatted as BASE64 and must be an image in RGB and JPG format.”

[^14]: [Mail.dat Technical Specifications R65.0.0.0](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-10/USPS_Mail_dat_Tech_Spec.pdf#page=420), PDF page 420: “For an Informed Delivery Campaign, the ride along image max file size is 200KB and the pixel max size is 300 X 200. … For an Informed Delivery Campaign, the replacement image max file size is 200KB and the pixel max size is 780 X 500.”

[^15]: [Mailer's Technical Advisory Committee - Best Practices for ACS™](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2022-05/ACS_BestPractices.pdf#page=43), page 43: “The Intelligent Mail barcode (formerly known as the 4-State Customer Barcode) is USPS barcode technology used to sort and track letters and flats. … Destination IMb Tracing is for outgoing mail that gives you advanced information about when you mail will reach its destination. … Origin IMb Tracing for incoming mail lets you anticipate when customers’ checks, replies, or orders are on the way back to you.”

[^16]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=21), page 9: “Visibility in IV-MTR is limited to mail objects with: Intelligent Mail barcodes (IMb) Intelligent Mail tray barcodes (IMtb) Intelligent Mail container barcodes (IMcb)”

[^17]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=15), page 3: “Scan data is mail tracking data that is generated by Postal processing and tracking equipment, including mail processing machines, handheld scanners, and location tracking devices. … mail tracking data that is generated by Postal processing and tracking equipment, including mail processing machines, handheld scanners, and location tracking devices”

[^18]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=26), page 14: “A one-time query is a one-time (ad hoc) search for a particular set of records. … A data feed is a recurring search (subscription) that provides results at a specified interval. … Any IV-MTR user can complete a one-time query. … Data is available for the past 120 days … Automatically receive specified data from time of set up forward … a one-time (ad hoc) search for a particular set of records … a recurring search (subscription) that provides results at a specified interval … Only an IV-MTR BSA, BSA Delegate, or Subscription Manager can create a data feed. … Historical data unavailable with this method”

[^19]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=207), page 195: “Roles provide application functionality to a user, while permissions provide data visibility to particular CRIDs, MIDs, or routing codes. … However, roles and permissions management is used to manage individual user visibility within a particular CRID. … Data delegation enables visibility to be shared between a company’s own CRIDs or MIDs or between CRIDs or MIDs belonging to different companies. … permissions provide data visibility to particular CRIDs, MIDs, or routing codes … Data delegation is used to share data between CRIDs—to provide visibility of a CRID or MID’s data to another CRID or MID’s users.”

[^20]: [CRID Management](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2021-11/CRID%20Management%20Fact%20Sheet.v1_0.pdf#page=1), PDF page 1: “A Customer Registration Identification number (CRID) is a USPS-generated numeric code of up to 15 digits that uniquely identifies a business at a specific location.”

[^21]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=16), page 4: “Pass-through data is non-scan data that is generated by other Postal systems and provisioned through the IV-MTR application. … non-scan data that is generated by other Postal systems and provisioned through the IV-MTR application … processing, open, and click-through results for Informed Delivery interactive campaigns”

[^22]: [PostalPro: Mail Quality Data through IV®-MTR](https://postalpro.usps.com/mailing/mqd): “Receive uncapped Mail Quality Data (Mailer Scorecard error details) … Mail Quality Data (MQD-IV) leverages the Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV-MTR) application to enable mailers to receive uncapped Mail Quality Data.”

[^23]: [Publication 32: Glossary of Postal Terms](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2016-04/pub32_glossary.pdf#page=207), page 203: “In general, the time it takes mail to enter and exit the mailstream measured in the number of days from the point of entry by the mailer to the point of delivery by USPS.”

[^24]: [Service Performance Measurement Fact Sheet](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2020-09/SPM%20Exclusions%20Fact%20Sheet%2008182020_1.pdf#page=1), PDF page 1: “Full Service volume is measured end-to-end and is compared against published service standards. … Some Full-Service mail is not measured for Service Performance. … Any mail that is not measured will have an exclusion reason. … LIST OF TOP FOUR PREVENTABLE … Mail is excluded from Service Measurement when the barcode on the mailpiece is not unique within 45 days.”

[^25]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=274), page 262: “Entered at USPS: Container or orphan handling unit inducted in Postal Service network (also the scan used for Start-the-Clock) … Each handling event has a three-digit Scan Event Code, or operation code (opcode), that describes the type of processing operation that generated the event.”

[^26]: [Publication 32: Glossary of Postal Terms](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2016-04/pub32_glossary.pdf#page=217), page 213: “The recorded date and time when a mailpiece enters the mailstream, usually captured by scanning a container or mailpiece barcode.”

[^27]: [PostalPro: Service Performance Measurement (SPM) Mail Exclusions](https://postalpro.usps.com/spm-exclusions): “Service Performance Measurement (SPM) Mail Exclusions provides Full-Service commercial mailers information on mail exclusions and supporting tools. … Step-by-step instructions on how access the SPM Exclusions by CRID application through the Business Customer Gateway.”

[^28]: [Informed Delivery Mail.dat Fact Sheet](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2023-05/Informed%20Delivery%20Mail.dat%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf#page=1), PDF page 1: “It reduces errors and eliminates the need to manually enter campaigns in the Mailer Campaign Portal.”

[^29]: [Informed Delivery API Technical Specifications V1.0_5.1](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-10/Informed%20Delivery%20Mail%20API%20Technical%20Specifications%20V1.0_5.1_0.pdf#page=7), page 7: “Mail Pre-Campaign Analysis and Post Campaign Reports are available in the Informed Delivery Mailer Campaign Portal (MCP). … Informed Delivery Mail Post Campaign Report details are also integrated into Informed Visibility Mail Tracking and Reporting® (MTR®). … This enables business mailers to view Informed Delivery post campaign data including email opens, click-through rates and delivery dates from a single application. … Campaign treatment is defined as a set of images (Ride-Along Image and Representative Image) and the Target URL that are applied to a mailpiece IMb. … Upon receipt of the scan and imaging data from Mail Processing Equipment (MPE), the Informed Delivery application matches the IMb MID/Serial combination or full barcode to a campaign in Informed Delivery and applies the associated campaign treatment to the mail pieces for consumer view. … Informed Delivery Post Campaign (IDPC) Detailed Data includes: click-throughs, email opens, delivery dates, recipient ZIP, and image placement in email.”

[^30]: [PostalPro: USPS Informed Delivery PostalOne! eDoc Technical Support for Mailers](https://postalpro.usps.com/mailings/idedocspecs): “This page contains information about eDoc submission of Informed Delivery Campaigns through PostalOne! using Mail.dat or Mail.XML.”

[^31]: [PostalPro: Informed Delivery API (Application Programming Interface)](https://postalpro.usps.com/idapi): “The ID API provides Mailers and Shippers with the ability to integrate directly with the Informed Delivery application so they can manage interactive Informed Delivery campaigns for both Mail and Packages through their front-end applications.”

[^32]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=290), page 278: “Generic term referring to a mailpiece, bundle, handling unit (tray, tub, or sack), container, or transportation … Insertion of smaller mail objects into a larger mail object. The smaller mail objects are then referred to as nested mail objects, while the larger mail object is then referred to as a composite mail object.”

[^33]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=14), page 2: “Capturing nesting associations to enhance visibility and provide end-to-end tracking across the entire mailstream by using logical and assumed handling events … Consolidating all mail tracking functionality for containers, handling units, bundles, and pieces into one application”

[^34]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=291), page 279: “Any change in the state of a mail object including actions such as assembling, processing, sorting, scanning, staging, and transporting. … Capture of a scan or other handling of a physical mail object … Any change in the state of a mail object including actions such as assembling, processing, sorting, scanning, staging, and transporting. May also be referred to as a scan event. … System-generated event for a mail object based on business rules. For example, the system could create a logical handling event for “Out for Delivery” based on an actual handling event of “Arrived at Unit.””

[^35]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=297), page 285: “Assumed handling events are dependent upon mailer eDocs (Mail.dat or Mail.XML eDoc) for mailer containers, handling units, and bundles as well as Postal Service nesting information for Postal Service containers and handling units. … a system-generated event that is an implied handling of a nested mail object based on a handling event associated to the composite mail object”

[^36]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=294), page 282: “The Predicted Delivery Date (PDD) indicates when a mailpiece is most likely to go out for delivery. … For handling events that do not occur at the destination facility, the PDD calculation is based on the following: … IVMTR calculates the PDD when the first enroute handling event occurs and then recalculates the PDD when subsequent enroute or destination handling events occur. … To calculate the PDD, first IV-MTR compares the handling event date/time to the clearance cutoff time for that handling event operation to determine whether to use the date of the handling event or add one day to that date for the calculation. … Then, the application adds the service standard between the facility where the handling event occurred and the piece’s destination ZIP Code. … Finally, if necessary, IV-MTR adjusts the PDD to the next Postal Service delivery date.”

[^37]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=273), page 261: “IV-MTR calculates the Predicted Delivery Date (PDD) for pieces when the first enroute handling event occurs and then recalculates the PDD when subsequent handling events occur.”

[^38]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=295), page 283: “If the handling event is a last processing event, IV-MTR calculates the PDD by first comparing the handling event time to the clearance cutoff time for that operation to determine whether to use the date of the handling event or add one day to that date. … Then, if necessary, the application adjusts the PDD to the next Postal Service delivery date.”

[^39]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=300), page 288: “A logical out for delivery event indicates that a bundle has arrived and been distributed at the Delivery Unit and is expected to be out for delivery. … Containers with mail being processed for that day’s delivery are scanned as “Distributed”. … The bundles that did not go out for delivery that day are scanned as “Curtailed”. … When the “Inventory Complete” barcode is scanned, IV-MTR creates a logical out for delivery event for any bundle that received a “Distributed” scan but not a “Curtailed” scan. … A logical delivery event, which is a type of logical handling event, is an implied delivery. The Scan Event Code (opcode) is 517. … The timestamp associated to the logical delivery event is the time the trigger occurred. … If the “Inventory Complete” barcode is not scanned, all mail that received a “Distributed” scan for that day reverts to “Curtailed” volume. Therefore, IV-MTR would not generate logical out for delivery events for that mail for that day.”

[^40]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=301), page 289: “Carrier device leaves geofence on the ADD for the associated ZIP+4”

[^41]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=276), page 264: “Implied event indicating when the mailpiece should have been delivered.”

[^42]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=31), page 19: “The legacy PKG file format allows you to receive files in the format used by the retired IMb Tracing system. … Legacy PKG files are available for both one-time queries and data feeds. … allows you to view the results of a one-time query without downloading a file”

[^43]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=116), page 104: “Important: Only piece data is available in this file format.”

[^44]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=77), page 65: “To add a routing code to your query, check the Include Origin Scans checkbox above the Select CRIDs pane, in the top left side of the screen. … If you have a routing code that has been mapped to your CRID(s), you can add a routing code to your query instead of or in addition to CRIDs or MIDs.”

[^45]: [Intelligent Mail® Barcode (IMb) 4-State Specification](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2017-08/2190_USPSB3200IntelligentMailBarcode4State_0.pdf#page=58), page 53: “Identifies services requested on mailpiece … Mailers are not required to include a MID in the IMb when using Origin IMb Tracing Services. … Mailers shall use the 15-digit Origin IMb Tracing Customer Number field for uniquely identifying a mailpiece. … Mailers may encode this field with any range of numbers, including all zeros, as long as the Service Type Identifier (STID) used in the IMb is associated with Origin IMb Tracing Services. … Serves as the subscriber’s ID for Origin IMb Tracing”

[^46]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=109), page 97: “In general, only data for Tracing STIDs is available through a data feed. … In the table, the columns labeled “with IV MTR” are the Tracing STIDs.”

[^47]: [Service Type Identifier (STID) Table Effective January 21, 2024](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2024-04/STID%20Table%20Effective%2021%20January_FINAL.pdf#page=9), Effective January 21, 2024, PDF page 9: “Reply Mail by ZIP”

[^48]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=310), page 298: “For an IMb that uses a Reply Mail by ZIP IMb construct, the application uses the routing code contained in the IMb to determine who has visibility of data for the piece.”

[^49]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=22), page 10: “For IMb-barcoded pieces that use the Reply Mail ZIP construct, IVMTR provides visibility to the CRIDs who have that routing code associated to them.”

[^50]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=112), page 100: “Legacy IMb Tracing format with pre-defined data fields”

[^51]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=278), page 266: “IV-MTR retains transactional scan-level mail tracking data for 120 days.”

[^52]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=27), page 15: “The application creates a file or files and displays them in an output history, from which you can then download the file(s) … The application creates a file or files and pushes them to your selected server via Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) … The application pushes data to your web service, or your web service pulls data from the application”

[^53]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=81), page 69: “The application prepares a file or files of the query results in your selected format and sends the file to an SFTP server.”

[^54]: [Provisioning Mail Quality Data with Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking and Reporting](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MailQualityProvisioning_v7.9.pdf#page=51), page 51: “To send data to a server or web service, it must be added to the IV-MTR address book.”

[^55]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=245), page 233: “A saved report is a set of entities, mail object type, handling event types, filters, and data fields all together. … You can also save portions of a report, such as selected entities or data fields. … This allows you to reuse the report or portion of a report throughout the application, so you can perform one-time queries, set up data feeds, and manage data delegation rules more quickly and easily. … Public means the saved report is available to all users with the IV-MTR service for the CRID that owns the saved report. … Private means the saved report is only available to the user who created it. … a set of selected CRIDs, MIDs, routing codes, and/or STIDs for which you want to receive mail tracking data”

[^56]: [IV-MTR API Developer Toolkit](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2023-05/IV-MTR%20API%20Developer%20Toolkit_v2.6.4.pdf#page=6), page 6: “The IV-MTR API is limited to processing 500 requests per minute per CRID. … Any requests received in excess of this rate will give the following response with an HTTP 429 error: … Too many requests. Please try again later. … Requests that receive this error will not be processed and will need to be resubmitted once additional request tokens are generated.”

[^57]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=266), page 254: “a set of entities (CRIDs, MIDs, routing codes, and/or STIDs), mail object and handling event types, filters, and data fields for which to receive data through a one-time query or data feed”

[^58]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=258), page 246: “A saved filter is a set of data field filters that limit the mail tracking data returned in a one-time query or data feed or available in a data delegation rule.”

[^59]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=262), page 250: “a set of data fields, in a specified order, that you can receive through a one-time query or data feed”

[^60]: [Provisioning Informed Delivery® Post-Campaign (IDPC) Data in Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR)](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV-MTR_Provisioning%20IDPC%20User%20Guide%20v1.4.pdf#page=38), page 38: “IV-MTR will display the output files within the IV-MTR application, where you can download them”

[^61]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=196), page 184: “In the address book, you can save server locations and people’s contact information for use within the application.”

[^62]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=39), page 27: “To access the IV-MTR application, you must first have a BCG account.”

[^63]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=49), page 37: “Once you have a BCG account, you must request access to the IV-MTR application.”

[^64]: [Provisioning Mail Quality Data with Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking and Reporting](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MailQualityProvisioning_v7.9.pdf#page=7), page 7: “A Business Service Administrator (BSA) to activate your CRID(s) in IV-MTR”

[^65]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=19), page 7: “The request goes to the CRID’s BSA (and BSA Delegate(s), as applicable), who approve or deny the request and assign an IV-MTR user level … Manager of CRID. Has highest level of access and is in charge of granting other users access to CRID. … User who has been granted BSA powers for CRID, but is not the actual BSA. … The five IV-MTR user levels are provided in the table below.”

[^66]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=208), page 196: “There are five application user roles … Creates and manages a CRID’s data feeds (subscriptions) … When a role is assigned at the CRID level, the user can perform the role’s functions for an entire CRID, including all MIDs that belong, or will belong, to that CRID. … Manages a CRID’s address book … Creates and manages a CRID’s public saved reports and portions of reports … Assigns roles and permissions for a CRID or MID … Manages data delegation for a CRID or MID”

[^67]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=24), page 12: “To manage data delegations, a user must be the IV-MTR BSA, a BSA Delegate, or a Data Delegation Manager for the CRID. … However, they are unable to receive Enriched Scans (Assumed & Logical Scans) or track scans by Job ID. … If you would like to receive enriched scan data or track your mailings by Job ID, IV-MTR supports eDoc submission via either Mail.dat or Mail.xml.”

[^68]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=20), page 8: “With data delegation, the CRID or MID sharing its data is known as the delegator. … The CRID or MID that receives the data is known as the receiver. … Data can be shared at the CRID- or MID-level for scan data and at the CRID level for pass-through data. … The IV-MTR application provides a self-service data delegation area that allows organizations with IVMTR accounts to share data without having to contact the Postal Service.”

[^69]: [Provisioning Informed Delivery® Post-Campaign (IDPC) Data in Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR)](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV-MTR_Provisioning%20IDPC%20User%20Guide%20v1.4.pdf#page=86), page 86: “Data Type Shared – New data delegations must be created for each data type.”

[^70]: [Provisioning Informed Delivery® Post-Campaign (IDPC) Data in Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR)](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV-MTR_Provisioning%20IDPC%20User%20Guide%20v1.4.pdf#page=88), page 88: “However, if one or both of the organizations do not have access to IV-MTR or do not wish to set the delegation up themselves, the IV Solutions Center can help facilitate the delegation.”

[^71]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=37), page 25: “The IV-MTR Business Service Administrator (BSA) is responsible for all administrative actions in IVMTR”

[^72]: [Provisioning Mail Quality Data with Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking and Reporting](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MailQualityProvisioning_v7.9.pdf#page=5), page 5: “The MQD available in IV-MTR is pass-through data that is not generated by IV-MTR itself … *MQD is currently unavailable as a One-Time Query in IV-MTR. … Historical MQD is currently unavailable in IV-MTR … subscriptions that allow you to receive MQD at intervals you select”

[^73]: [Provisioning Mail Quality Data with Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking and Reporting](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MailQualityProvisioning_v7.9.pdf#page=57), page 57: “Level of Delegation – MQD is delegated at the CRID-level.”

[^74]: [USPS Informed Delivery PostalOne! FAQs](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2021-05/Informed%20Delivery-PostalOne_FAQs-v4%204-16-2021.pdf#page=3), page 3: “MID Level – based only on the MID on Piece in the IMb. … All mailpieces containing that MID in the IMb will receive the Informed Delivery campaign. … Serial-Range Level – based on Serials and MID on Piece in the IMb (serials can be grouped using the Component file or linked directly to pieces in the PDR/PBC file). … Supported in the Mailer Campaign Portal (MCP) or via Mail.dat eDoc submission (not supported in Mail.XML).”

[^75]: [Postal Wizard Fact Sheet](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2024-08/Postal%20Wizard%20Fact%20Sheet.2024.08.20v2.pdf#page=1), PDF page 1: “Postal Wizard is an online tool that gives small-volume mailers a secure, electronic means for”

[^76]: [A Guide to Full Service](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2018-03/AGuidetoFullService.pdf#page=63), page 57: “The PostalOne! system offers the Postal Wizard, a tool that provides a secure way to submit postage statements online.”

[^77]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=23), page 11: “Mailers using Postal Wizard are able to receive Raw Scans (Actual Scans) for physical mailpieces that receive a scan.”

[^78]: [Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) User Guide](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV_MTR_UserGuide_v2.19.9.pdf#page=305), page 293: “Mail.dat Job ID of the eDoc to which the mail object is associated.”

[^79]: [Provisioning Informed Delivery® Post-Campaign (IDPC) Data in Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR)](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2026-09/IV-MTR_Provisioning%20IDPC%20User%20Guide%20v1.4.pdf#page=87), page 87: “Delegated data is not automatically added to existing data feeds or saved reports. … After the receiver is granted visibility, they must update any existing data feeds or reports or create new feeds/saved reports manually.”

[^80]: [A Guide to Full Service](https://postalpro.usps.com/mnt/glusterfs/2018-03/AGuidetoFullService.pdf#page=11), page 5: “Full-Service feedback will not be provided for a bundle, handling unit, or container that has a non-unique barcode or an invalid mail owner.”

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Unofficial. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the United States Postal Service. This is https://postalref.com/guides/mail-visibility as Markdown.