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Businesses looking to protect their brand should be aware that the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is set to increase its official fees from 1 April 2026. The changes will affect a range of intellectual property services, including patents, registered designs and trade marks, with trade mark related fees seeing a noticeable increase.
For many businesses, trade marks are one of the most important intellectual property rights they hold. They protect brand names, logos and other identifiers that distinguish a business’s goods or services from those of competitors. The upcoming fee changes may therefore be relevant to any organisation considering filing a new trade mark or managing an existing portfolio.
The IPO has announced that its fees will increase across a number of intellectual property services. In relation to trade marks, some of the key changes include:
Other procedural fees, including those relating to oppositions and invalidity proceedings, will also increase.
While these changes represent the first significant increase in UK trade mark fees in many years, the UK system will remain relatively cost effective compared with some other jurisdictions.
The IPO has indicated that the increase reflects rising operational costs and inflation, as well as the need to continue investing in digital infrastructure and services.
Trade mark fees in particular have remained largely unchanged for many years, meaning that the increase represents an adjustment to reflect the current cost of providing these services.
For businesses planning to file new trade mark applications, the timing of those filings may now be important.
IPO fees are generally determined by the date the fee is paid rather than when the application is examined or processed. This means that applications filed before 1 April 2026 will still benefit from the current lower fees.
For organisations managing a larger portfolio of intellectual property rights, the cumulative effect of the increases may also become more noticeable over time. Renewals, oppositions and other procedural actions will all become more expensive once the new fee structure takes effect.
Where businesses are considering filing new trade marks or renewing existing registrations in the near future, it may be worth reviewing whether those actions can be taken before the new fees come into force.
Taking action sooner may allow businesses to secure protection for their brands while still benefiting from the current fee structure.
If you are considering filing a trade mark, reviewing your brand protection strategy or managing an existing portfolio, our team would be happy to assist.
Early advice can help ensure that your intellectual property rights are properly protected while also helping you plan around the upcoming changes to the IPO fee regime.
Contact Fosters Solicitors’ Commercial Law team today.
Learn more about our IP specialist Jacob Cook >
When do the new UK trade mark fees start?
The new UK trade mark fees are due to take effect from 1 April 2026, subject to Parliamentary approval. Fees paid on or after that date will be charged at the new rates, even if the application or action itself was started earlier.
Will existing UK trade marks be affected by the 2026 fee increase?
Existing UK trade marks will keep their current registration details and scope of protection, but the official fees you pay for renewals and certain procedures will increase from 1 April 2026. This means that future renewal, opposition, invalidity or other official actions in relation to an existing registration will be more expensive once the new fee structure applies.
Is it cheaper to file a UK trade mark application before 1 April 2026?
In general, it will be cheaper to file a UK trade mark application before 1 April 2026 because the standard online application fee is increasing from £170 to £205 for the first class, with additional classes rising from £50 to £60 each. For businesses that were already planning new filings, bringing those applications forward can reduce overall costs, particularly where multiple marks or classes are involved.
How much does it cost to renew a UK trade mark in 2026?
From 1 April 2026, the official fee to renew a UK trade mark online is expected to rise from £200 to £245 for the first class, with each additional class increasing from £50 to £60. Rights holders with renewals due later in 2026 may be able to renew early at the current rates, so it can be helpful to review your renewal dates and consider whether early action is possible.
This article was produced on the 11th March 2026 for information purposes only and should not be construed or relied upon as specific legal advice.
