Virtual Mailbox & Form 1583 Rules in Illinois
A commercial mail receiving agency (CMRA) or private mailbox (PMB) service in Illinois cannot serve as your LLC's registered agent, though such addresses are generally acceptable as a business address (verification recommended). When opening a virtual mailbox account with the U.S. Postal Service, you must complete Form 1583, which typically requires either notarization by a notary public or witnessing by the CMRA owner. Illinois residents may complete this process entirely online: the state permits remote online notarization (RON) of the Form 1583, with permanent RON authority effective January 1, 2024.
This setup allows Illinois business owners to establish virtual mailbox accounts without traveling to a physical location. However, notarization requirements and CMRA eligibility rules can change and vary by circumstance. Confirm current requirements on the Illinois Secretary of State's official website and the USPS Form 1583 instructions before proceeding. This overview is regulatory information only and does not constitute legal advice; consult a qualified attorney for guidance specific to your situation.
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 | 5 ILCS 312 (amended 2024); 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.