How to Use the Patent Issue Fee Deadline Calculator
Once the USPTO mails a Notice of Allowance, the issue fee clock starts and it cannot be extended. Enter the mailing date and, if the patent has already granted, the grant date to see the issue fee deadline and all three maintenance fee windows.
The governing rules are 37 CFR 1.311(a), which sets a three-month period from the mailing date of the Notice of Allowance, and 37 CFR 1.362, which sets maintenance fees at 3.5, 7.5 and 11.5 years from grant with a six-month grace period and surcharge under 35 USC 41(b).
Figures are current as of September 2026. USPTO fee amounts change regularly, so confirm the current fee schedule and your own dates in Patent Center before paying.
This calculator is for reference only and is not legal advice. Consult a registered patent attorney or agent about your specific application.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 37 CFR 1.311(a) sets a three-month period from the mailing date of the Notice of Allowance, and that period is not extendable under 37 CFR 1.136. If it passes, the application is treated as abandoned.
37 CFR 1.362 sets maintenance fees at 3.5, 7.5 and 11.5 years from the grant date. The window opens six months early, and a six-month grace period with a surcharge follows each due date.
The patent expires at the end of the grace period. 35 USC 41(c) allows a petition to accept a delayed payment if the delay was unintentional, subject to a petition fee and USPTO review.