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The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has confirmed plans to raise its fees by an average of 25% from 1 April 2026, subject to parliamentary approval. The change will affect applications and renewals for patents, trademarks, and designs.
This marks the first major fee increase in several years, with some fees unchanged for more than two decades. The IPO says the rise is necessary to keep pace with inflation and maintain the quality of its services.
The change means most fees will go up by around a quarter. For example:
- A patent search will rise from £150 to £200.
- A trademark application will increase from £170 to £205.
Full guidance will be published early in 2026 to help those whose payments fall close to the transition date.
The IPO has also updated its ‘how to pay’ information online, including revised terms and conditions for deposit account holders.
If approved, the new fee structure will take effect from 1 April 2026. Until then, the current fees remain in place.
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/intellectual-property-office-fees-to-increase-from-april-2026
The government has published a response to its consultation 'Land Remediation Relief' (LRR). The review sought to understand whether the Corporation Tax relief continues to incentivise the redevelopment of brownfield land and whether reforms are needed to ensure it remains effective, accessible and aligned with modern remediation practices.
The government has published a raft of consultations on tax and business policies. It is worth being aware of these, as they are a good indicator of future policy direction likely to impact small businesses.
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