What DNS records are required for the new Yahoo Complaint Feedback Loop (CFL) and can ESPs manage this for clients?
Matthew Whittaker
Co-founder & CTO, Suped
Published 22 May 2025
Updated 19 Aug 2025
9 min read
Understanding how mailbox providers like Yahoo track and report user complaints is fundamental to maintaining a healthy sender reputation. Complaint feedback loops (FBLs), also known as complaint feedback loops (CFLs), are crucial tools that notify senders when recipients mark their emails as spam. This data is invaluable for identifying issues, suppressing disengaged users, and preventing your emails from landing in the spam folder.
Yahoo has recently introduced changes to its CFL program, moving it into their new Sender Hub dashboard. This transition requires senders to update their setup to continue receiving vital complaint data. A key part of this update involves specific DNS records that need to be in place for enrollment and verification. Many senders are wondering what exact DNS records are now required and if their Email Service Provider (ESP) can manage this on their behalf.
This guide will walk you through the necessary DNS configurations for the new Yahoo CFL and clarify the role ESPs play in this process. Staying on top of these requirements is essential for maintaining strong email deliverability and ensuring your messages reach the inbox, not the junk folder.
The importance of complaint feedback loops
Complaint Feedback Loops (CFLs), also often called feedback loops (FBLs), are critical for any sender's email program. They serve as a direct communication channel from internet service providers (ISPs) to email senders, providing reports on users who have marked an email as spam. Without this information, it is nearly impossible to accurately gauge user sentiment and manage your mailing lists effectively, leading to increased spam complaints and potential blocklistings (or blacklistings).
Most major inbox providers, including Yahoo, Google, and Microsoft, offer these feedback loops. They help senders maintain good standing by providing timely notifications about unwanted mail. This allows for prompt removal of complaining subscribers, which is crucial for preserving your sender reputation and avoiding email blocklists.
The new Yahoo CFL system is domain-based, meaning it relies heavily on your DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) signing domain. This shift emphasizes the importance of proper email authentication for all senders, particularly with the latest requirements from Gmail and Yahoo. If you're not receiving Yahoo complaints, it could indicate an issue with your CFL setup or that your emails are already landing in spam before users can click the complaint button.
DNS records for CFL enrollment
To enroll in the new Yahoo Complaint Feedback Loop, there are specific DNS records you must publish. The primary requirement is that your emails must be DKIM-signed using the domain you wish to register for CFL reports. This DKIM domain is the identifier Yahoo uses to tie complaints back to your sending activity. Beyond DKIM, Yahoo requires a specific TXT record for domain verification within the Sender Hub.
DKIM record
Your DKIM record authenticates your emails, proving they haven't been tampered with in transit. Yahoo's CFL program is specifically tied to the DKIM d= domain in your email headers. Ensure this domain has a valid DKIM record published in your DNS.
Yahoo verification TXT record
Once you register your DKIM domain within the Yahoo Sender Hub, you'll be instructed to add a specific TXT record to your domain's DNS. This record serves as proof of domain ownership and authorizes Yahoo to provide you with CFL data for that domain. The exact value will be provided by Yahoo during the registration process.
Additionally, while not directly part of the CFL enrollment DNS, general good email practices dictate having proper MX (Mail Exchange) records for your complaint receiving mailbox and valid reverse DNS (PTR) records for your sending IPs. These are crucial for overall email deliverability, preventing your mail from being flagged as suspicious or ending up on a blocklist (or blacklist).
ESPs and Yahoo CFL management
A common question arises: Can my ESP manage the new Yahoo CFL setup for me, or do I need to handle it myself? The answer largely depends on your ESP's DKIM signing practices. Many ESPs utilize a method known as double DKIM signing.
Double DKIM signing by ESPs
If your ESP applies a second DKIM signature using their own domain (in addition to your domain's DKIM signature), they can often enroll in the Yahoo CFL program directly using their DKIM domain. In this scenario, you, as the client, typically wouldn't need to publish any new DNS records for the CFL specifically. The ESP handles the registration and receives the complaint data, which they then process and provide to you through their platform. This is the ideal scenario for most senders, as it simplifies management.
Client-managed DKIM and CFL enrollment
However, if your ESP only applies your DKIM signature to the emails you send (or if they do not double sign), then your domain is the one Yahoo sees as the primary signing domain. In this case, you would need to manage the Yahoo CFL registration yourself. This involves logging into the Yahoo Sender Hub, registering your DKIM domain, and publishing the required TXT record for verification.
ESPs with double DKIM signing
Responsibility: The ESP manages CFL enrollment and receives complaint data using their own DKIM domain.
DNS records: Clients typically do not need to add any new DNS records for CFL.
Data flow: Complaints are sent to the ESP, who then provides aggregated data to the client.
ESPs without double DKIM signing
Responsibility: The client is responsible for CFL enrollment and receiving complaint data.
DNS records: Clients must add the Yahoo verification TXT record to their domain's DNS.
Data flow: Complaints are sent directly to the client's designated mailbox.
Regardless of who manages the CFL, having access to complaint data is crucial. If your ESP isn't providing this data, or if you suspect discrepancies, it's wise to discuss their FBL practices and data reporting with them.
Navigating the transition and common issues
Yahoo has been actively transitioning senders to the new Sender Hub and its associated CFL program. This means that the old, pre-existing FBLs are being retired. If you were previously receiving complaint data through the old system, it's essential to ensure your setup is updated to the new CFL to avoid any interruption in receiving these vital reports.
Old versus new CFL systems
For a period, both the old and new systems may run in parallel, but eventually, the old system will be discontinued. This means if you rely on Yahoo FBL data, you must transition your enrollment to the Sender Hub. This usually involves re-registering your domain and publishing the new TXT verification record. Your ESP should have communicated these changes to you, especially if they manage your DKIM and FBLs.
One common reason for not receiving complaint data is that emails are already being filtered into the spam folder before recipients have a chance to mark them as spam. In such cases, the feedback loop mechanism might not even be triggered. This underscores the importance of a holistic approach to deliverability, where CFLs are just one piece of the puzzle. Consistent monitoring of DMARC reports, bounces, and engagement metrics remains crucial.
If you are concerned about your ESP's handling of FBLs, consider managing them directly via Yahoo's Sender Hub. This provides direct control and visibility over your Yahoo Postmaster data and feedback loop signup. It typically involves ensuring your emails are DKIM-signed by a domain you control, registering that domain with Yahoo, and configuring a mailbox to receive the complaint reports for automated processing. The process is straightforward.
Views from the trenches
Best practices
Ensure your emails are always signed with a valid DKIM record from a domain you control.
Proactively register your DKIM domains with Yahoo Sender Hub for direct CFL access.
Regularly monitor your complaint feedback loop data to promptly remove disengaged subscribers.
Verify with your ESP how they handle Yahoo CFLs, especially regarding double DKIM signing.
Common pitfalls
Assuming your ESP automatically migrated your old Yahoo FBL enrollment to the new CFL system.
Not understanding which DKIM domain is used for CFL reporting, yours or your ESP's.
Failing to publish the required Yahoo verification TXT record, preventing CFL access.
Ignoring discrepancies between your ESP's complaint data and other available sources.
Expert tips
If your ESP supports it, ask them to double-sign your emails with their own DKIM domain.
For direct control, register your sending domain in the Yahoo Sender Hub and handle CFLs directly.
Always maintain a mailbox specifically for receiving FBL reports and automate subscriber suppression.
Leverage Yahoo Postmaster Tools for additional insights into your sending reputation and performance.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks says they were not advised by their vendor about the new Yahoo CFL changes and only found out when complaints stopped being received, indicating a potential flaw in the vendor's complaint processing.
July 1, 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks says Yahoo's old FBLs are being discontinued, so no more reports will come in from those systems. ESPs that double sign DKIM for clients can make this change on behalf of their clients, but if an ESP only adds a client's DKIM domain, the client must complete the task and manage suppressions.
July 1, 2024 - Email Geeks
Key takeaways
The transition to the new Yahoo Complaint Feedback Loop in the Sender Hub marks an important evolution in how senders receive and process spam complaints. The primary DNS requirements revolve around ensuring your emails are DKIM-signed by the domain you wish to register, and then publishing a specific TXT record provided by Yahoo for domain verification.
ESPs play a crucial role in this process. If your ESP employs double DKIM signing, they can often manage the Yahoo CFL enrollment on your behalf, simplifying your setup. However, if they don't, or if you prefer direct control, you will need to handle the registration and DNS record publication yourself. In either case, proactively engaging with your ESP or directly with Yahoo Sender Hub is essential to ensure a continuous flow of complaint data. This data is indispensable for maintaining a positive sender reputation and avoiding email blocklisting (or blacklisting).
Yahoo, 
Google, and 
Microsoft, offer these feedback loops. They help senders maintain good standing by providing timely notifications about unwanted mail. This allows for prompt removal of complaining subscribers, which is crucial for preserving your sender reputation and avoiding email blocklists.
Yahoo Complaint Feedback Loop, there are specific DNS records you must publish. The primary requirement is that your emails must be DKIM-signed using the domain you wish to register for CFL reports. This DKIM domain is the identifier Yahoo uses to tie complaints back to your sending activity. Beyond DKIM, Yahoo requires a specific TXT record for domain verification within the Sender Hub.
Yahoo Complaint Feedback Loop in the Sender Hub marks an important evolution in how senders receive and process spam complaints. The primary DNS requirements revolve around ensuring your emails are DKIM-signed by the domain you wish to register, and then publishing a specific TXT record provided by Yahoo for domain verification.
