Trademark filing fees can look simple until you map the full lifecycle. The first cost hits when you file. More costs can follow if the application needs corrections, if you file on an intent-to-use basis, or if you need maintenance later. The current USPTO structure uses a base application fee of $350 per class for Section 1 and Section 44 applications that meet the base requirements.
That matters because trademark filing fees are not one flat number. The total depends on the number of classes, whether you use standard ID Manual language, whether you file intent to use, and whether you keep the registration alive with the required post-registration filings.
A Complete Guide to USPTO Trademark Filing Fees
The USPTO now uses a fee structure that starts with a base electronic application fee and adds surcharges when the filing is incomplete or uses custom wording. The Office explains that this structure applies to electronically filed Section 1 and Section 44 applications that meet the base requirements, with additional fees for applications that do not.
For a business owner, the budget question starts here. How many classes do you need? Do you have a standard identification that fits the ID Manual? Are you filing before use or after use? Those choices control cost more than most founders expect.
Understanding the Recent USPTO Fee Restructuring
The USPTO’s 2025 fee changes replaced the older TEAS Plus and TEAS Standard split with a single base application fee structure for most electronic Section 1 and Section 44 filings. Applications that meet the base requirements pay $350 per class. Applications that miss the requirements can trigger additional per-class fees.
That change matters because the filing now rewards completeness. If you use acceptable identification language and provide the required information, you stay at the base level. If you use free-form text, omit required information, or stretch the application with long custom wording, the cost climbs.
Initial Application Fees: How Much Does It Cost to File?
Initial trademark filing fees start with the class count. The base fee is charged per class, so the number of classes drives the first layer of cost. A one-class filing starts at $350. A two-class filing starts at $700 in base fees alone.
That number is the floor, not the ceiling. The actual budget can rise if the application uses custom descriptions, lacks required information, or later needs intent-to-use filings.
Base Filing Fees (Calculated Per Class of Goods or Services)
The USPTO charges trademark fees per class for goods and services. That means one application can cover multiple classes, but each class adds its own base fee.
For startups, this is where the budget gets real. A brand that sells only one product line may need one class. A brand that spans products and services may need more than one class. Each added class increases the government fee.
Custom vs. Standard Descriptions (Avoiding USPTO Surcharges)
The USPTO charges extra when applicants avoid the Trademark ID Manual and use free-form text to describe goods or services. The current fee page lists a $200 per class surcharge for using the free-form text box instead of the ID Manual, a $100 per class fee for insufficient information, and a $200 per affected class charge for each additional 1,000 characters beyond the first 1,000 in the free-form text box.
That is a direct budget hit. A clean filing stays close to the base fee. A messy filing creates avoidable surcharges before the USPTO even reaches the merits.
Hidden Application Costs: Intent to Use Filings
An intent to use filing costs more than the base application if you are not yet using the mark in commerce. Section 1(b) applicants must later submit additional documents and fees before registration can issue. The current fee schedule lists $125 per class for a Statement of Use, $150 per class for an Amendment to Allege Use, and $125 per class for each request for an extension of time to file a Statement of Use.
That means the filing budget can stretch beyond the first payment. A startup may file early to lock in priority, then pay again later to finish the registration.
“Intent to Use” Surcharges and Custom Description Fees
The USPTO also charges surcharges when the application uses free form text instead of the Trademark ID Manual, omits required information, or uses lengthy custom identifications. The current fee information lists $200 per class for using free form text instead of the ID Manual, $100 per class for insufficient information, and $200 per affected class for each additional 1,000 characters beyond the first 1,000.
Those fees matter because they turn a clean filing into a more expensive filing fast. A business that wants predictable trademark filing fees should use standard identification language whenever the ID Manual already fits the goods or services.
Post Registration: Budgeting for Trademark Maintenance Fees
Trademark filing fees do not stop after registration. The USPTO requires post-registration filings to keep the registration alive. The current fee schedule lists a Section 8 declaration at $325 per class and a Section 9 renewal application at $325 per class when filed electronically.
The combined Section 8 and Section 9 filing is $650 per class when filed on time electronically. If the owner misses deadlines and files during the grace period, the USPTO charges additional grace period fees.
That means maintenance belongs to the original budget. A trademark can look affordable at filing and still require recurring spend years later.
Section 8 and Section 9 Renewal Fee Breakdown
The Section 8 declaration confirms continued use. The Section 9 renewal keeps the registration active. The USPTO fee schedule lists both at $325 per class for electronic filing, and it also lists grace period fees of $100 per class for each filing type when the owner files late.
If you want to keep a logo registration alive without budget surprises, build the maintenance dates into the brand calendar from day one. The cost is not only the first filing. The cost is also the life cycle of the registration.
Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) Dispute Fees
Trademark disputes can move into the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. The USPTO fee schedule lists electronic TTAB fees at $600 per class for a petition to cancel and $600 per class for a notice of opposition. It also lists $225 per class for an ex parte appeal and $500 for a request for an oral hearing.
That makes TTAB costs a real budget item, not an afterthought. If a filing triggers an opposition or if a competitor challenges a registration, the dispute can add high cost on top of the original application and maintenance budget.
Why Hiring an IP Attorney Saves You Money in the Long Run
A trademark attorney adds cost at the front end, but that cost can prevent bigger mistakes later. A lawyer can choose the right filing basis, pick the right classes, use ID Manual language, reduce surcharge risk, and respond to Office Actions before the application falls apart. The USPTO fee rules reward complete applications and penalize incomplete or custom filings, so legal review can reduce avoidable fees.
A lawyer also helps with timing. If you file intent to use, the attorney can manage Statements of Use, extensions, and the maintenance calendar so the registration stays on track. That matters because late filings trigger extra fees.
For a business owner, the cheap filing is not the cheapest outcome. The cheapest outcome is a clean application, the right class, the right description, and no preventable surcharge.
The post Trademark Filing Fees: USPTO Costs, Intent to Use Fees, and Maintenance Fees first appeared on Traverse Legal.