To streamline administration, enhance public convenience, and improve administrative efficiency, the application process for matters relating to patent annuities has been actively optimized. Where the patentee is a foreign school or a domestic/foreign small or medium-sized enterprise (SME), the patentee may apply for a reduction of patent annuities at the same time as paying the certificate fee and the first-year patent annuity. Alternatively, after the patent right is granted, the patentee may separately file a “Patent Annuity Reduction Application Form” to apply for reduced patent annuities, including a one-time application for reductions covering multiple years. If the patentee continues to meet the eligibility requirements for annuity reduction thereafter, there is no need to apply for the annuity reduction on a year-by-year basis.
If the Taiwan Intellectual Property Office (TIPO) confirms upon review that the patentee satisfies the requirements for annuity reduction under the Regulations Governing the Reduction and Exemption of Patent Annuities ( “these Regulations” hereinafter), and the patentee later no longer meets the eligibility requirements due to changes in circumstances, the patentee shall pay patent annuities in accordance with the patent annuity amounts prescribed under the Regulations Governing Patent Fees, and shall notify the Office. If the patentee pays only an insufficient amount of the patent annuity for the relevant year, such payment will not be deemed full payment, and the patent right may consequently lapse automatically. Any fees already paid will be refunded.
This procedure will be accepted starting January 1, 2026.
Eligible applicants (pursuant to Article 2 of these Regulations):

• SMEs: enterprises that meet the criteria set out in the Standards for Identifying SMEs; foreign enterprises are also included.
• Foreign schools: overseas schools recognized by the Ministry of Education.

Timing of application and required forms:

• When paying the certificate fee and the first-year patent annuity, the applicant may submit a “Patent Certificate Application Form” and apply concurrently.
• After the patent right is granted, for patent annuities from the second year through the sixth year, the patentee may file a “Patent Annuity Reduction Application Form” to apply.