{
  "title": "Certified Mail cost worksheet: Q4 2026",
  "version": "1.0",
  "released_at": "2026-10-15",
  "canonical_url": "https://postalform.com/research/certified-mail-cost-2026-q4",
  "analysis_type": "scenario_model_not_observed_customer_costs",
  "currency": "USD",
  "sources_checked_at": "2026-10-15",
  "sources": [
    {
      "publisher": "USPS",
      "url": "https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/Notice123.htm",
      "sections": ["First-Class Mail retail stamped letters", "Domestic extra services"],
      "rate_effective_from": "2026-07-12"
    },
    {
      "publisher": "IRS",
      "url": "https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/standard-mileage-rates",
      "rate_effective_from": "2026-07-01",
      "rate_effective_through": "2026-12-31"
    }
  ],
  "inputs": {
    "stamped_one_ounce_letter_cents": 82,
    "certified_mail_cents": 555,
    "electronic_return_receipt_cents": 291,
    "hardcopy_return_receipt_cents": 465,
    "illustrative_mileage_rate_cents": 76,
    "illustrative_round_trip_miles": [0, 4, 8, 12]
  },
  "assumptions": [
    "A machinable domestic stamped letter weighs no more than one ounce.",
    "Travel scenarios use Certified Mail plus Electronic Return Receipt.",
    "Mileage is an explicitly chosen proxy, not a measured expense or tax-deductibility claim.",
    "Distances are illustrative, not measured averages.",
    "Printing, envelope, parking and time costs are omitted, not estimated at a universal rate.",
    "No customer-level or order-level records are used."
  ],
  "postal_fee_scenarios": [
    { "service": "first_class", "total_cents": 82, "total_usd": 0.82 },
    {
      "service": "certified_without_return_receipt",
      "total_cents": 637,
      "total_usd": 6.37
    },
    {
      "service": "certified_with_electronic_return_receipt",
      "total_cents": 928,
      "total_usd": 9.28
    },
    {
      "service": "certified_with_hardcopy_return_receipt",
      "total_cents": 1102,
      "total_usd": 11.02
    }
  ],
  "travel_scenarios": [
    {
      "scenario": "illustrative_0_mile_round_trip",
      "round_trip_miles": 0,
      "postal_fees_usd": 9.28,
      "mileage_rate_usd": 0.76,
      "modeled_driving_cost_usd": 0,
      "modeled_total_usd": 9.28,
      "supplies_and_time_included": false
    },
    {
      "scenario": "illustrative_4_mile_round_trip",
      "round_trip_miles": 4,
      "postal_fees_usd": 9.28,
      "mileage_rate_usd": 0.76,
      "modeled_driving_cost_usd": 3.04,
      "modeled_total_usd": 12.32,
      "supplies_and_time_included": false
    },
    {
      "scenario": "illustrative_8_mile_round_trip",
      "round_trip_miles": 8,
      "postal_fees_usd": 9.28,
      "mileage_rate_usd": 0.76,
      "modeled_driving_cost_usd": 6.08,
      "modeled_total_usd": 15.36,
      "supplies_and_time_included": false
    },
    {
      "scenario": "illustrative_12_mile_round_trip",
      "round_trip_miles": 12,
      "postal_fees_usd": 9.28,
      "mileage_rate_usd": 0.76,
      "modeled_driving_cost_usd": 9.12,
      "modeled_total_usd": 18.4,
      "supplies_and_time_included": false
    }
  ]
}