New USPTO trademark fees reward complete, well-prepared applications
Since January 18, 2025, a trademark application filed directly with the USPTO costs $350 per class, with surcharges for free-form descriptions and incomplete filings.
Reviewed by Laurence S. Bezinover · Published · Updated
What changed
The USPTO replaced its two filing options with a single base application at $350 per class for applications filed directly with the USPTO (under Sections 1 and 44 of the Trademark Act). It added surcharges of $100 per class for an application missing required information, $200 per class for describing goods and services in free-form text instead of choosing from the USPTO's ID Manual, and $200 per class for each additional 1,000 characters. Fees to maintain and renew registrations also increased.
Applications that reach the USPTO through the Madrid Protocol (Section 66(a)) are filed through the World Intellectual Property Organization and carry a different fee.
Who it affects
Every business applying for or maintaining a federal trademark registration.
Questions to raise with counsel
- Can our application use ID Manual descriptions to avoid the $200 surcharge?
- Is our application complete enough to avoid the $100 surcharge?
- What will maintenance and renewal fees on our existing registrations cost?
This briefing is general information about California law, not legal advice for your situation. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.