Virtual Mailbox & Form 1583 Rules in New York
A commercial mail receiving agency (CMRA) or private mailbox (PMB) service in New York cannot serve as your LLC's registered agent, though such an address may generally be used for business purposes (verification with your specific provider and the state is advisable). When opening a virtual mailbox account, you must complete USPS Form 1583, which typically requires notarization, though the United States Postal Service permits either a notary public or the CMRA owner to witness the form. New York residents can complete this process entirely online through a remote online notary (RON) licensed in New York, as the state has permitted permanent remote notarization of the 1583 since January 31, 2023.
Policies governing virtual mailboxes and notarization requirements are subject to change. Before proceeding, confirm current requirements on the official New York State and USPS websites. This overview is regulatory information only and does not constitute legal advice.
How a virtual mailbox works
A virtual mailbox is a real street address at a commercial mail-receiving agency (CMRA) that scans your mail; opening one means filing USPS PS Form 1583, witnessed by a notary or the provider, with two IDs.
| Detail | As the rule stands |
|---|---|
| Can a virtual mailbox be your registered agent? | No (a PMB cannot be your registered agent) |
| Can it be your LLC business address? | Generally yes — verify |
| Online notarization (RON) for Form 1583 | Online notarization (RON) available |
| Form 1583 witnessing | Notary or CMRA-owner witness (in person or by A/V) |
| PMB designator (address line) | 'PMB <number>' or '# <number>' (USPS DMM 508.1.4) |
| Governing citation | N.Y. Exec. Law §135-c; USPS DMM 508.1.8 |
Opening any virtual mailbox means filing USPS PS Form 1583. The form must be witnessed — by a notary or by the mailbox provider (the CMRA owner/manager), in person or by real-time audio-video under the 2024 CMRA Clarification rule — and you supply two acceptable IDs. It is usually notarized, and the notarization can be done online via remote online notarization (RON) wherever the state allows it.
Confirm before you file. This is informational only, not legal advice. The official state Secretary of State / notary page and USPS are the authoritative sources.
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Compiled from the USPS federal baseline (DMM 508 / 39 CFR) and the state notary/RON statute, and verified June 2026. Always confirm the current rule on the official state Secretary of State / notary page before you rely on it — RON law is still moving. How we compile this. Informational only, not legal advice.