When you connect a USPS Ship account, choosing the right payment method is important. Each option works a little differently and can affect how charges appear and how labels are processed.
This guide explains how credit card, ACH debit, and Trust balance work, so you know what to expect and can choose the best setup for your business.
Topics
- How USPS collects postage
- Credit card (ADS holds explained)
- ACH debit (daily withdrawals)
- Trust balance (what it is and why it exists)
- Choosing the right payment method
How USPS collects postage
When you create USPS Ship labels, postage is not always charged immediately. USPS typically processes postage daily, rather than processing each label individually.
If a label has a future ship date, the charge may be delayed.
Credit card (Anticipated Daily Spend holds)
If you choose to pay by credit card, USPS requires you to set an Anticipated Daily Spend (ADS) amount.
What to expect
- USPS places a temporary authorization hold on your card each day.
- The hold amount is based on your ADS.
- For example, if your ADS is $500, USPS will place a $500 temporary authorization hold on your credit card each day.
- This is not a charge, but it will appear as a pending transaction.
Why this happens
- USPS uses this hold to confirm your card can cover your expected daily shipping volume.
Important details
- You may see multiple days of holds at the same time.
- Holds may take a few days to release, depending on your bank.
- If you use future ship dates or ship over a weekend, holds may remain longer before final charges are applied.
What this means
- USPS is reserving funds on your card to make sure your shipments can be processed without interruption.
ACH debit (bank account payments)
If you choose ACH debit, USPS will pull funds directly from your bank account.
What to expect
- USPS automatically withdraws postage charges daily.
- There are no credit card-style holds.
- Payments are processed after labels are created.
Important requirement
- You must maintain a Trust balance equal to 3x your Anticipated Daily Spend (ADS).
Why this is required
- Bank transfers can take time to fully process. The Trust balance acts as a safeguard in case a payment is delayed or rejected.
What this means
- USPS charges your bank account each day for the postage you use, and the Trust balance serves as a safety net.
Trust balance (backup or pre-funded account)
The Trust balance is a pre-funded account held within USPS.
What to expect
- Funds must be manually added by you. USPS cannot pull funds into the Trust.
- You can fund it by:
- Wire transfer
- Check
- Deposit at a local post office
How it is used
- Acts as a backup payment method for ACH or credit card.
- May also be used as a primary payment method if configured that way.
Why it exists
- Payments can take time to process. If a payment fails or is delayed, USPS uses the Trust balance to cover postage already generated.
Important details
- For ACH accounts, Trust must be funded to at least 3x ADS.
- If Trust runs out, USPS may block label creation until funds are added.
What this means
- Think of Trust as a prepaid backup fund that keeps your shipping running even if a payment does not go through right away.
Choosing the right payment method
Here is a quick comparison:
Credit card
- Easier to set up
- No pre-funding required
- You will see daily authorization holds (ADS)
ACH debit
- No credit card holds
- USPS pulls funds automatically each day
- Requires maintaining a funded Trust balance
Trust balance (if used as the primary payment)
- Fully prepaid approach
- Requires manual funding
- Less common for most customers