How to Renew a Trademark in the U.S.: Deadlines, Fees, and Filing Steps

A federal trademark is not a one-time filing. If you want to keep your brand name, logo, or slogan protected in the United States, you must maintain the registration on schedule and prove the mark is still being used in commerce.

For business owners, the renewal process is manageable when you know the deadlines and what the USPTO expects. The key is to treat trademark maintenance as part of your ongoing compliance routine, not as a last-minute task.

This guide explains how U.S. trademark renewal works, what documents you need, how much it costs, and how to avoid the mistakes that can lead to cancellation.

What trademark renewal actually means

Trademark renewal is the post-registration process that keeps a federal trademark active. It is not the same as initial registration. Registration gives you federal protection, but that protection continues only if you file the required maintenance documents on time.

In the United States, the USPTO requires owners of use-based registrations to show that the mark is still in use and to renew the registration at specific intervals. If you miss those filings, the registration can be canceled.

That matters because a canceled registration can weaken your brand position, reduce enforcement options, and make it easier for another party to register a similar mark.

The main renewal deadlines

The USPTO uses a maintenance schedule that starts a few years after registration and continues every 10 years after that.

Between years 5 and 6

You must file a Section 8 declaration of continued use, or a declaration of excusable nonuse if applicable. This filing confirms that the trademark is still being used in commerce for the goods or services listed in the registration.

After five years of continuous use

You may also qualify to file a Section 15 declaration of incontestability. This filing is optional, but when available it can strengthen the registration by limiting certain challenges to the mark’s validity.

Between years 9 and 10

You must file both:

• Section 8 declaration of continued use
• Section 9 renewal application

This is the first true renewal cycle after registration.

Every 10 years after that

The same combined maintenance cycle continues every 10 years. In practical terms, that means you should plan ahead for filings around the 19th to 20th year, 29th to 30th year, and so on.

Six-month grace period

If you miss the standard deadline, the USPTO typically allows a six-month grace period. You can still file during that window, but late fees apply. If you miss both the deadline and the grace period, the registration can be canceled.

What you need before you file

Before starting a trademark renewal, collect the information and evidence you will need for the filing.

Confirm the registration details

Check the registration number, the owner name, the listed goods and services, and the exact deadlines. Small ownership or address errors can slow down the process.

Gather proof of continued use

The USPTO wants evidence that the trademark is actively used in commerce for the goods or services covered by the registration. Acceptable specimens often include:

• Product packaging
• Labels
• Point-of-sale displays
• Website pages showing the mark in connection with the goods or services
• Marketing materials, when appropriate for the class

The specimen must match the way the mark is actually used. A logo on an internal document or a placeholder page usually will not work.

Review your classes carefully

Trademark filings are class-based. If your registration covers multiple classes, you must review whether each class still has valid use and whether separate fees apply.

Step by step: how to renew a trademark

1. Verify the deadline

Start with the registration date and calculate the relevant filing window. The USPTO will accept filings only within the allowed period, so deadline tracking matters.

2. Confirm the mark is still in use

The renewal process is built around actual commercial use. If the mark is no longer in use for one or more goods or services, you may need to delete those items from the registration or speak with counsel before filing.

3. Prepare the Section 8 filing

For the first maintenance filing, you must submit a sworn statement that the mark is still in use, along with a specimen for the covered goods or services.

If the mark is not in use but the owner has a valid reason, a declaration of excusable nonuse may be available in limited situations.

4. Prepare the Section 9 renewal application

When the renewal window arrives in the 9th and 10th years, Section 9 is the actual renewal request. It extends the registration for another 10-year term when the filing is approved.

5. File both forms when required

For the 10-year cycle, many owners file the Section 8 and Section 9 documents together. That is usually the cleanest approach because it keeps the maintenance record aligned and reduces the risk of missing one required filing.

6. Pay the filing fees

Pay the required USPTO fees for each class and make sure any grace-period charges are included if you are filing late.

7. Monitor the status after filing

After submission, check the USPTO record and watch for any deficiency notice or office action. If the USPTO needs clarification or additional evidence, respond promptly.

Current USPTO fees to expect

Trademark fees change over time, so always confirm the current schedule before filing. As of the current USPTO fee schedule, the main post-registration electronic filing fees are:

• Section 8 declaration: $325 per class
• Section 9 renewal application: $325 per class
• Combined Section 8 and Section 9 filing: $650 per class
• Late filing fees apply during the six-month grace period

If you file late, the USPTO adds a grace-period surcharge per class. For many owners, the late combined filing costs significantly more than filing on time, which is another reason to keep renewal dates on your compliance calendar.

Common trademark renewal mistakes

Missing the deadline

The most expensive mistake is waiting too long. If you miss the deadline and the grace period, the registration can be lost.

Filing without acceptable specimens

A filing can be rejected if the specimen does not show actual trademark use. The proof should connect the mark to the goods or services in the registration.

Forgetting one class in a multi-class registration

Each class can require separate attention. A business may think the trademark is renewed when only some classes were maintained.

Using outdated ownership information

If the business has changed names, merged, or assigned the registration to another owner, the USPTO record should reflect that change before or during maintenance filing.

Waiting until the grace period

Late filing is possible, but it costs more and leaves less room to correct mistakes. On-time filing is the safer approach.

What happens if you do not renew

If a federal trademark is not maintained properly, the USPTO can cancel the registration. Once that happens, the owner may lose the benefits of federal registration, including stronger nationwide notice and a better enforcement position.

A canceled registration does not always mean a brand is immediately unusable, but it does weaken protection and may create a serious risk if another party tries to register a similar mark.

In some cases, the only option is to file a new trademark application, which means starting over and hoping no one else has claimed the mark in the meantime.

International trademark renewals

If your business also owns trademarks outside the United States, renewal rules will depend on the country or region where the mark is registered.

International systems may have different deadlines, forms, and fees than the USPTO. Businesses with global brands should keep a separate renewal calendar for each jurisdiction and review local filing requirements well before expiration.

How Zenind fits into trademark planning

Zenind helps founders and business owners build a stronger company from the start. While trademark renewal is a separate legal process, staying organized about entity records, ownership details, and compliance deadlines makes future brand maintenance easier.

If your business is growing, it helps to keep formation documents, ownership records, and trademark schedules in the same compliance mindset. That habit reduces filing errors and gives you a cleaner record when it is time to renew.

A simple renewal checklist

Before filing, make sure you have:

• Confirmed the correct renewal deadline
• Verified that the trademark is still in use
• Collected acceptable specimens
• Checked the owner name and registration details
• Identified all affected classes
• Prepared the Section 8 and, if needed, Section 9 filings
• Included the correct fees
• Saved proof of submission and status updates

Final thoughts

Trademark renewal is straightforward when you treat it as a recurring compliance task. Know the deadlines, keep proof of use on hand, and file before the grace period whenever possible.

A protected brand is an asset. Maintaining the registration is how you keep that asset strong.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.