Virtual Mailbox & Form 1583 Rules in Washington
A commercial mail receiving agency (CMRA) or private mailbox (PMB) cannot serve as your LLC's registered agent in Washington. However, a CMRA address may generally be used as your business address, though you should verify current requirements with the state. When opening a virtual mailbox, USPS requires a PS Form 1583, which typically needs to be notarized or witnessed by the mailbox provider's authorized representative. Washington permits remote online notarization (RON) under its permanent program effective October 2020, allowing notaries to witness the 1583 entirely online through an in-state notary.
Because notarization rules and regulatory requirements can change, confirm current procedures directly on the official Washington state page and relevant USPS guidance before proceeding. This overview is factual information only and does not constitute legal or compliance advice. Consult appropriate state agencies or a qualified professional for specific guidance on 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 | Wash. Rev. Code §42.45 (RON); 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. This state's RON status is currently medium-confidence (the exact statute section is not yet pinned), so treat the online-notarization detail as a starting point and confirm it on the official page. How we compile this. Informational only, not legal advice.