Illegal Mail Carrier Gifts You Didn’t Know Could Get Them in Trouble

‘Tis the season for giving, and a lot of us want to show appreciation to the people who make our lives easier every single day, but we need to make sure we don't get anyone in trouble!

From delivery drivers to sanitation workers to the mail carrier who keeps our holiday shipping chaos under control, a small gesture can feel like the perfect way to say thank you. However, when it comes to your USPS mail carrier, there are very specific rules about what they can and cannot accept.

USPS Employees Follow Strict Federal Gift Rules

Maybe you set out a snack basket for delivery drivers like my friend, Ash, or slip a fun treat into a holiday card taped to your trash toter like my friend Megan. These are both thoughtful traditions, but when it comes to the US Postal Service, employees operate under strict federal ethics rules. That means some gifts are allowed, and some are prohibited, even if the intention behind them is completely well-meaning and kind.

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USPS follows the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch. Those regulations apply to every postal employee across the country. Understanding the rules can help you choose a gift that feels festive without putting your carrier in a difficult position.

Why Cash and Certain Gift Cards Are Always Forbidden

USPS workers are allowed to accept a gift valued at $20 or less per occasion, and no more than $50 in total from a single customer per calendar year. They cannot accept cash, checks, gift cards issued by banks or credit card companies, or anything that can be exchanged for cash.

Read More: Evansville Holiday Coffee Drink Guide

Holiday Gifts Your Mail Carrier Is Allowed to Receive

Permitted gifts include:

• Modest food items such as cookies, candy, or nonalcoholic drinks
• A holiday card
• A gift card for a coffee shop or restaurant, as long as the face value is twenty dollars or less

Gifts USPS Mail Carriers Are Not Allowed to Accept

What They Cannot Accept

• Cash of any amount
• Gift cards that function as cash or can be used anywhere
• Alcohol
• Any gift worth more than twenty dollars

Simple, Legal Gift Ideas Your Carrier Will Appreciate

If you want to spread a little holiday cheer to your mail carrier, a simple treat, a handwritten card, or a small coffee shop gift card is perfectly acceptable and genuinely appreciated. It is a great way to say thank you while keeping everyone on the right side of the regulations.

Happy gifting and happy holidays.