The EPO has announced an increase in their official fees, which will be effective from 1 April 2023. The fees will increase by roughly 5-6% across the board, including the filing, search, examination, designation and grant fees. The list of the revised fee rates can be found here.
You may wish to attend to the payment of fees earlier than usual to take advantage of the lower rates. For example, it will be possible to avoid the increases by attending to the payment of renewal fees in March, 2023 that fall due for payment in April‑June, 2023. Similarly, applications can be filed early to avoid the increases, examination and designation fees can be paid early, and divisional applications can be filed this month.
If you would like to secure the lower rates, please get in touch with your usual contact at WP Thompson.