MPEP § 2510 — Submission of Maintenance Fee Payments and Documents (Annotated Rules)
§2510 Submission of Maintenance Fee Payments and Documents
This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 2510, including statutory authority, regulatory rules, examiner guidance, and practice notes. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only, it is not legal advice.
Submission of Maintenance Fee Payments and Documents
This section addresses Submission of Maintenance Fee Payments and Documents. Primary authority: 35 U.S.C. 513, 35 U.S.C. 2522, and 37 CFR 1.366(b). Contains: 2 requirements, 2 guidance statements, 6 permissions, and 4 other statements.
Key Rules
Post-Issuance & Maintenance Fees
Payment of a maintenance fee is accepted via facsimile to the fax number stated on the Maintenance Fee Transmittal Form (SB/45), when charged to a deposit account or to a credit card. Credit Card Payment Form (PTO-2038) should be used if payment is made by credit card. See MPEP § 509 and § 2522. In addition, requests pertaining to post-issuance documents, such as change of correspondence address, assignment of fee address, etc., may be submitted by facsimile.
Maintenance fee payments may be hand-carried to the Patent Customer Service Window. See MPEP § 501, subsection III for information regarding hand-delivery of papers. Although the receptionist will not process the maintenance fee payment, if the payment is delivered with an itemized postcard, the receptionist will provide a delivery receipt by date stamping the postcard. The maintenance fee payment should be placed in an envelope with MAINTENANCE FEE written in dark ink across the envelope.
Maintenance fee payments may be hand-carried to the Patent Customer Service Window. See MPEP § 501, subsection III for information regarding hand-delivery of papers. Although the receptionist will not process the maintenance fee payment, if the payment is delivered with an itemized postcard, the receptionist will provide a delivery receipt by date stamping the postcard. The maintenance fee payment should be placed in an envelope with MAINTENANCE FEE written in dark ink across the envelope.
Maintenance fee payments may be hand-carried to the Patent Customer Service Window. See MPEP § 501, subsection III for information regarding hand-delivery of papers. Although the receptionist will not process the maintenance fee payment, if the payment is delivered with an itemized postcard, the receptionist will provide a delivery receipt by date stamping the postcard. The maintenance fee payment should be placed in an envelope with MAINTENANCE FEE written in dark ink across the envelope.
Maintenance fee payments can be made quickly and easily over the internet at www.uspto.gov by electronic funds transfer (EFT), credit card, debit card, or deposit account payment methods. Maintenance fees paid online must be paid only through the Patent Maintenance Fees Storefront (https://fees.uspto.gov/MaintenanceFees). See MPEP § 509 and § 2522 for additional information pertaining to payments by credit card and payments by deposit account. Payment receipts for all payments submitted over the internet are available immediately in the Patent Maintenance Fees Storefront after the payment is processed. Receipts for bulk file payments of maintenance fees will include a listing of accepted payments for each patent maintained in force as well as a listing of any payments that could not be accepted with an explanation why. Note that the bulk file payment option can only be done online using the Patent Maintenance Fees Storefront.
Maintenance fee payments can be made quickly and easily over the internet at www.uspto.gov by electronic funds transfer (EFT), credit card, debit card, or deposit account payment methods. Maintenance fees paid online must be paid only through the Patent Maintenance Fees Storefront (https://fees.uspto.gov/MaintenanceFees). See MPEP § 509 and § 2522 for additional information pertaining to payments by credit card and payments by deposit account. Payment receipts for all payments submitted over the internet are available immediately in the Patent Maintenance Fees Storefront after the payment is processed. Receipts for bulk file payments of maintenance fees will include a listing of accepted payments for each patent maintained in force as well as a listing of any payments that could not be accepted with an explanation why. Note that the bulk file payment option can only be done online using the Patent Maintenance Fees Storefront.
Maintenance fee payments not electronically submitted over the internet, and correspondence related to maintenance fees may be addressed to:
For maintenance fee payments to be delivered by mail to the USPTO by a delivery service (e.g. Federal Express (Fed Ex), UPS, DHL, Laser, Action, Purolator, etc.), rather than by the United States Postal Service (USPS), the maintenance fee payments should be addressed to the Customer Service Window (see MPEP § 501, subsection III) with “Mail Stop Maintenance Fee” included in the address.
Certificate of Mailing
37 CFR 1.366(b) provides that the certificate of mailing procedures of 37 CFR 1.8 or the mailing by Priority Mail Express® provisions of 37 CFR 1.10 may be utilized in paying maintenance fees. The specific requirements of either 37 CFR 1.8 or 1.10 must be fully complied with if the benefits of either are desired. See MPEP § 512 and § 513.
37 CFR 1.366(b) provides that the certificate of mailing procedures of 37 CFR 1.8 or the mailing by Priority Mail Express® provisions of 37 CFR 1.10 may be utilized in paying maintenance fees. The specific requirements of either 37 CFR 1.8 or 1.10 must be fully complied with if the benefits of either are desired. See MPEP § 512 and § 513.
Certificate of Mailing
37 CFR 1.366(b) provides that the certificate of transmission procedure of 37 CFR 1.8 may be utilized in paying maintenance fees. The specific requirements of 37 CFR 1.8 must be fully complied with if the benefits thereof are desired. See MPEP § 512.
37 CFR 1.366(b) provides that the certificate of transmission procedure of 37 CFR 1.8 may be utilized in paying maintenance fees. The specific requirements of 37 CFR 1.8 must be fully complied with if the benefits thereof are desired. See MPEP § 512.
Fee Requirements
Maintenance fee payments can be made quickly and easily over the internet at www.uspto.gov by electronic funds transfer (EFT), credit card, debit card, or deposit account payment methods. Maintenance fees paid online must be paid only through the Patent Maintenance Fees Storefront (https://fees.uspto.gov/MaintenanceFees). See MPEP § 509 and § 2522 for additional information pertaining to payments by credit card and payments by deposit account. Payment receipts for all payments submitted over the internet are available immediately in the Patent Maintenance Fees Storefront after the payment is processed. Receipts for bulk file payments of maintenance fees will include a listing of accepted payments for each patent maintained in force as well as a listing of any payments that could not be accepted with an explanation why. Note that the bulk file payment option can only be done online using the Patent Maintenance Fees Storefront.
Maintenance fee payments can be made quickly and easily over the internet at www.uspto.gov by electronic funds transfer (EFT), credit card, debit card, or deposit account payment methods. Maintenance fees paid online must be paid only through the Patent Maintenance Fees Storefront (https://fees.uspto.gov/MaintenanceFees). See MPEP § 509 and § 2522 for additional information pertaining to payments by credit card and payments by deposit account. Payment receipts for all payments submitted over the internet are available immediately in the Patent Maintenance Fees Storefront after the payment is processed. Receipts for bulk file payments of maintenance fees will include a listing of accepted payments for each patent maintained in force as well as a listing of any payments that could not be accepted with an explanation why. Note that the bulk file payment option can only be done online using the Patent Maintenance Fees Storefront.
Correspondence Address Requirements
Payment of a maintenance fee is accepted via facsimile to the fax number stated on the Maintenance Fee Transmittal Form (SB/45), when charged to a deposit account or to a credit card. Credit Card Payment Form (PTO-2038) should be used if payment is made by credit card. See MPEP § 509 and § 2522. In addition, requests pertaining to post-issuance documents, such as change of correspondence address, assignment of fee address, etc., may be submitted by facsimile.
Fee Payment Methods
Maintenance fee payments can be made quickly and easily over the internet at www.uspto.gov by electronic funds transfer (EFT), credit card, debit card, or deposit account payment methods. Maintenance fees paid online must be paid only through the Patent Maintenance Fees Storefront (https://fees.uspto.gov/MaintenanceFees). See MPEP § 509 and § 2522 for additional information pertaining to payments by credit card and payments by deposit account. Payment receipts for all payments submitted over the internet are available immediately in the Patent Maintenance Fees Storefront after the payment is processed. Receipts for bulk file payments of maintenance fees will include a listing of accepted payments for each patent maintained in force as well as a listing of any payments that could not be accepted with an explanation why. Note that the bulk file payment option can only be done online using the Patent Maintenance Fees Storefront.
Citations
| Primary topic | Citation |
|---|---|
| Correspondence Address Requirements Fee Payment Methods Fee Requirements Post-Issuance & Maintenance Fees | 35 U.S.C. § 2522 |
| Certificate of Mailing | 35 U.S.C. § 513 |
| Certificate of Mailing | 37 CFR § 1.10 |
| Certificate of Mailing | 37 CFR § 1.366(b) |
| Certificate of Mailing | 37 CFR § 1.8 |
| Post-Issuance & Maintenance Fees | MPEP § 501 |
| Correspondence Address Requirements Fee Payment Methods Fee Requirements Post-Issuance & Maintenance Fees | MPEP § 509 |
| Certificate of Mailing | MPEP § 512 |
Source Text from USPTO’s MPEP
This is an exact copy of the MPEP from the USPTO. It is here for your reference to see the section in context.
Official MPEP § 2510 — Submission of Maintenance Fee Payments and Documents
Source: USPTO2510 Submission of Maintenance Fee Payments and Documents [R-01.2024]
A listing of available payment options and current mailing addresses is available on the USPTO website at www.uspto.gov/PatentMaintenanceFees.
I. SUBMISSION OVER THE INTERNETMaintenance fee payments can be made quickly and easily over the internet at www.uspto.gov by electronic funds transfer (EFT), credit card, debit card, or deposit account payment methods. Maintenance fees paid online must be paid only through the Patent Maintenance Fees Storefront (https://fees.uspto.gov/MaintenanceFees). See MPEP § 509 and § 2522 for additional information pertaining to payments by credit card and payments by deposit account. Payment receipts for all payments submitted over the internet are available immediately in the Patent Maintenance Fees Storefront after the payment is processed. Receipts for bulk file payments of maintenance fees will include a listing of accepted payments for each patent maintained in force as well as a listing of any payments that could not be accepted with an explanation why. Note that the bulk file payment option can only be done online using the Patent Maintenance Fees Storefront.
II. SUBMISSION BY MAILMaintenance fee payments not electronically submitted over the internet, and correspondence related to maintenance fees may be addressed to:
Mail Stop Maintenance
Fee
Director of the United States
Patent and Trademark Office
P.O. Box 1450
Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
For maintenance fee payments to be delivered by mail to the USPTO by a delivery service (e.g. Federal Express (Fed Ex), UPS, DHL, Laser, Action, Purolator, etc.), rather than by the United States Postal Service (USPS), the maintenance fee payments should be addressed to the Customer Service Window (see MPEP § 501, subsection III) with “Mail Stop Maintenance Fee” included in the address.
37 CFR 1.366(b) provides that the certificate of mailing procedures of 37 CFR 1.8 or the mailing by Priority Mail Express® provisions of 37 CFR 1.10 may be utilized in paying maintenance fees. The specific requirements of either 37 CFR 1.8 or 1.10 must be fully complied with if the benefits of either are desired. See MPEP § 512 and § 513.
III. SUBMISSION BY FACSIMILEPayment of a maintenance fee is accepted via facsimile to the fax number stated on the Maintenance Fee Transmittal Form (SB/45), when charged to a deposit account or to a credit card. Credit Card Payment Form (PTO-2038) should be used if payment is made by credit card. See MPEP § 509 and § 2522. In addition, requests pertaining to post-issuance documents, such as change of correspondence address, assignment of fee address, etc., may be submitted by facsimile.
37 CFR 1.366(b) provides that the certificate of transmission procedure of 37 CFR 1.8 may be utilized in paying maintenance fees. The specific requirements of 37 CFR 1.8 must be fully complied with if the benefits thereof are desired. See MPEP § 512.
IV. SUBMISSION BY HAND-DELIVERYMaintenance fee payments may be hand-carried to the Patent Customer Service Window. See MPEP § 501, subsection III for information regarding hand-delivery of papers. Although the receptionist will not process the maintenance fee payment, if the payment is delivered with an itemized postcard, the receptionist will provide a delivery receipt by date stamping the postcard. The maintenance fee payment should be placed in an envelope with MAINTENANCE FEE written in dark ink across the envelope.