Definition, Cost and How It Replaces the Green Card

Electronic Return Receipt (ERR) is the electronic version of USPS PS Form 3811, the familiar green Return Receipt card, that provides proof of delivery by email or PDF. It includes the delivery date and time, the recipient’s or authorized agent’s signature, and the actual delivery address if it differs from the address on the mailpiece. As of July 12, 2026, USPS charges $2.91 for Electronic Return Receipt compared with $4.65 for the hardcopy green card. A savings of $1.74 per piece.

In Plain English

Electronic Return Receipt is a faster, lower-cost way to receive signed delivery confirmation for USPS Certified Mail. Instead of waiting for a physical green card to travel back through the mail, you receive an electronic record that you can download, share, and store with your other legal compliance mailing documents.

It works alongside Certified Mail tracking to give you stronger documentation of what was delivered, when it was delivered, and who received it.

What It Includes

When you request Electronic Return Receipt with eligible USPS Certified Mail labels, you’ll receive:

• The date and time of delivery.
• The recipient’s signature.
• The signature of the recipient’s authorized agent, when applicable.
• The recipient’s actual delivery address if it differs from the address on the mailpiece.
• An electronic email or PDF record instead of a physical PS Form 3811 green card.
• An official USPS record designed to be equivalent to the hardcopy Return Receipt.
• A searchable digital record that is easier to organize than paper documentation.

The electronic receipt must be requested at the time of mailing. You cannot add it after the mailpiece has already been sent.

When You Need It

Electronic Return Receipt is useful whenever you need dependable proof that an important document was delivered and signed for, including:

• Legal notices and court-related correspondence.
• Collection letters and debt notices.
• Lease, eviction, and property management communications.
• Insurance and financial services documents.
• Healthcare, HR, and employment notices.
• Government and municipal correspondence.
• Regulatory, audit, and legal compliance mailing records.
• Any USPS Certified Mail document where a signature and delivery address matter.

USPS makes Electronic Return Receipt available with Certified Mail, Certified Mail Restricted Delivery, Collect on Delivery, Registered Mail, and insurance over $500 on eligible mail classes. It is not available for APO/FPO addresses or U.S. territories.

How It Works with Certified Mail Labels

When you add Electronic Return Receipt to your USPS Certified Mail label online with Certified Mail Labels, USPS captures the recipient’s signature electronically at delivery and delivers the record as a PDF. Certified Mail Labels emails the PDF delivery record and stores it with the acceptance scans, tracking events, and affidavit in your free 10-year compliance archive, searchable 24/7. You get a faster, easier way to manage proof of delivery without filing and protecting paper green cards.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Does Electronic Return Receipt Cost?

The USPS Electronic Return Receipt fee is $2.91 per piece as of July 12, 2026. The hardcopy PS Form 3811 green card costs $4.65, so the electronic option saves $1.74 per piece, in addition to postage and the Certified Mail fee.

Does Electronic Return Receipt Replace the Green Card?

Yes. Electronic Return Receipt is USPS’s electronic alternative to the green postcard. It provides delivery information and a signature record electronically instead of sending a physical card through the mail.

What Does an Electronic Return Receipt Prove?

It provides evidence of delivery, including the delivery date, the recipient’s or authorized agent’s signature, and the actual delivery address if different from the address on the mailpiece.

When Do I Request Electronic Return Receipt?

You must request it at the time of mailing. Select it while creating your Certified Mail label or arranging your eligible USPS mailing service.

Is an Electronic Return Receipt Accepted by Courts?

USPS designed Electronic Return Receipt as an official record equivalent to the hardcopy Return Receipt. USPS also notes that courts determine the legal status of electronic receipts, so check with your attorney or compliance officer for your specific legal compliance mailing requirements.

How Long Are Electronic Return Receipt Records Kept?

USPS keeps its own Electronic Return Receipt records for about two years, according to its FAQ. Certified Mail Labels stores every electronic return receipt PDF in your free 10-year compliance archive, along with mailing and delivery documentation.

Sources

• USPS Notice 123, Price List, updated July 12, 2026, USPS Postal Explorer, p. 28 ("Domestic—Extra Services and Fees"): Return Receipt, "Requested at time of mailing (Hard copy PS Form 3811) $4.65"; "Electronic $2.91."
• USPS DMM 503.6.1.1 "Description," updated July 12, 2026, Postal Explorer: "A return receipt may be purchased at the time of mailing and provides a mailer with evidence of delivery (to whom the mail was delivered and date of delivery), and information about the recipient's actual delivery address. A mailer purchasing a return receipt may choose to receive the return receipt by mail (PS Form 3811) or electronically (by email, or by signature extract file format under 1.8)."
• USPS FAQ, "What is Electronic Return Receipt?" (usps.com FAQ article 000007257): "Return Receipt (Electronic) is an electronic alternative to the Return Receipt (green postcard)"; it is "an official United States Postal Service document designed to be equivalent to the hardcopy Return Receipt that has been in use for many years."
• USPS FAQ, "Return Receipt – The Basics" (usps.com FAQ article 000006076): proof of delivery includes the date of delivery, the signature of the recipient (or the recipient's authorized agent), and information about the recipient's actual delivery address if different.