IP Australia is the Australian Government agency responsible for administering intellectual property (IP) rights including patents, trade marks, designs and plant breeder’s rights.
IP Australia is the Australian Government agency that administers intellectual property (IP) rights, including patents, trade marks, designs and plant breeder’s rights. Operating under the Department of Industry, Science and Resources and based in Canberra, ACT, IP Australia manages national registers, examines applications and maintains the legal framework for IP protection in Australia. Businesses, inventors, brand owners and breeders use IP Australia’s online services to file new applications, renew existing rights and manage their IP portfolios.
A charge from IP Australia on your bank or card statement usually relates to a government fee for an IP application or an associated service. Common reasons include filing fees for a new trade mark, patent, design or plant breeder’s right; renewal or maintenance fees to keep existing rights in force; examination or opposition fees; or document and search fees. Many of these payments are made through IP Australia’s online eServices portal, and in some cases your patent/trade mark attorney or agent may process the payment on your behalf using your card details with your consent. Some charges can recur on a regular schedule (for example, renewal fees due every 10 years for trade marks), but IP Australia does not operate consumer-style “subscriptions” or free trials.
If you’re unsure about an IP Australia charge, start by checking your email for application confirmations, invoices or receipts from ipaustralia.gov.au corresponding to the date and amount of the transaction. You can also log into IP Australia’s eServices portal to review your transaction history and any applications or renewals lodged around that time. For help, contact IP Australia via the details on their official website (ipaustralia.gov.au), or call 1300 651 010 within Australia or +61 2 6283 2999 from overseas; have your card details (last 4 digits only), the transaction date and the amount ready so they can locate the payment. If the charge was made via an attorney or IP service provider, you may need to contact that firm directly to clarify the transaction or request any adjustments.
Bank Statement Variations
2 known variations
These are the raw merchant codes that appear on bank and credit card statements that we've identified as belonging to IP.
Why do I see a charge from IP Australia on my bank or card statement?
A charge from IP Australia usually relates to an intellectual property transaction such as filing a new trade mark, patent, design or plant breeder’s right, paying a renewal/maintenance fee, or lodging an examination, opposition or hearing fee. These payments are commonly made online via IP Australia’s eServices portal, by BPAY, or through an IP attorney/agent who may have used your payment details with your authorisation. Review recent IP activities (applications, renewals or changes) by you, your business or your attorney around the date of the charge.
What are typical amounts IP Australia might charge my card?
IP Australia charges reflect statutory government fees, which vary depending on the right and service. Examples (subject to change) include a standard online trade mark application (often in the low hundreds of Australian dollars per class), design application fees, patent application and examination fees (often higher), and renewal fees that increase over time for patents but are generally flat per 10-year period for trade marks. Exact current fees are listed in the ‘Fees’ or ‘Cost of protecting your IP’ section on ipaustralia.gov.au, and the amount on your statement should match a listed fee (sometimes plus a government surcharge if applicable).
Does IP Australia have recurring or subscription-style charges?
IP Australia does not run monthly subscriptions, but some fees recur according to statutory schedules for maintaining IP rights. For example, trade mark renewals are typically due every 10 years, patent renewal fees are due annually after a set initial period, and plant breeder’s rights and designs have their own renewal cycles. If you have a portfolio of rights, you may see multiple charges around common renewal dates when your attorney or business processes several renewals together.
How can I get a copy of the invoice or receipt for an IP Australia charge?
If you paid directly through IP Australia’s eServices portal, an invoice or receipt is usually generated and emailed to the contact email on file and can often be re‑downloaded from your eServices account. Log in to eServices, navigate to your transaction or payment history, and look for PDF invoices/receipts associated with the relevant application or renewal. If you cannot locate the document, contact IP Australia via the help centre or by calling 1300 651 010 (or +61 2 6283 2999 from overseas) and provide the payment date, amount and last four digits of your card so they can issue a copy.
I use an IP attorney. Why is the IP Australia charge on my card instead of from the attorney’s firm?
Many patent and trade mark attorneys lodge applications and renewals directly through IP Australia’s systems but may, with your consent, use your card or payment details so the statutory government fee is paid straight to IP Australia. In that situation, the transaction descriptor on your statement will show IP Australia (or a similar government reference) instead of the attorney’s firm name. To confirm, check invoices or engagement letters from your attorney around the time of the charge, or contact the firm and ask which IP Australia fees they recently processed on your behalf.
How do I query or dispute an IP Australia charge I don’t recognise?
First, check whether you, your business partners or staff recently filed or renewed any patents, trade marks, designs or plant breeder’s rights, or requested IP searches or documents. If you still do not recognise the payment, contact IP Australia using the details on ipaustralia.gov.au—ideally by phone—providing the transaction date, exact amount and your card’s last four digits so they can search their payment records. If the charge cannot be matched or appears unauthorised, your bank or card issuer can assist with a formal dispute, but contacting IP Australia first often clarifies whether the charge relates to a legitimate IP action.
Can I cancel or reverse an IP Australia fee once an application or renewal has been lodged?
In most cases, statutory fees paid to IP Australia for filing, examination, renewal or processing are non-refundable once the transaction has been completed, even if you later withdraw the application or allow the right to lapse. Limited circumstances exist where a refund or remission may be considered (for example, clear overpayment or duplicate payment), and these are assessed against government policy. If you believe you have been incorrectly charged or duplicated a payment, contact IP Australia promptly with your receipt and application or IP right numbers.
Why do I see multiple IP Australia charges on the same day or in close succession?
Multiple charges on the same day often indicate that several IP actions were processed at once—for example, filing multiple trade mark classes, renewing several trade marks or patents together, or lodging separate applications for designs or plant breeder’s rights. Each class, application or right usually attracts its own fee, so a portfolio action can appear as several similar amounts on your statement. Reviewing your IP portfolio, recent instructions to your attorney, and the itemised receipts or invoices from eServices should reveal how the total was broken down.