Many clients ask when applying for a patent: “How much does it cost to apply for a patent?” Is there a way to save money? “

The answer is yes.

To encourage innovation, the government has established a patent fee reduction policy (referred to as “fee reduction”)—eligible enterprises or individuals can enjoy up to 85% reductions in application fees, substantive examination fees, annual fees within 10 years after granting, and reexamination fees. This article, combined with the latest official rules, clearly explains the fee reduction policy, filing process, material requirements, and common “pitfalls” all at once.

1. What is fee reduction? How much money can you save?

Patent fee reduction, officially known as “Reduction of Patent Fees,” is a universal policy introduced by the state to ease the burden on innovation entities.
According to the “Measures for Reduction and Payment of Patent Fees,” eligible patent applicants or patent holders may reduce the following four types of fees:

How much can you save?
Individuals or organizations: 85% reduction;
Two or more joint applicants: 70% reduction.
Note:

• 85% reduction: Only a single applicant (individual, qualified enterprise, non-profit organization) meets the fee reduction conditions;
• 70% reduction: All co-applicants must meet the fee reduction standards to qualify; if either party does not meet the standard, there is no reduction;
• Registration fees, stamp duty, surcharges, and priority fees are not included in the fee reduction scope and must be paid in full.

Comparison table before and after reductions for each expense item:

2. Who can apply for fee reduction?

Patent fee reduction filing is processed once a year. The review standards for the three types of subjects vary, so you may refer to them for self-checking:

Special note: The company looks at “taxable income,” not operating income. Many startups are not yet profitable, with taxable income of zero or negative and fully qualified.

3. What materials are needed to apply for fee reduction?

Personal aspects:

On the corporate side:

Public institutions, social organizations, etc.: Copy of legal person certification materials (stamped with official seal)

4. Online Full-Process Operation Guide
Starting from January 26, 2023, fee reduction filing will be fully implemented online, unified on the National Intellectual Property Administration’s patent business processing system (https:// cponline.cnipa.gov.cn/ ) operation.

Step 1: Account registration and real-name authentication

distinguish between the type of entity Register an account: individuals choose to register as natural persons, while enterprises and institutions choose legal representatives. Fill in your ID number, contact information, and other information as required to complete the real-name authentication. It is recommended to bind a fixed handler for enterprise accounts for unified management and use.
Step 2: Submit the fee reduction filing application

. After logging into your account, go to [Patent Affairs Services] – [Fee Reduction Filing Request], select the corresponding filing year, truthfully fill in income, tax amount, and other information, upload the pre-prepared supporting materials, and submit after confirming they are correct.
Step 3: Wait for review and check the results
. The official review cycle is generally 1–5 working days, and the results will be notified via internal message or SMS. If the materials are unqualified, the system will mark the reason for rejection, and you can resubmit it after making corrections and supplements as required.
Step 4: After the fee reduction qualification

for patent business usage is approved, when submitting the patent application, check “Request Fee Reduction” in the request form, and the system will automatically match the qualification for calculating fees. Deadline requirements: Requests for fee reduction must be submitted simultaneously with the patent application; Applications for fee reductions for the actual examination fee, review fee, and annual fee must be submitted at least two and a half months before the payment deadline expires; late applications cannot be eligible for the reduction.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)

Q1: After the fee reduction filing is approved, how long is it valid?
Valid for one calendar year after passing filing. For example, if filing is approved in 2026, only patent applications filed within 2026 will enjoy fee reductions. The following year, a new filing application is required.
Q2: If I forget to submit the fee reduction request at the application date, can I still make up for it?
Requests for fee reduction must be submitted simultaneously with the patent application and cannot be reprocessed after the application date. However, requests for reduction of substantive examination fees, review fees, and annual fees may be submitted within two and a half months before the payment deadline expires.
Q3: If the company’s taxable income just exceeds 1 million, can I still apply?
No. The review is based on the data on the tax return; if it exceeds 1 million, it does not meet the requirements. It is recommended to plan your taxes in advance for the coming year.
Q4: How long does it take to know the result after submitting the fee reduction filing?
Results are usually available within 1-5 working days, and notifications will be sent via internal system messages and SMS.
Q5: What should I do if my fee reduction filing is rejected?
The system will indicate the reason for rejection, and after supplementing or correcting the materials as required, you can resubmit the document without any limit on the number of times.

6. Conclusion

Effective fee reduction management is an important part of the foundational intellectual property work of enterprises. Everyone must remember the three main principles: annual filing, authenticity of materials, and timely submission, and making the most of policy benefits in compliance with regulations. Especially in industries that heavily invest in patents, such as biomedicine, high-end manufacturing, and artificial intelligence, annual fee reduction filings must be included in the normalized management of intellectual property.

Only by reasonably planning patent costs and strengthening the foundation of intellectual property can innovation achievements proceed steadily and long-term. Only by reasonably planning patent costs and strengthening the foundation of intellectual property can innovation achievements proceed steadily and long-term. If you encounter any issues during the process, feel free to consult Zhizhong Deben at any time. We can assist you with fee reduction filing, material review, and full-process patent layout management, helping you use your saved money for more important technology R&D.

Doing this “small thing” of fee reduction well is the first step in intellectual property management. Saving money is itself a form of productivity.

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