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Electronic Verification System (eVS®)

The Electronic Verification System, eVS, is a USPS system that lets parcel shippers document and pay postage by sending electronic manifest files. Shippers use it for permit imprint parcels across several mail classes. USPS has replaced eVS with USPS Ship.

Updated October 28, 202625 sources

What it is

eVS is a manifesting system inside PostalOne!, the USPS system that holds its database. It handles parcels going out to customers, while parcels that consumers return go through other USPS returns services.

Shippers began using eVS in 2005, mostly for Parcel Select. USPS introduced USPS Ship in 2022, and shippers began moving to it. USPS encourages eVS shippers to move voluntarily. eVS shippers are enrolled in USPS Ship automatically when eVS is discontinued.

USPS Ship is the USPS payment and verification platform for outbound packages. It prices each package individually from attributes captured during processing, which eliminates manual sampling. When captured and claimed attributes differ, USPS Ship charges or refunds the difference to the shipper's Enterprise Payment Account.

eVS follows the usual manifest mailing process, with three differences:

  • Sampling: USPS samples packages at destination facilities to check postage and preparation.
  • Monthly reconciliation: all mailings in a calendar month count as one mailing for reconciliation.
  • Corporate account: a company with many mailing sites has one account for payment and reconciliation.

USPS can accept eVS mail at destination entry facilities, at origin entry facilities or at the shipper's own facility.

How it works

In the normal case, the shipper sends a manifest file, drops the parcels at a destination facility and pays automatically. USPS checks the postage by sampling and settles any difference once a month.

A destination entry mailing, from manifest to monthly settlement.

  1. The shipper sends each manifest file to PTR through one of the accepted protocols.
  2. PTR returns a Confirmation Error/Warning Report to the shipper for each file.
  3. The shipper deposits the parcels at the destination facility in its FAST appointment window.
  4. eVS generates a postage statement and withdraws the postage from the shipper's payment account.
  5. USPS employees sample packages continuously throughout the month.
  6. eVS reconciles the samples against the manifest records received that month.
  7. USPS collects any additional postage due on the 21st day after the month ends.

Accounts and Mailer IDs

A shipper joining eVS opens a permit imprint account in ZIP Code 20260, opens a postage payment account and gets a master MID. The master MID is the Mailer Identification Number that identifies the shipper in eVS, PostalOne! and the sampling databases.

The permit imprint on eVS mail is in company style. eVS has no permit imprint application fee.

The payment account pays postage automatically each time eVS generates a postage statement from the shipper's manifest files. The bank account is debited for the day's total on the next bank business day.

A shipper adds MIDs for its other mailing sites and for each client it ships for. A 9-digit MID that USPS assigns for eVS and that begins with 9 is a conforming MID. The owner of a master MID is responsible for every child MID assigned to it.

Sampling and the postage adjustment factor

USPS samples packages at destination processing facilities and delivery units, and it may also sample at the shipper's plant. The reconciliation period for a month runs through the first 10 days of the following month.

The postage adjustment factor is a ratio that USPS computes for each mail class or product it samples. It divides the sampled postage by the postage USPS recalculates from the shipper's manifest records.

USPS charges more postage only when the manifest postage is underpaid by more than 1.5%. The charge applies the factor minus one to the whole month's manifest postage for that mail class. An overpaid month brings no adjustment, but overpayments within a month offset underpayments.

USPS expects at least 250 sampled packages per mail class or product each month. Shippers have the first 10 days of the next month to review their account and ask for a joint review.

Rules

An electronic eVS manifest file must be transmitted on or before the date when the eVS mailing represented by the file is presented at a destination entry facility or at an origin facility.

The shipper must send the manifest file no later than the day it presents the mailing to USPS. USPS uses a report of early samples to find packages deposited before payment.

A master MID registered to a shipper for eVS must be used in the Electronic File Number (see Publication 199) in the Header Record of every eVS manifest file transmitted by the shipper.

Every eVS manifest file must carry the shipper's master MID in its Electronic File Number.

For 120 days from the date of manifest, Shippers must not repeat (duplicate) Electronic File Numbers (EFNs) used in Header Records or Package Identification Codes (PICs) used in Detail Records 1.

Shippers must not reuse a file number or a package code within 120 days of the manifest date.

This account must be established and verified prior to submitting any manifest files or entering physical mail pieces into the mailstream.

The postage payment account must be set up and verified before the shipper sends any manifest file or mails any parcel.

The permit imprint number(s) registered for eVS must be used only for eVS/PRS mailings.

The eVS permit number must be used only on eVS and Parcel Return Service mail. This keeps eVS payments separate from the shipper's other payments.

The permit imprint account number and the corresponding 5-digit ZIP Code of the Post Office of Account must appear in the designated fields in all eVS manifest files (see Publication 199).

Every eVS manifest file must name the permit number and the ZIP Code of its Post Office of Account.

The shipper must schedule deposit appointment windows with the destination entry facility.

For destination entry, the shipper must book a deposit appointment with the destination facility.

What goes wrong

Unmanifested packages are scanned by USPS without a manifest record received within 120 days of the scan. Unsampled ones are charged an average per-piece postage for their mail class. An extra Unmanifested eVS Fee applies when unmanifested volume exceeds 4% for a mail class.

Duplicate packages are parcel records with several Delivered scans and no matching payment records. The shipper pays for all of them.

When a package's rate ingredients do not produce a valid price, the package goes into the Manifest Error Report. The shipper can resubmit through the 10th of the following month to pay correctly.

A parcel that the shipper deposits at the wrong entry facility is mis-shipped. Each mis-shipped destination delivery unit parcel is charged the difference between its manifested postage and the USPS Ground Advantage single-piece price.

eVS may reject a file whose Electronic File Number repeats within 120 days and holds non-unique package codes. A file whose master MID is not registered fails in PTR.

Insufficient funds can cost the shipper its discounts and 6% annual interest. A shipper who gets no Confirmation Error/Warning Report within 4 hours checks its systems, then contacts the help desk.

Terms

Electronic Verification SystemeVS
eVS allows parcel shippers to document and pay postage by transmitting electronic manifest files to the eVS database, which is part of the PostalOne!® system.
USPS ShipPPC, Package Platform Concept, Package Platform
The USPS payment and verification platform for outbound packages is called USPS Ship. This platform provides reporting, pricing and visibility as packages move through the mail stream.
Product Tracking and ReportingPTR, PTS, Product Tracking and Reporting system, Product Tracking Reporting, Product Tracking and Reporting (PTR) system, Product Tracking System
Each time a mailer submits a Shipping Services File, PTR processes and edits the file.
Shipping Services FileSSF, Shipping Service Files
The electronic file containing all manifest and payment information.
Master MIDMaster Mailer Identification
The master MID is used for file transmissions from the eVS shipper and must be the MID used in the EFN submitted for all eVS files.
Electronic File NumberEFN
Electronic File Number uniquely identifies the transmission of an electronic manifest, and must be unique for a period of 120-days. It is located in the header record of the Shipping Services File.
Postage Adjustment FactorPAF
a method to apply an error rate determined from handheld scanner samplings to the entire population of mailings within a calendar month
Unmanifested packages
Packages for which the USPS has scan events and no associated manifest are considered unmanifested.
Unmanifested eVS Fee
a per-piece price that is assessed to all unmanifested volume for that mail class when the unmanifested ratio exceeds the defined threshold of 4%
Duplicate packages
Multiple package(s) with the same Tracking Number used within the 120-day window.
Manifest Errors
A manifest error occurs when a file is received with detail or header records that have incorrect rate ingredients and cannot be processed.

Documents

Tech Guides

Publications

User Guides

Quick Service Guides

Fact Sheets

Contacts

The eVS help desk answers questions about eVS at 877-264-9693 and eVS@usps.gov. Shippers who want to enroll in USPS Ship can contact their salesperson or the MSSC at mssc@usps.gov.

Sources