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Feedback on Mail Forwarding Service / Virtual Address

Last activity 22 October 2024 by Ivair Gontijo

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Pablo888

I have a USPS mailbox where I send stuff related to my small business but USPS has increased prices for a small postal box from $120 about 5 years ago to $220 this year.


In addition to the uncontrollable price increases because USPS is bleeding money, I am really not happy with the service.  The mailbox receives mostly mail from the previous owner and junk mail.  The scan and email notification feature of the postal box does not work as I often get emails notifying me that there is nothing - and when I go check, there is mostly junk mail.


I have this mail box mainly because I need an address for my business and do not expect regular mail.


Now, before I renew my PO Box, I would like to get feedback from expats who have mail forwarding service / virtual addresses. 


What is your experience with the service that you are using?


Here is the result of the google search for this service in US:

  1. iPostal 1 (https://ipostal1.com/) plans start at $9.99/ month.  You can get locations in all US states.
  2. Anytime Mailbox (https://www.anytimemailbox.com/l/usa/california) from $5.00/month depending on location.
  3. Travelingmailbox (https://travelingmailbox.com) starting at $15/month
  4. PostScan Mail (https://www.postscanmail.com/) starting at $20/month.
  5. VirtualPostMail (https://www.virtualpostmail.com/) starting at $20/month
  6. usglobalmail (https://www.usglobalmail.com/virtual-mailbox/) starting at $20/month)
  7. usa2me (https://www.usa2me.com/signup/pgeRatePlans.aspx) starting at $10/month)


Can anyone can provide thumbs up or thumbs down feedback on the above or propose other service providers?  Feel free to add a new dimension to this list - i.e. mailbox forwarders in Canada, UK, etc...

abthree

09/02/24 @Pablo888.  I've used US Global Mail for seven years now, and I'm very satisfied with them.  Since I pay annually, it's only $14.95/mo.  The scanning service is very good.  They provide a range of options at different prices if I want mail to be physically shipped.  This is the billing address on my credit cards, so my replacement cards go there automatically and I can control how they're shipped to me.  Having a mailing address in a state without a state income tax (several of the services provide this) is a real convenience.   Since the Bill-To address on my credit cards is in Texas I get charged Texas sales tax for online purchases in the US, but I don't do enough to be a concern.


I have no idea how well they handle business addresses.

Pablo888

Since the Bill-To address on my credit cards is in Texas I get charged Texas sales tax for online purchases in the US, but I don't do enough to be a concern.
I have no idea how well they handle business addresses.
   

    -@abthree

Thank you @abthree.  I am looking at tax free sales tax states and I get Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon.  Given that this is only a virtual address and this can be anywhere in the US, is there an advantage to get an address in Delaware?  I know so many companies who incorporate in Delaware to avoid this tax issue.


Do you think that it would be worth it to try Delaware?  If you think it to be worth it, I will try to set one there.

abthree

09/03/24Thank you @abthree.  I am looking at tax free sales tax states and I get Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon.  Given that this is only a virtual address and this can be anywhere in the US, is there an advantage to get an address in Delaware?  I know so many companies who incorporate in Delaware to avoid this tax issue.
Do you think that it would be worth it to try Delaware?  If you think it to be worth it, I will try to set one there.   

    -@Pablo888


Be careful:  Delaware has a state income tax.   My original forwarding address was in North Carolina -- a state where I have never lived -- and when I made a random IRA withdrawal, North Carolina tried to withhold income tax because my mailing address was there.  If you choose a state with an income tax, check with your brokerage accounts first to be sure that won't happen to you.


(I canceled that transaction, changed my mailing address Texas, and lived happily ever after. 😂)

Pablo888

(I canceled that transaction, changed my mailing address Texas, and lived happily ever after. 😂)
   

    -@abthree

Thank you @abthree.  Texas, it is then....

abthree


    (I canceled that transaction, changed my mailing address Texas, and lived happily ever after. 😂)        -@abthree
Thank you @abthree.  Texas, it is then....
   

    -@Pablo888


You said that New Hampshire is also on your list.  Last I looked, NH had no sales or income tax, so they could be a good option.

Pablo888


You said that New Hampshire is also on your list.  Last I looked, NH had no sales or income tax, so they could be a good option.
   

    -@abthree

I found the following article ->


https://theconversation.com/how-do-9-st … 20Wyoming.


NH is not a good choice as there is income tax on money earned from stocks / investments - which means also from 401K.


Between Alaska or Texas, I think that Texas is a better bet...  I think that you made a good choice.

lalajaja

@abthree I wish these guys had a location in South Dakota. I've been trying to do research to find PMB.

abthree

10/13/24  @abthree I wish these guys had a location in South Dakota. I've been trying to do research to find PMB. -@lalajaja


Now you've piqued my curiosity!  What's the particular advantage of South Dakota? 

lalajaja

@abthree They're very supportive for RVers, expats, etc. You can get a driver's license there by spending one night in a hotel. You can put the PMB address on it. No income tax.

abthree

10/13/24 @abthree They're very supportive for RVers, expats, etc. You can get a driver's license there by spending one night in a hotel. You can put the PMB address on it. No income tax. -@lalajaja


Those ARE interesting benefits!  Some of the services do have addresses in multiple states, so be sure to ask them specifically about SD -- they may surprise you.

lalajaja

@abthree Yea, I've been researching different ones. SD isn't super common surprisingly. Apparently, some don't forward mail to Brazil for some reason.

Ivair Gontijo

@lalajaja

Hello! Any news on the South Dakota mail forwarding service? Do they forward to Brazil?

Also, did you manage to get your drivers license transferred to SD?

I am also interested in the SD option that you mentioned, as I will be moving to Brazil soon and will retire there. It would be great to keep my US drivers license, but for that I need to transfer it from CA to another state.

After the move, I won't be able to give the DMV in CA an address here, so they will not renew it when it expires. In addition, if I were to get an address in CA, I would have to pay state income tax here, even after the move.

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