Skip to main content

Revised postal form has October deadline for dailies, weeklies

The deadline for filing your Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation (PS Form 3526) with the U.S. Postal Service is October 1 of each year. The filing and publication of this form is a requirement for maintaining Periodicals mailing privileges. Dailies must publish a completed copy of this form in their newspaper by October 10, and non-dailies by October 31.
USPS has revised PS form 3526. The new form has a July 2014 date at the very bottom of the form. The ability to claim electronic subscribers has been incorporated into the new form. PS Form 3526x (worksheet) is no longer necessary. Completing the form the last two years was confusing, especially having to use the worksheet. The new form is more straight forward and easier to complete.
PS Form 3526 is a three page form with a fourth page of instructions. Page one has not changed, and includes information on ownership and management. Page two will look familiar. The figures on this page relate only to print copies. Page three is for claiming Paid Electronic Copies. The entries there are very straight forward. Claiming electronic paid subscribers is voluntary. If you choose to not claim electronic copies, page three has a box to certify that at least 50% of all distributed copies are paid for above a nominal price, and a signature section.
There are specific requirements as to what defines a paid electronic subscriber. A print subscriber that is given free access to your electronic version is not a paid electronic subscriber. A paid electronic subscriber must pay a separate subscription rate that you have established for electronic subscribers. You are allowed to offer discounts to this rate but there are limitations.
Additionally, reporting less than 60% total paid subscribers on your Statement of Ownership could trigger a USPS circulation audit to verify your Periodicals eligibility. Also, at least 40% of your paid circulation must consist of printed copies.
An interactive template of the PS Form 3526 is available on the Texas Press Association website under Statement of Ownership in the dropdown menu under the tab Other Services. If you are submitting your Statement of Ownership through PostalOne, the new form should be there.
Please fax or mail a completed copy of you Statement of Ownership to the Texas Press Association office. Fax number is 512-477-6759. Mailing address is 305 S. Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78704. If you have any questions please contact TPA Periodicals Consultant Joel Allis at jallis@texaspress.com or at 512-585-6239.