How do I prove the date of deposit for Priority Mail Express® submissions to the USPTO?

This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.

To prove the date of deposit for Priority Mail Express® submissions to the USPTO, you should:

• Retain the ‘date-in’ receipt from the USPS, which shows the ‘date-in’ of deposit with the USPS.
• Ensure the ‘date-in’ or the ‘date accepted’ appears on the Priority Mail Express® mailing label.

According to MPEP 513:

The date of deposit with the USPS is shown by the ‘date-in’ on the ‘Priority Mail Express®’ mailing label or other official USPS notation. If the USPS deposit date cannot be determined, the correspondence will be accorded the USPTO receipt date as the filing date.

It’s crucial to keep this receipt as evidence in case any questions arise about the filing date of your submission.