The Comprehensive Guide to USPS® Intelligent Mail Indicia (IMI) and Postage Meter Decertification [WITH Q&A]
Intelligent Mail Indicia (IMI) Fast Facts
Postage updates happen every 72 hours with IMI compared to every 90 days with previous technology.
No more special phone lines needed just for your postage meters.
Postage is automatically calculated based on Service Class.
Reduces the risk of incorrect postage. No overcharges or returned mail!
Transaction-level data for each mail piece...daily
IMI standards went into effect June 2024. See if your postage meter meets those requirements.
Intelligent Mail Indicia FAQs
What is indicia?
An indicia is a printed graphic, marking, or barcode on a mail piece that indicates to the United States Postal Service (USPS®) your postage on a particular piece has been paid. Indicia is used in place of a stamp. It can be in the form of a permit imprint or metered post.
- Postage costs less than stamps
- More efficient for bulk mailers
- Streamlines mailing process
- Meets IMI standards
What are the benefits of IMI?
IMI is good news for your business! This new technology allows the Post Office to automate more of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into delivering the millions of mail pieces and shipments sent every day. All that efficiency is passed on to your business. Grab our IMI Reference Guide to see how IMI stacks up to the current postage technology.
- Improved delivery times and better account security
- Faster delivery and tracking of your invoices, statements, and other critical mail pieces
- Shorter billing cycles, better Days Sales Outstanding (DSO), and happier customers!
Why should I upgrade?
Switching to an IMI-compliant postage meter will keep your mail operations running smoothly with little to no downtime. Plus, the sooner you switch, the sooner you can experience the benefits of IMI, like simple postage calculation, better security, and advanced tracking.
- Avoid disruption in service
- Miss out on postage discounts and refunds
- Be IMI-compliant
Why is the U.S. Postal Service decertifying postage meters?
Postage meters that use Information-Based Indicia (IBI) technology are being phased out. A new standard was needed to match current mailing and shipping volumes and to keep pace with other digital mailing technologies. That’s where IMI technology comes in!
- Better data
- More accurate postage
- Auditable tracking on every mail piece
- Postal information to and from your meter is encrypted and more secure
- Fraud detection
Critical deadlines for decertification
December 31, 2027: Extended deadline for specific auto-feed IBI postage meters. After this date, they must be withdrawn from service. Please contact us or your dedicated Quadient rep to learn if your postage machine meets these requirements.
Deadlines that have passed
June 30, 2025: Indicia printed with decertified, inactive systems are no longer considered valid for mailing or refunds. An upgrade to Intelligent Mail Indicia (IMI) is required to continue using postage.
December 31, 2024: Non-IMI-compliant hand-fed postage meters are considered “inactive.”
June 30, 2024: Non-IMI-compliant postage meters were officially decertified by USPS (no new IBI placements after this date).
Make sure your small business has the best postage technology. Get your IMI-certified postage meter today.
Pitney Bowes is also sunsetting some of their other mailing products at the same time.
To see a complete list of Pitney Bowes decertified and discontinued products, visit our product recommendations page.
Faster updates
IMI-ready machines update postal data every 72 hours!
Better pricing
Save at least 24% over Pitney Bowes, no hidden fees!
Reduced costs
Save 5% on every First-Class letter compared to stamps.
No overspending
No more incorrect postage or miscalculations.