The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has confirmed plans to raise its fees by an average of 25% from 1 April 2026, subject to parliamentary approval. The change will affect applications and renewals for patents, trademarks, and designs.
This marks the first major fee increase in several years, with some fees unchanged for more than two decades. The IPO says the rise is necessary to keep pace with inflation and maintain the quality of its services.
The change means most fees will go up by around a quarter. For example:
- A patent search will rise from £150 to £200.
- A trademark application will increase from £170 to £205.
Full guidance will be published early in 2026 to help those whose payments fall close to the transition date.
The IPO has also updated its ‘how to pay’ information online, including revised terms and conditions for deposit account holders.
If approved, the new fee structure will take effect from 1 April 2026. Until then, the current fees remain in place.
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/intellectual-property-office-fees-to-increase-from-april-2026
The government has opened a consultation on a new consultation process that employers will need to follow when handling flexible working requests.
Your business can be doing well financially but you can still feel uncertain about where your personal finances are heading.