The UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) has confirmed increases to official fees for patents, trade marks, and designs, effective from 1 April 2026.

Current fees will remain in place until 31 March 2026. From 1 April 2026, higher fees will apply. This is the first significant adjustment in many years, with average increases of approximately 25% across all three rights.

If you have planned UK filings, renewals, or other fee-bearing actions, there is a clear opportunity to reduce costs by acting before 1 April 2026.

What this means for you

If you hold UK patents, trade marks, or designs with filings or renewals due in 2026, now is the time to review them. In many cases, applications can be filed and renewal fees paid in advance at the current UKIPO rates, even where the formal deadline falls later.

Advancing these actions can deliver meaningful savings, particularly for larger or complex portfolios. Owners of substantial UK IP portfolios should pay particular attention to renewal (annuity) payments, as eligible fees paid before 1 April 2026 may avoid the increased rates.

If you are unsure which actions can be accelerated, or whether early payment makes commercial sense in your case, we can assess the position and advise on the most cost-effective approach.

Examples of Current vs New Fees

The table below gives an indication of the scale of the increases. Full details are available in the official UKIPO fee tables linked above.

Patents

Trade marks

Registered designs

These examples are illustrative only. The full UKIPO fee tables include all fee categories, including late and post-registration fees.

Why fees are increasing

UKIPO fees have remained at historically low levels for an extended period. Trade mark fees have not changed since 1998, design fees since 2016, and patent fees since 2018.

The new fee structure reflects inflation over that time—approximately 32% since 2016—and the cost of maintaining and enhancing UKIPO services. Across patents, trade marks, registered designs, and unregistered designs, fees will increase by around 25% on average.

Why this matters

The way the increase is being implemented creates opportunities to reduce or avoid higher costs by acting earlier. This is particularly relevant for:

· upcoming patent, trade mark, or design renewals;

· deferred design publications; and

· planned oppositions or recordals.

For clients managing multiple rights, these savings can compound quickly. That is why the timing rules outlined below are critical to controlling overall IP spend.

How the Fee Increase Will Apply in Practice

 Renewal cycles

To remain in force:

· patents are renewed annually;

· registered designs every 5 years; and

· trade marks every 10 years.

Renewal fees may be paid in advance:

· up to 3 months early for patents; and

· up to 6 months early for designs and trade marks.

A 6-month late renewal period is also available, although this incurs a separate late renewal fee.

Which Fee Applies – Old or New?

Whether the current fee or the new increased fee applies depends on:

1. the renewal due date, and

2. the date the renewal fee is paid.

This applies to the renewal fee itself. Late renewal fees are treated separately. If a renewal is paid late on or after 1 April 2026, the new late fee will apply, regardless of when the renewal was originally due.

Which Rights Can Be Renewed Early to Secure the Current Fee?

According to UKIPO guidance, the following renewals can be paid before 1 April 2026 at the current fee:

· Patents with a renewal due date in April or May 2026 (renewals due in June 2026 can only be paid from 1 April 2026)

· Trade marks with a renewal due date up to and including 30 September 2026

· Registered designs with a renewal due date up to and including 30 September 2026

 Rights with later renewal dates cannot be renewed early enough to avoid the new fee.

 Deferred Design Publication Fees

Where a registered design has been filed with deferred publication:

· publication fees paid before 1 April 2026 will attract the current fee;

· publication fees paid on or after 1 April 2026 will attract the new fee.

 Oppositions, Recordals and Other Official Actions

For oppositions, assignments, licences, and changes of ownership or name, the fee payable is the fee in force on the date the action is filed and paid.

 These fees cannot be paid in advance. To secure the lower fee, the action itself must be taken before 1 April 2026.

 Official Fee Tables

The UKIPO’s complete official fee tables can be accessed directly via the following links: · Patent fee table · Trade marks fee table · Registered designs fee table · Unregistered designs fee table

 Official UKIPO Announcement

The UKIPO’s official guidance confirming the new fees is available here: 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

Need advice or assistance?

If you would like tailored guidance on how these fee changes affect your IP portfolio, or support in accelerating filings or renewals ahead of the increase, please contact us.

We can review your upcoming deadlines, identify actions that can be brought forward, and help you decide the most cost-effective time to proceed.