Big Shift Coming: IPO Plans First Major Fee Hike in Years
This is news for all IP practitioners and businesses with a trade mark, patent, or registered design portfolio.
Following an announcement in November 2025, the government has made the Intellectual Property Fees (Miscellaneous Amendments, Revocation and Transitional Provisions) Rules 2026 (SI 2026/183) to increase fees payable in relation to trade marks, designs and patents with effect from 1 April 2026. The IPO has published guidance on the new fees, including advice for rights-holders who have fees due around 1 April.
For most of my professional life, the IPO’s trade mark fees remained static meaning that as time has passed, the UK trade mark process has become a really cost-effective method of brand protection. But for the first time in decades, the IPO is increasing its fees to deal with several long‑standing financial pressures and to ensure it can continue delivering reliable, modern IP services.
Reason for the fee changes
The IPO has kept its charges at the same level for many years. Patent fees have been unchanged since 2018, design fees since 2016 and trade mark fees since 1998. Over that period the IPO has managed costs by increasing efficiency and developing digital services funded from existing reserves. A rise of about 25 percent is now proposed to reflect the increase in inflation since 2016 and to meet future financial pressures that cannot be covered through further savings or reserve use. The additional income would support continued investment in systems and the delivery of reliable, high quality services.
Implications for Businesses
Most fees will rise by around 25 percent. As an example, the cost of a patent search would increase from £150 to £200 and the fee for filing an online trade mark application would rise from £170 to £205 for a single class and each additional class would be £60 (rather than £50).
At Trethowans, we are fortunate enough to offer clients an in-house trade mark filing and portfolio management service. This gives clients a seamless and efficient one stop shop for protecting and maintaining their brands. By bringing the full process under one roof we provide consistent strategic advice, faster response times, and clear oversight of the entire trade mark lifecycle. Clients benefit from a single trusted team that not only understands their business in terms of brand importance, but can offer strategic legal insight as the portfolio develops.
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Disclaimer
This information is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. We recommend seeking professional advice before taking any action on the information provided. If you would like to discuss your specific circumstances, please feel free to contact us on 0800 2800 421.
