# Am I required to have a physical mailbox? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 1, 2010, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-required-to-have-a-physical-mailbox/534627 "2010-04-01T19:28:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![twhitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@twhitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twhitt)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2013, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-required-to-have-a-physical-mailbox/534627/61 "2013-09-29T00:07:22Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > The sender is notified, and must remove you from their mailing list. > abut the post office does NOT examine your mail, they just deliver it (as required by law). > > So a form 1500 stops delivery of that single item, and also future deliveries from the same mailer. > > * * * > > Personally, it seems to me that this is lazy and irresponsible cheating of your fellow taxpayers. > > You are requiring the post office to waste customer money on doing this for you, when you could just as easily toss it in recycling yourself. First of all, bah. No taxpayer money supports the post office. Secondly, that sounds very much like a service that I would pay for, if given the option. I’ve tried, and failed, to find ways to contact solicitors in order to remove myself from their mailing lists, and I don’t think I’m alone in my willingness to pay a small service charge in order to have this done in a streamlined way. The postal service is missing out on a potential revenue stream, here. ---
**Author:** ![SylverOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SylverOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SylverOne)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-required-to-have-a-physical-mailbox/534627/62 "2013-09-30T20:07:37Z")
> [@installLSC](#): > > How difficult was it to persuade the Department of Licensing to use a PO Box instead of a street address? No persuasion necessary that I remember… no one raised an eyebrow. I looked up the requirements on the [MT DOJ](https://doj.mt.gov/driving/required-docs/) website, and this is all it said: > [@](#): > > A Montana residence or street address must be provided; if the applicant does not receive mail at the residence or street address, a Montana post office box or mailing address also must be provided. I probably put my physical address on the application, and it’s an area that’s never had mail delivery, so it wasn’t an issue. I don’t remember having to provide proof. For anyone else with a PO box, they would be required to provide a property tax statement or something of the like with their name on it and both their physical and mailing address on it. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-required-to-have-a-physical-mailbox/534627/63 "2013-09-30T23:01:38Z")
You may not need a physical mailbox, but you probably need some way to be reached by mail. Many government agencies require this. For example, if the IRS wants to audit you, they’ll contact you by mail. Believe me, I know. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-required-to-have-a-physical-mailbox/534627/64 "2013-10-02T22:54:03Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > You may not need a physical mailbox, but you probably need some way to be reached by mail. Many government agencies require this. For example, if the IRS wants to audit you, they’ll contact you by mail. Believe me, I know. Sounds like a reason to not have mail. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-required-to-have-a-physical-mailbox/534627.md?page=3)