If you're an independent inventor or early-stage founder, USPTO fees can feel scary. The good news? You may not need to pay full price. By qualifying as a micro entity, you can cut many USPTO fees by up to 75%. Here's how it works and how to use it to your advantage.
- Micro entity status can reduce many USPTO fees by up to 75%.
- It's not automatic — you must certify your status to pay reduced fees.
- Eligibility depends on income, patent history, and assignment limits.
- Savings apply beyond the initial filing; later fees can be reduced too.
- Accurate certification matters — it's a legal statement and must be updated if your status changes.
What is micro entity status?
The USPTO has three fee tiers: large entity pays full fees, small entity gets about a 50% reduction, and micro entity gets about a 75% reduction. If you qualify as a micro entity, you pay the lowest fees across many stages — filing, search, examination, maintenance, and more. For solo inventors, students, and lean startups, this can be the difference between "we'll do this someday" and "we can afford to file now."
How to qualify
You generally need to meet all of these. This is a simplified overview, not legal advice — always confirm current USPTO rules.
Income requirement
Your gross income in the previous year must be below a threshold set by law (for example, around $206,109 for 2024), based on your adjusted gross income. The limit applies to you and any assignee or entity with rights to the invention — if you or the rights-holder are over the limit, you don't qualify.
Patent application limit
You must not have been named as an inventor on more than four previously filed U.S. non-provisional applications. Provisional applications don't count against this limit, and most first-time or early inventors pass this test easily.
Assignment restrictions
You must not have assigned or conveyed rights in the invention to an entity that wouldn't itself qualify as a micro entity. In other words, you can't route your patent through a big company and still claim micro-entity fees.
How much can you save?
A simplified comparison for a typical utility filing. Numbers are illustrative and may change — always check current USPTO fees.
That's a drop from $3,100 to around $620 just by qualifying — and these reductions can apply to later fees too, not just the initial filing.
How to claim it
To actually use micro-entity pricing, you must certify it — it's not automatic. Complete the certification form (USPTO Form PTO/SB/15A, Gross Income Basis, or the current equivalent), which is a sworn statement that you meet all the requirements, and submit it when you pay fees. You can use micro-entity status for provisional and non-provisional applications as long as you meet the criteria at the time of payment. Status is application-specific, so you may need to re-certify for new applications and certain later fees. If your income goes above the threshold or you assign the patent to a non-qualifying entity, you're required to update your status and pay the correct fees going forward.
- Your previous year's tax return (for income verification).
- A list of previous patent applications you've been named on.
- The completed certification form, signed under penalty of perjury.
It's not a long form, but it's legally significant — accuracy matters.
This is general information, not legal advice. Specific cases can differ.
Serious protection, lean pricing
AutoInvent guides you through framing your invention in patent-style language for a strong provisional foundation, helps you prepare everything you need to file yourself with the USPTO, and keeps total costs low — often a couple hundred dollars for a provisional, plus the USPTO micro-entity fee. With the right status and the right tools, serious IP protection doesn't have to come with a serious price tag.