NCOA

National Change of Address

A centralized database maintained by the United States Postal Service (USPS) that contains records of individuals, families, and businesses who have filed an official change-of-address (COA) request. The system was established to support efficient mail forwarding and enhance mail deliverability nationwide.

The database includes information on both permanent and temporary address changes, and it is updated continuously as new COA forms are submitted online, in person, or by mail. NCOA records typically remain active in the system for 48 months from the date of the change.

For organizations that rely on direct mail, such as marketers, nonprofits, financial institutions, and government agencies, access to NCOA data is vital for maintaining up-to-date mailing lists. It helps reduce returned mail, saves postage and printing costs, and ensures messages reach their intended recipients.

Access to the NCOA database itself is not public; instead, it is distributed through USPS-licensed services such as NCOALink, which allows approved vendors and software platforms to compare mailing lists against the NCOA file and apply updates accordingly.

By integrating NCOA-compliant processes, organizations can not only reduce waste but also meet USPS Move Update requirements, a key compliance standard for discounted mailing rates.