USPS® database release schedule
and ordering suggestions

The ZIP + 4®, DPV®, LACSLink®, and eLOT® databases licensed from the Postal Service™ by Semaphore Corporation are released and published according to the following schedule established by the USPS and documented in Section 708.3.3.1 of the Domestic Mail Manual: 
Postal Service  Disc published  Period when database  Database and
releases data   by Semaphore    is normally used      disc expires
--------------  -------------   --------------------  ------------
January         February        March and April       May 1
February        March           April and May         June 1
March           April           May and June          July 1
April           May             June and July         August 1
May             June            July and August       September 1
June            July            August and September  October 1
July            August          September and October November 1
August          September       October and November  December 1
September       October         November and December January 1
October         November        December and January  February 1
November        December        January and February  March 1
December        January         February and March    April 1

Any current database purchased and delivered before the normal two-month use period is fully functional upon receipt and may immediately be used. (Databases from the Postal Service are delivered to us on unpredictable dates. Databases are processed and published on discs as quickly as possible, but actual distribution dates will vary with each edition. Do NOT assume any disc edition is available more than one week before the normal two-month use period.)

An "expired" ZIP + 4 database is completely functional except for the ability to generate CASS™ form 3553 and the ability to support simultaneous multi-user access. Any ZP4 disc (with the corresponding LACSLink disc) gives you at least a two-month window (until the expiration date) during which you can generate as many CASS forms for as many mailing lists as you wish. Each CASS form is good for 180 days for ZIP + 4 discounts or 90 days for carrier route discounts, and a CASS form can be re-used within that period as long as the corresponding mailing list remains unchanged.

The DPV database included on the ZP4 DVD-ROM is not useable after the expiration date. The companion LACSLink and eLOT databases distributed on CD-ROM are not useable after the expiration date.

  • If you're a single user generating CASS forms on an irregular schedule, you only need to purchase one ZP4 disc and the corresponding LACSLink disc that together expire anytime after the day you need to create any desired CASS form.
  • If you generate CASS forms every month, you only need to purchase a ZP4 disc and LACSLink disc every other month, since each edition of ZP4 with LACSLink can generate CASS forms for two months (until the expiration date).
  • If you repeatedly mail to the same unchanged list, you can re-use the same CASS form for six months (for ZIP + 4 discounts) or three months (for carrier route discounts), so you only need to purchase one ZP4 disc and the corresponding LACSLink disc that expire anytime after the day you need to create a new CASS form. A new CASS form would be required after the form re-use period ends, or if you add, change, or delete any addresses in the list.
  • If you don't require CASS, you don't need to include LACSLink with your ZP4 purchases.
  • If you operate a multi-user configuration, you only need to purchase a ZP4 disc every other month, since any number of employees can share one installed ZP4 database for the two months until the expiration date. (ZP4 databases can't be installed on multiple machines without purchasing multiple copies of ZP4 data discs.)
  • If your business always requires the latest available data, you should purchase a ZP4 disc every month.
  • If your applications require monthly data like RDI™, SuiteLink™, DirectDPV™, Geo, or NCOALink®, you must purchase the corresponding monthly ZP4 disc.
  • If you want the greatest possible overlap between delivered editions, you should purchase a ZP4 disc every month to avoid problems such as forgetting to reorder, misplacing deliveries, losing or damaging master discs, and other disasters.

    The companion SuiteLink, DirectDPV, and Geo databases are published monthly on disc, expire every 30 days (one month before the ZP4 edition with the corresponding published date expires, as shown below), and are not useable after the expiration date.

    SuiteLink, DirectDPV, and Geo database schedule

  • Find an address.
  • How to get your own copy of the address database.
    Semaphore Corporation is a non-exclusive licensee of the United States Postal Service®. The prices of Semaphore Corporation products are not established, controlled or approved by the Postal Service. The following trademarks are owned by the United States Postal Service: CASS, DirectDPV, DPV, eLOT, LACSLink, NCOALink, RDI, SuiteLink, ZIP + 4, USPS, Postal Service, and United States Postal Service. [DA#4.07]