Payment

On the Payment page, you can create debit orders for the fees due for your applications with the EPO. You have two different options:

• Single payment: Create a debit order for an individual application. Select the fees to be paid for this application and optionally enter a deferred execution date.
• Batch payment: Upload an XML file with payment data for multiple applications. The XML file contains all fee codes to be paid for each application, plus the information on the deposit account and account holder. XML files for batch payment can be created with the Multipay Tool or other suitable software.

Online Fee Payment guides you through the process of creating a debit order step by step. Until you confirm the payment in the final step, you can go back and forth through the steps and correct your data as appropriate.

Before you create a new debit order in Online Fee Payment, please note the following important information.

Make sure there are sufficient funds in your account

• Before submitting a debit order (i.e. making a payment) you need to make sure your account is properly replenished.
• Note: If your account is not covered with enough funds, the same rules apply as for other methods of payment.
• Accounts cannot be replenished online, but only by bank transfer to the EPO's deposit account with the Commerzbank AG, Munich, Germany. For more information, please visit the EPO website and go to Applying for a patent > Forms and fees > Making payments.

How to revoke a debit order transmitted by Online Fee Payment

• Debit orders (standard or deferred execution) are revocable only up to 00.00 hrs CET on the date of submission.

• Debit orders cannot be revoked online (exception: payments made via automatic debit orders). Instead, you can use the contact form under Home > Service & support > Contact us > Write to Customer Services. Select Fee payment in the Topic field and Revocation of debit order in the Subject field

• Alternatively, you can send a fax or email to:

  Treasury and Accounting

  Fax: +49 89 2399-4465

  email: support@epo.org

• Revocations may be sent via e-mail: please create your signed letter of revocation and attach it to the e-mail message.

When will the debit order be booked by the EPO?

• Although it takes a couple of days for money to be processed from your deposit account to the EPO, the legal date of payment is deemed to be the date of submission, i.e. the date printed on the confirmation of receipt of your online debit order generated by the Online Fee Payment system.
• Note: This is of course subject to there being sufficient funds in your account.
• Debit orders sent via Online Fee Payment are currently not booked in real time, but about two to three working days later. In the meantime, the orders can be found in Pending orders.

Where does the new debit order appear in Online Fee Payment?

• Pending orders are visible immediately after you have submitted your debit order to the EPO. To search for the new debit order, go to Deposit Account and click Pending orders in the sidebar.
• Note: debit orders sent via Online Fee Payment are visible immediately, while debit orders sent via Online Filing are visible only after approximately 30 minutes.