WEST VALLEY CITY — The U.S. Postal Service approved three preferred city ZIP code changes to its database, making it easier for customers and online companies to do business.
Many businesses rely on the database to determine what city a ZIP code is in. West Valley City pushed to have several ZIP codes reflect the correct city.
Starting Jan. 1, 2014, residents and businesses in ZIP codes 84119, 84120 and 84128 will see their preferred ZIP code change from Salt Lake City to West Valley City in the postal service database.
A fourth ZIP code, 84118, which includes a significant population of Kearns residents, will keep Salt Lake City as the preferred city.
“In our digital age, postal databases matter more than ever for getting e-commerce right," West Valley City Mayor Mike Winder said.
The change was made because some businesses in West Valley City had to say they are in Salt Lake City when they really aren’t. The Postal Service had said the ZIP codes were technically a branch of the Salt Lake City Post Office.
The change will ensure that online sales tax, if collected, is distributed to the correct city. The change will also help improve the city’s economic development efforts and ensure accurate voter representation if a vote-by-mail system is implemented in the future, city officials said.