How does the USPTO handle discounted maintenance fee payments without proper entity status?

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Source: FAQ (MPEP-Based) BlueIron Update: 2024-09-30 10 Rules 5 Related FAQs 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. When a maintenance fee payment is submitted at a discounted rate (small or micro entity) without proper documentation of entity status, the USPTO will consider it insufficient. According to MPEP 2531 : “If a payment is deemed insufficient because the payment was submitted in a discounted amount but entitlement to the entity status (small or micro) corresponding to the discounted amount was not established, an Underpayment Notice or Non-Acceptance Notice will be mailed to the fee submitter.” In such cases, the patent owner must respond to the notice by either: Providing documentation to establish the claimed entity status, or Paying the difference to meet the standard (undiscounted) fee amount For more information on establishing or changing entity status for maintenance fee purposes, refer to MPEP 2550 . Related Rules from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure 10 rules Collapse Underpayment Notice for Unestablished Entity Status MPEP 2531 Maintenance Fee Payment Includes Entity Status Change MPEP 2550 Permitted Refunds Apply to Small Entity but Not Micro Entity Status Changes MPEP 2550 Who Can Sign Assertion for Small Entity Status MPEP 2550 Permitted Certification Required for Micro Entity Status MPEP 2550 Required Assertion of Small Entity Status Required for Maintenance Fee Discount MPEP 2550 Required Reduced Maintenance Fees for Small/Micro Entities MPEP 2550 Permitted Notification Required for Loss of Entity Status Entitlement MPEP 2550 Written Notification Required for Loss of Small Entity Status MPEP 2550 Notification for Loss of Entity Status Must Be Filed By Mail, Fax, or Electronic System MPEP 2550 Prohibited Other Related FAQs 5 FAQs Collapse How can I establish or change my en...