What fees can be charged to a USPTO deposit account?
This page is an FAQ based on guidance 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.
A USPTO deposit account can be used to pay various fees related to patent applications and services. According to the MPEP:
Filing, issue, appeal, international-type search report, international application processing, international design application fees, petition, and post-issuance fees may be charged against these accounts if sufficient funds are on deposit to cover such fees.
Specifically, fees that can be charged include:
- Filing fees (37 CFR 1.16)
- Processing fees (37 CFR 1.17)
- Issue fees (37 CFR 1.18, subject to certain conditions)
- Appeal fees
- International application fees
- Petition fees
However, fees under 37 CFR 1.19 (document supply fees), 1.20 (post-issuance fees), and 1.21 (miscellaneous fees) generally cannot be charged through a general authorization, with some exceptions.