E-mail applications can be extended to allow recipients to specify quotas indicating maximum numbers of e-mail messages from specific senders based on actions indicated for the recipients to take. A sender can set a quota specifying that no more than five action related e-mail messages should be sent by each sender per week. Quotas may also be set for a number of e-mail messages received that do not require action. Recipient quota information is accessible by senders' e-mail applications so that senders are aware of the quotas before sending an e-mail message. After determining recipients for an e-mail message, an e-mail application can determine quotas for the recipients based on an action indicated in the e-mail message for the sender. The e-mail application can determine if the e-mail message to be sent will approach or reach the quota, and display a notification before the sender sends the e-mail message.