EPO will provide users with more flexibility in automatic debit procedures

The European Patent Office (EPO) will provide users of the automatic debit procedure with more flexibility from 1 April 2025, making the payment of fees in the European patent grant procedure more convenient.

This change follows user feedback, which has led to a request for more flexibility in the automatic debit process. In response to this demand and in line with the Strategic Plan 2028, the EPO has taken steps to further optimize the fee payment process. The advantage of the automatic debit process is that it ensures convenient, accurate and timely payment of fees, which is an important part of the patent granting process.

Starting April 1, 2025, users will be able to choose between three types of automatic debit orders: covering all fees, all fees (excluding annual fees), or annual fees only. This change allows different people to share the responsibility of paying annual fees and procedural fees for the same patent application while still benefiting from the convenience of automatic debit. Previously, the automatic debit program could not be limited to specific types of fees.

Once implemented, different types of automatic debit orders can be applied for in the Central Fee Payment system, which is the main tool for EPO to make payments and manage automatic debit orders. This improvement not only increases the flexibility of the payment process, but also greatly improves the payment experience of users.

Yezhima has been closely following the developments of global patent laws and systems. We believe that this change not only optimizes the payment path, but also provides European patent applicants with a more accurate way to manage expenses, and also provides our customers with more opportunities to use technology to manage the patent process. If you want to learn more about how to make full use of this new payment flexibility in the European patent application process, please feel free to contact us. Our team of experts will provide you with tailor-made solutions to help you navigate the complex patent management.