What determines the timeliness of actions executed by mail or carrier?

The timeliness of actions executed by mail or carrier is determined by the postmark date or the date indicated by the carrier. This means that when a document is sent, the date that appears on the postmark is used as the official date for all purposes, including determining whether the action was performed on time. The rationale behind this is that the sender's responsibility is fulfilled when the action is handed over to the postal or delivery service, and the date of the postmark serves as proof of that submission.

For example, if a document has a postmark date of the deadline, it would be considered timely submitted, even if it arrives after the deadline. This standard allows for a reliable and consistent method of verifying the timing of sent materials, thereby ensuring that parties are not unfairly penalized for delays that occur after the documents are mailed.