USPTO Will Suspend Card Payments September 26
Filers should prepare to use alternative payment methods during the upcoming two-hour service window.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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The USPTO will suspend credit and debit card payments across 11 storefronts on September 26, 2026, due to third-party system maintenance. The service outage is scheduled to occur from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET.
Why it matters
Operators filing trademarks or patents must account for this payment blackout to avoid processing delays during the maintenance window. While the agency will not accept cards, users can still utilize Deposit Accounts or Electronic Funds Transfer accounts to complete transactions.
The maintenance impacts 11 distinct USPTO storefronts, representing the total number of locations subject to the card payment suspension. This limited-duration outage covers a two-hour window on September 26, 2026.
The players
USPTO
The federal agency responsible for granting patents and registering trademarks, which mandates compliance with electronic filing and payment procedures.
The details
The USPTO is performing necessary third-party system maintenance that requires the temporary disabling of its card-processing gateway. During this period, applicants and counsel must rely on pre-funded Deposit Accounts or direct Electronic Funds Transfer to satisfy filing fees. For those with approaching deadlines, note that the agency automatically extends trademark filing deadlines that land on a Saturday to the following business day.
Timeline
September 26, 2026, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET.
Market Landscape
This maintenance window reflects the agency's reliance on integrated third-party payment infrastructure to manage its patent and trademark filing services. It follows the established precedent of the USPTO's electronic filing deadline extension policy, which protects filers from technical downtime.
Operators planning to submit filings on September 26, 2026, should verify their Deposit Account balances before 6 p.m. ET. Ensure all payment contingencies are in place to avoid rejected submissions during the two-hour maintenance block.
The takeaway
Anticipate system-wide payment outages by auditing your firm's secondary payment methods before major administrative updates. Maintain sufficient balances in your USPTO Deposit Account to ensure filing continuity when standard card processing systems go offline.
Further reading
For broader guidance on navigating federal administrative systems, see our Openings & Closings section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by USPTO.
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