How to Return Mail to Sender

Did you receive mail that isn't yours and need to send it back? It happens. Can you return unwanted mail to the sender? Short answer: yes. But, there are a few reasons for returning mail to the sender and different ways for each.

“Return to sender” is a common policy used by the United States Postal Service (USPS), UPS, FedEx, DHL, and other carriers to handle mail items that are misdelivered or rejected. Put simply, you can send back mail that wasn’t intended for you or that you don’t want to accept, and we’ll show you how to return to sender in the steps below.

With return to sender, a mail carrier will pick up the mail item, whether it's delivered to the wrong address or rejected, and send it back to the sender. 

Generally, when you indicate that a piece of mail should be returned, the mail carrier will reroute it back through their system and send it to the return address listed on the parcel. If there’s no return mailing address, they may send it to a processing center for further investigation. Still, the exact steps you need to take depend on whether the mail is: 

• Addressed to someone who no longer lives at your address
• Delivered to the wrong address
• Unwanted and something you want to refuse 
• Opened or tampered with

For each of these scenarios, we’ll cover the correct process to return mail to its sender in the following sections. 

Mail for someone who doesn't live at your address

You should follow the steps provided by the USPS if you've recently moved and received the previous resident's mail. This happens often, and there's an easy way to fix it.

1. Write “Not at This Address" on the parcel, but don’t mark over the address. Also, you need to make sure any barcodes are crossed out (if you don't do this, you risk the chance of the letter or package coming back to your address).
2. Give the mail back to your carrier or put it in a USPS mail collection box. You can return the mail by putting it back in your mailbox or giving it back to your mail carrier.

If it's a letter, you can also find the blue collection boxes around your town and drop it in there. Make sure you've written “Not at This Address" on the mail item.

If you shared a mailing address with a loved one who died, you can open and manage their mail as needed or forward it to a different address. Additionally, to reduce advertising mail, you can register the deceased’s name with the Data & Marketing Association’s Deceased Do Not Contact List (DDNC). 

Mail delivered to the wrong address

Mistakes happen. If your mail carrier delivered a mail item that displays a different address, it's easy to get redelivered—and you have two options:

1. Put the mail item back in your mailbox. If you have a standalone mailbox, put the red flag up. If you have a communal mailbox, put the letter in the collection box.
2. Hand the mail item to your mail carrier. Handing your mail item directly to your mail carrier is the best approach if you receive a misdelivered package that can’t fit in your mailbox. When returning to sender this route, you do not and should not write anything on the envelope or package. It may, however, be helpful to your postman if you leave a sticky note on the item to inform them of the situation.

If you or someone you know receives mail at a difficult address with frequently misdelivered mail, you should reach out to your local post office and file a formal complaint. 

Mail that you don't want

If you receive a mail item addressed to you and it has the correct address, you have the option to refuse it.

1. Write “Refused" on the mail item. Once you mark the mail item, return it to your mail carrier—through the collection box or handing it to your mail carrier.
2. Select the “Refused" box on a signature slip. Certain types of mail come with a slip with delivery instructions and options. Check the box “Refused," and the mail carrier will not complete the delivery and will return to the sender.

This option works for mail that requires a signature, such as certified and registered mail, a Priority Mail Express item, and Collect on Delivery (COD). Please note you cannot refuse mail if you have already signed for the mail item. If you've signed off on the letter or package, then you will need to pay the postage to send it back.

If you want to reduce the amount of unsolicited marketing mail addressed to you, register with DMAchoice, a service provided by the Association of National Advertisers (ANA). However, note that you’ll need to pay a $6 processing fee along with your registration.

Mail that you accidentally opened

Once you’ve opened a piece of mail that doesn’t belong to you, you can’t mark it as “Refused” and give it back to the post office or your delivery person—even if you’ve carefully resealed it. Instead, you should complete these steps: 

1. Place the opened mail in a new envelope or wrapper. 
2. Address the new envelope correctly to the original sender. 
3. Apply new postage to the envelope. 

Since you’re essentially mailing a new item, you’ll be responsible for covering the cost of postage. In cases of severe damage or if you’re unsure of how to proceed, you may want to consult your local post office for guidance on what to do next. 

What to do if mail is returned to you

If you send mail to someone else and it’s returned to you, you can follow these steps to resolve the issue: 

Check the address

First, carefully review the recipient’s address that you initially provided on the returned mail. Compare it to your records or the information the recipient gave you. Look for any typos, missing apartment numbers, incorrect designators (e.g., “Avenue” or “South”), or ZIP codes. If you find a mistake, simply correct it and resend the mail with the new postage. 

Contact USPS or the shipping carrier

If the address still seems correct, reach out to the USPS or the relevant shipping carrier who returned the parcel, as they may be able to tell you why this happened and how to resolve the issue. You can visit your local post office or shipping store, call their customer service line, or check their website. In some situations, it might be as simple as a minor delay with outgoing mail waiting to be delivered.

Contact the recipient directly

If all else fails, try to get in touch with the intended recipient directly. Verify their current address and ask if they’ve had any mail delivery issues. If the issue persists, you might consider asking the recipient about alternate delivery options, such as having the post office hold their mail for pickup or arranging for delivery to a different address. You might also consider signing up for a USPS informed delivery account to track the mail’s status. 

FAQs

Does it cost money to return to sender?

No, it doesn’t typically cost money to return to the sender if you follow the above guidelines. However, if you have opened the mail and need to send it back in a new envelope, you will be responsible for covering the postage cost. 

How long does it take to return mail to sender?

How long it takes for a letter or package to be returned to the sender depends on the mail class used. When you return it to the sender, the mail item is returned in the same mail class used to send it. For example, if the letter or package you received came as Priority mail, they will return it like that.

How do I return to sender if I have an LZ Mail account?

Return to the sender is easy with your account at LZ Mail. If you receive a piece of mail that's not addressed to you, click the “Not My Mail" button on your dashboard. The mail item is returned to our processing team to ensure that it gets properly delivered to the correct person.

Wish return to sender was as easy as a click of a button? Sign up for a virtual mailbox here.

What types of mail are not returnable?

Certain types of mail, such as legal summons, court documents, or government notices, can’t typically be returned to the sender. For certified, insured, or other special mail types, you must also pay for delivery if you've already accepted the item (unless the sender provided a prepaid shipping label).

What if I received a return to sender notice but the address is correct? 

If you receive a return to sender notice despite having the correct address, it’s possible that the recipient moved, refused the mail, or had an issue with their address that prevented the carrier from delivering the outgoing mail. It’s best to contact the recipient or the post office directly to resolve the issue.