I have been searching for the most recent list of Postal Codes in US but I most of them are two or three years old. I did cross check them with the Google Maps, though most of them them were correct but I can say 5% of them were not. Then it made me thinking from where does Google update it's data about Postal Codes? Any leads?
[GIS] Where does Google get updated data about postal codes
google mapspostal-code
Best Answer
One of the biggest misconceptions GIS users have about ZIP codes is that they are a set of polygons that cover the United States--they are not. ZIP codes are a system used by the Postal Service for sorting mail before delivery, and nothing more. If an address receives enough mail, the USPS will just assign them a ZIP code to improve sorting efficiency. Many post offices also have a separate ZIP code just for their P.O. Boxes.
The ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are a best-estimate made by the Census Bureau about the spatial delineation of ZIP codes, reverse-engineered from responses to the Bureau's surveys. But it is not exact. I've found significant differences between ZIP codes (from geocoded addresses) and ZCTAs, especially in areas with uneven distribution of postal mail, like dense urban centers, commercial and industrial parks, and very rural areas. Depending on your workflow, this may make ZCTAs inappropriate for further use.
The USPS does make some of their own ZIP code data available, as described in this USPS FAQ. But certainly nothing like a shapefile with national coverage.