New fees from 1 April 2026 for designs, trade marks and patents
Published 12 January 2026
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/intellectual-property-office-new-fees-from-1-april-2026/new-fees-from-1-april-2026-for-designs-trade-marks-and-patents
1. Introduction
On 1 April 2026, the government will be increasing fees for designs, patents, and trade marks. The changes are still subject to parliamentary approval, but we are keen to make sure customers have the information they need to make decisions around payments well in advance of the changes coming in.
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has prepared this guidance for customers who may have fees due around 1 April 2026 and explains when and how the new fees will apply. Please note you are responsible for paying the correct fee.
In this guidance, “old fee” refers to the fee amount which applies before 1 April 2026, and “new fee” to the amount which applies on and after 1 April 2026.
2. Fee changes
You can view the old and new fees for each right:
Unregistered designs fees table
3. When the new fees will be introduced
The new fees will take effect on 1 April 2026. Fees will be charged at the old fee rate up to and including 31 March 2026.
4. Why fees are increasing
The IPO’s fees have not increased since 2018 for patents, 2016 for designs and 1998 for trade marks. During this time, the IPO has avoided fee increases by improving efficiency and investing in digital services using existing reserves. However there has been a 32% rise in inflation since 2016.
Fees will increase by an average of 25% on 1 April 2026. This increase will allow the IPO to address both the rise in inflation and future cost pressures that cannot be fully offset through further efficiency savings or existing reserves. The fee increases will mean the IPO can continue to invest in its systems and provide high quality services.
5. Application fees
If you are applying for a trade mark, patent or registered design, or paying an application fee on or after 1 April 2026, you will generally pay the new fee.
Please note that using the ‘save for later’ or ‘draft’ function does not count as submitting the application. You will have to pay the new fee if submitting the application on or after 1 April 2026.
If you are applying for a trade mark or a registered design, then you may need to consider the specific points set out below.
5.1. Designs: deferral fee
If you make a request to register a deferred design on or after 1 April 2026, the new fee will apply, even if your original application was submitted before that date.
5.2. Trade Marks: period of grace
If you apply for a trade mark before 1 April 2026, and you are relying on the period of grace to pay the application fee on or after 1 April 2026, you will pay the old fee, provided it is paid within the deadline given. This includes any additional class or series fees.
5.3. Trade Marks: Right Start
If you have submitted a Right Start application for a trade mark and paid the initial fee before 1 April 2026, the fee you will pay to complete your registration will be the old fee (provided it is paid within the deadline given, even if that is on or after 1 April 2026).
6. Renewal fees
To stay in force, IP rights must be renewed on a regular basis – patents every year, designs every 5 years, and trade marks every 10 years.
The renewal fee is normally due by a specific date or within a specific period. It can be paid up to 3 months in advance for patents, and up to 6 months in advance for designs and trade marks. There is also a 6 month period in which you can pay the fee late, although this is subject to a separate late renewal fee.
Whether you pay the old or new fee for your renewal will depend on the date your renewal is due and when you pay the renewal fee. This does not apply to the late renewal fee. If you are paying for a renewal that is late on or after 1 April 2026, any late renewal fee will be the new fee.
You should consult the table below to see which fee will apply in your circumstances:
| Payment made before 1 April 2026 | Payment made on or after 1 April 2026 (with no late fee due) | Payment made on or after 1 April 2026 (late fee due) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renewal due date before 1 April 2026 | Old fee | Old fee | Old renewal fee + new late fee |
| Renewal due date on or after 1 April 2026 | Old fee | New Fee | New renewal fee + new late fee |
The following IP rights can be renewed in advance before 1 April 2026:
- patents with a renewal due date in April or May 2026 (those with a renewal date in June 2026 can only be renewed from 1 April 2026 onwards)
- trade marks with a renewal due date up to and including 30 September 2026
- designs with a renewal due date up to and including 30 September 2026
7. What happens if you pay the old fee by mistake
You have to pay the correct fee by the date it is due. If you pay only part of the fee that is due, your form or request will not be treated as having been submitted until you pay the remainder. If you do not pay the remainder in time, you may miss a deadline. This could have serious implications for your application or right.
8. Enquiries
If you have any questions about the contents of this guidance, please contact our customer support centre. You can find out when the customer support centre is open for enquiries at the ‘contact details’ section of our office access and opening times page.
- email: information@ipo.gov.uk
- telephone: 0300 300 2000