Can I use general delivery when an address will not validate?
Overview
You need to validate an address that won't validate.
Environment
AvaTax
Resolution
- AvaTax can only validate addresses in the US and Canada
- Confirm the address is accurate using an internet search to verify if it's missing information:
- Check for a directional (NW, SE, East) or a different type of street (Road, Boulevard, etc.) and the format
- If a good address doesn't validate, most likely it hasn't been registered with USPS or Canada Post yet
- Use General Delivery on Line 2 to validate using the Postal (ZIP) Code to complete address validation immediately, if needed (see Note)
- The Zip Code must be in that State/Province for General Delivery to work.
- If the address validates with USPS or Canada Post, you can ensure the address is added to our database as soon as possible by with the following information:
- Full street address (House number, street, City, State/Province, Zip/Postal code)
- Image of location from online map (Google, Bing, MapQuest, etc.) showing the physical location pinpoint
- Screenshot from USPS or Canada Post showing the address is valid
- General Delivery will no longer be needed once the address is added to our system
- We'll review the provided information and update our database if possible. If it's not possible to update our database, we'll provide specific next steps
Note: Ensuring the address is registered with USPS or Canada Post (as appropriate) will eliminate the need for including "General Delivery" in future. To use General Delivery:
- Fill in the rest of the address as normal, including City, State, and Zip code
- For systems with only one address line, list General Delivery at the end of Line 1 (after the street address)
- The City, State, and Zip code must be accurate or the address will still be rejected (error prevents saving)
- We'll return tax for the postal (zip) code, not the specific street address, using the General Delivery area