Skip to main content

File PS Form 3526, Statement of Ownership by Sept. 30

Members are reminded PS Form 3526, Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation, must be filed by Sept. 30 with the post office where newspapers are mailed.
In addition, the statement must be published during the month of October.
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 Oct. 10, and non-dailies by Oct. 31. 
The proper form to use has a July 2014 date at the very bottom. A copy of the form is available for download by clicking here. The ability to claim electronic subscribers is now incorporated into the form. (PS Form 3526x (worksheet) is no longer necessary.) 
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. The figures on Page two relate only to print copies. Page three is for claiming paid electronic copies. The entries there are straightforward. 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 percent 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 percent total paid subscribers on your Statement of Ownership could trigger a USPS circulation audit to verify your Periodicals eligibility. Also, at least 40 percent of your paid circulation must consist of printed copies. 
For newspapers filing postal reports electronically through Postal One, USPS form 3526 may be filled out and filed online on that site. Instructions are located here. Be sure to keep or print a copy for publication during the month of October.

 

Tags