37 CFR § 1.23 — Methods of payment. (MPEP Coverage Index) – BlueIron IP

This page consolidates MPEP guidance interpreting 37 CFR § 1.23, including 50 rules from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only, it is not legal advice.

Summary

This section outlines the methods of paying maintenance fees and necessary surcharges, emphasizing the requirement to authorize immediate charging from a deposit account established pursuant to 37 CFR 1.25.

What this section covers

Defines the methods for paying maintenance fees and any necessary surcharge, including authorization to charge a deposit account.

Key obligations

Requires proper authorization for charging maintenance fees from a deposit account, as set forth in 37 CFR 1.23.
Ensures the payment method complies with 37 CFR regulations, including specific forms of payment and submission windows.
Follows the methods outlined in 37 CFR 1.23 for payment of maintenance fees and surcharges.

Practice notes

Ensure all payment methods are clearly stated and authorized, particularly for deposit account charging.
Verify that the deposit account is properly set up and authorized for charging to avoid delays or cancellations.

Payment of Maintenance Fees and Surcharges Must Be Submitted Within Specified PeriodsMPEP 2515Required
Authorization to Charge Deposit Account Must Include FeesMPEP 2515Required
Authorization to Charge Deposit Account for Maintenance FeesMPEP 2522Permitted
Authorization for Deposit Account Must Be Submitted Within Grace PeriodMPEP 2522Required
Authorization for Deposit Account Payment Cannot Be Submitted EarlyMPEP 2522Prohibited
New Authorization Required for Subsequent FeesMPEP 2522
Authorization for Immediate Charging of Maintenance Fee to Deposit Account Is RequiredMPEP 2522Required
Maintenance Fee Must Be Paid In Full On Due DateMPEP 2515Required
Late Payment of Maintenance Fees Not Acceptable Except by PetitionMPEP 2515
Procedures for Paying Maintenance Fees and SurchargesMPEP 2515Permitted
Maintenance Fee and Surcharge Payments for Multiple Patents Must Be on Few SheetsMPEP 2515Recommended
Payment Applied to Listed Patents in OrderMPEP 2515
Delayed Maintenance Fee Not Acceptable Except By Director’s PermissionMPEP 2522
Authorization Must Permit Immediate ChargeMPEP 2522
Authorization Cannot Serve as Payment for Maintenance FeeMPEP 2522
Partial Payment Not Constitutes FeeMPEP 2522
Payment of Fees by Credit Card Is RequiredMPEP 509
Payment Methods for Maintenance Fees and Surcharges Must Be SetMPEP 2515Permitted
Incorrect Payment Does Not Count As Fee PaymentMPEP 2515Required
Separate Payment for Maintenance Fees and SurchargesMPEP 2515Required
Authorization to Charge Deposit Account Must Have Proper FundsMPEP 2522Required
Fees Must Be Paid in US DollarsMPEP 509Required
Payment Must Be in Specific FormsMPEP 509Permitted
Money Orders Must Be Payable to DirectorMPEP 509Required
Checks Payable to Commissioner Still AcceptedMPEP 509
Foreign Payments Must Be Negotiable In U.S.MPEP 509Required
Mail Payments at Sender's RiskMPEP 509Recommended
Credit Card Payments Allowed for USPTO Fees Except Deposit ReplenishmentMPEP 509Required
Credit Card Fee Payment Requires Specific InformationMPEP 509Required
No General Authorization for Credit Card FeesMPEP 509
Credit Card Number on Non-Official Forms Not SecureMPEP 509
Fee Transmittal Letter Can Be Signed By Juristic Applicant Or Patent OwnerMPEP 509Permitted
Payment of Fees by Credit Card PermittedMPEP 509

Payment of Maintenance Fees and Surcharges Must Be Submitted Within Specified PeriodsMPEP 2515Required
Authorization to Charge Deposit Account Must Include FeesMPEP 2515Required
Authorization for Deposit Account Must Be Submitted Within Grace PeriodMPEP 2522Required
Authorization for Immediate Charging of Maintenance Fee to Deposit Account Is RequiredMPEP 2522Required
Maintenance Fee Must Be Paid In Full On Due DateMPEP 2515Required
Incorrect Payment Does Not Count As Fee PaymentMPEP 2515Required
Separate Payment for Maintenance Fees and SurchargesMPEP 2515Required
Payment Must Be In U.S. DollarsMPEP 2522Required
Authorization to Charge Deposit Account Must Have Proper FundsMPEP 2522Required
Separate Payment for Maintenance Fees RequiredMPEP 2522Required
Money Orders and Checks Must Be Payable to Patent Office DirectorMPEP 2522Required
Remittances Must Be Payable and Negotiable in USMPEP 2522Required
Fees Must Be Paid in US DollarsMPEP 509Required
Money Orders Must Be Payable to DirectorMPEP 509Required
Foreign Payments Must Be Negotiable In U.S.MPEP 509Required
Credit Card Payments Allowed for USPTO Fees Except Deposit ReplenishmentMPEP 509Required
Credit Card Fee Payment Requires Specific InformationMPEP 509Required

Payment Form Requirement for Maintenance FeesMPEP 2522Permitted
Personal Checks Not Acceptable for FeesMPEP 2522
Separate Payment Required for Maintenance Fees and Other ChargesMPEP 2522
Maintenance Fee Payments Must Be Submitted SeparatelyMPEP 2522
Maintenance Fees Can Be Submitted TogetherMPEP 2522Permitted
Maintenance Fee Payments for Multiple Patents Must Be on Few SheetsMPEP 2522Recommended
Maintenance Fee Payment Applied Per Listed OrderMPEP 2522
Maintenance Fees for Last Listed Patents Not Paid If Insufficient FundsMPEP 2522
Method of Payment for Maintenance Fee RequiredMPEP 2522
Credit Card Payment for Maintenance FeesMPEP 2522Permitted
Credit Card Payment Form Required for Fee PaymentsMPEP 2522Recommended
Credit Card Information on Non-Official Forms Not ProtectedMPEP 2522
Checks Must Be Payable to Director of USPTOMPEP 2522

MPEP Section	Rules
MPEP § 2515	Payment of Maintenance Fees and Surcharges Must Be Submitted Within Specified PeriodsMPEP 2515Required Authorization to Charge Deposit Account Must Include FeesMPEP 2515Required Maintenance Fee Must Be Paid In Full On Due DateMPEP 2515Required Late Payment of Maintenance Fees Not Acceptable Except by PetitionMPEP 2515 Procedures for Paying Maintenance Fees and SurchargesMPEP 2515Permitted Maintenance Fee and Surcharge Payments for Multiple Patents Must Be on Few SheetsMPEP 2515Recommended Payment Applied to Listed Patents in OrderMPEP 2515 Payment Methods for Maintenance Fees and Surcharges Must Be SetMPEP 2515Permitted Incorrect Payment Does Not Count As Fee PaymentMPEP 2515Required Separate Payment for Maintenance Fees and SurchargesMPEP 2515Required
MPEP § 2522	Authorization to Charge Deposit Account for Maintenance FeesMPEP 2522Permitted Authorization for Deposit Account Must Be Submitted Within Grace PeriodMPEP 2522Required Authorization for Deposit Account Payment Cannot Be Submitted EarlyMPEP 2522Prohibited New Authorization Required for Subsequent FeesMPEP 2522 Authorization for Immediate Charging of Maintenance Fee to Deposit Account Is RequiredMPEP 2522Required Payment Form Requirement for Maintenance FeesMPEP 2522Permitted Personal Checks Not Acceptable for FeesMPEP 2522 Delayed Maintenance Fee Not Acceptable Except By Director’s PermissionMPEP 2522 Authorization Must Permit Immediate ChargeMPEP 2522 Authorization Cannot Serve as Payment for Maintenance FeeMPEP 2522 Partial Payment Not Constitutes FeeMPEP 2522 Separate Payment Required for Maintenance Fees and Other ChargesMPEP 2522 Maintenance Fee Payments Must Be Submitted SeparatelyMPEP 2522 Maintenance Fees Can Be Submitted TogetherMPEP 2522Permitted Maintenance Fee Payments for Multiple Patents Must Be on Few SheetsMPEP 2522Recommended Maintenance Fee Payment Applied Per Listed OrderMPEP 2522 Maintenance Fees for Last Listed Patents Not Paid If Insufficient FundsMPEP 2522 Method of Payment for Maintenance Fee RequiredMPEP 2522 Payment Must Be In U.S. DollarsMPEP 2522Required Credit Card Payment for Maintenance FeesMPEP 2522Permitted Credit Card Payment Form Required for Fee PaymentsMPEP 2522Recommended Credit Card Information on Non-Official Forms Not ProtectedMPEP 2522 Authorization to Charge Deposit Account Must Have Proper FundsMPEP 2522Required Separate Payment for Maintenance Fees RequiredMPEP 2522Required Money Orders and Checks Must Be Payable to Patent Office DirectorMPEP 2522Required Checks Must Be Payable to Director of USPTOMPEP 2522 Remittances Must Be Payable and Negotiable in USMPEP 2522Required
MPEP § 509	Payment of Fees by Credit Card Is RequiredMPEP 509 Fees Must Be Paid in US DollarsMPEP 509Required Payment Must Be in Specific FormsMPEP 509Permitted Money Orders Must Be Payable to DirectorMPEP 509Required Checks Payable to Commissioner Still AcceptedMPEP 509 Foreign Payments Must Be Negotiable In U.S.MPEP 509Required Mail Payments at Sender's RiskMPEP 509Recommended Credit Card Payments Allowed for USPTO Fees Except Deposit ReplenishmentMPEP 509Required Credit Card Fee Payment Requires Specific InformationMPEP 509Required No General Authorization for Credit Card FeesMPEP 509 Credit Card Number on Non-Official Forms Not SecureMPEP 509 Fee Transmittal Letter Can Be Signed By Juristic Applicant Or Patent OwnerMPEP 509Permitted Payment of Fees by Credit Card PermittedMPEP 509

Related Provisions

Based on MPEP Last Modified: 10/30/2024 08:50:22

37 CFR § 1.23 — Methods of payment. (MPEP Coverage Index) – BlueIron IP

37 CFR § 1.23 Methods of payment.

Summary

Official MPEP § 1.23 — Methods of payment.

1.23 Methods of payment.

Verbatim in MPEP

Required Actions

Key Interpretations

Topics

MPEP Coverage

Related Provisions