MSME and Startup Trademark Fee Concession — How to Claim ₹4,500 Rate

Verified against IP India official fee schedule — Trade Marks Rules 2017 First Schedule. Last updated May 2026. Authored by Legismith Partners LLP — IP India Registered Trademark Attorneys, Pune. Author: Santosh Sangle (TM Attorney No. 33801).

The 50% trademark fee concession for MSMEs and startups is one of the most valuable and most misused provisions in Trade Marks Rules 2017. Qualifying businesses that file correctly pay ₹4,500 per class. Those that file under the wrong category pay ₹9,000 per class — with no possibility of refund or amendment. This guide explains exactly who qualifies, what documents are needed, and how to claim the concession step by step.

For the base government fee of ₹4,500, see the complete government trademark filing fee ₹4,500 guide.

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Who Qualifies for the 50% Trademark Fee Concession?

The Trade Marks Rules 2017 First Schedule provides the concessional ₹4,500 per class rate to applicants who fall into one of two qualifying categories:

Category 1 — Udyam Registered MSME

Any business holding a valid Udyam Registration Certificate issued by the Ministry of MSME, Government of India. The Udyam Registration number begins with “UDYAM-” followed by a state code and a sequential number (e.g., UDYAM-MH-10-0012345). Registration is done online at udyamregistration.gov.in and is free. Key criteria for MSME registration:

• Micro enterprise: Investment in plant and machinery up to ₹1 crore AND turnover up to ₹5 crore
• Small enterprise: Investment up to ₹10 crore AND turnover up to ₹50 crore
• Medium enterprise: Investment up to ₹50 crore AND turnover up to ₹250 crore

Sole proprietorships, partnerships, companies, and LLPs can all qualify for Udyam MSME registration if they meet the investment and turnover criteria.

Category 2 — DPIIT Recognised Startup

Any entity holding a valid DPIIT Startup Recognition Certificate issued by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Startups apply for recognition at startupindia.gov.in. Key DPIIT startup criteria as of May 2026:

• Entity must be a private limited company, LLP, or partnership firm registered in India
• Entity age must be within 10 years from date of incorporation
• Annual turnover must not have exceeded ₹100 crore in any preceding financial year
• Entity must be working towards innovation, development, or improvement of products, processes, or services

How Much You Save With the MSME/Startup Concession

Filing Scenario	Without Concession (Company rate)	With Concession (MSME/Startup rate)	Saving
1 class	₹9,000	₹4,500	₹4,500
2 classes	₹18,000	₹9,000	₹9,000
3 classes	₹27,000	₹13,500	₹13,500
4 classes	₹36,000	₹18,000	₹18,000
5 classes	₹45,000	₹22,500	₹22,500

These are government fees only. Savings are purely from the statutory fee concession under Trade Marks Rules 2017 First Schedule. Legismith’s professional fee of ₹20,000 remains the same regardless of applicant category. Verified May 2026.

Documents Required to Claim the Concession

Qualifying Category	Required Document	Where to Download
Udyam Registered MSME	Udyam Registration Certificate (PDF) showing UDYAM number, business name, and classification (Micro/Small/Medium)	udyamregistration.gov.in → Login with Aadhaar/PAN → Print Certificate
DPIIT Recognised Startup	DPIIT Startup Recognition Certificate (PDF) showing DPIIT Reference Number and entity name	startupindia.gov.in → Dashboard → My Profile → Recognition Certificate

How to Claim the Concession — Step by Step

The MSME/startup concession must be claimed during the TM-A filing process. It cannot be added retroactively after filing.

1. Step 1: Obtain your qualifying certificate — Udyam Registration Certificate (for MSME) or DPIIT Startup Recognition Certificate (for startups). The certificate must be in PDF format and clearly show your entity name, registration number, and classification.
2. Step 2: Log in to the IP India portal at tmrsearch.ipindia.gov.in using your registered user account.
3. Step 3: Begin a new TM-A (trademark application) form.
4. Step 4: In the “Applicant Type” field, select either “Small Enterprise” (for MSMEs) or “Individual” (for startups — yes, startups use the Individual/Proprietor category on the portal).
5. Step 5: When prompted, upload your qualifying certificate (Udyam or DPIIT certificate) as a supporting document.
6. Step 6: The portal automatically calculates the government fee at ₹4,500 per class (e-filing). Verify that the fee shown is ₹4,500 before proceeding to payment.
7. Step 7: Complete payment of ₹4,500 per class. The filing is complete.

Critical Warning: The applicant type selection cannot be changed after the application is submitted. If you accidentally select “Company” or “LLP” instead of the qualifying category, you will be charged ₹9,000 per class. There is no mechanism to correct this mistake or claim a refund under Trade Marks Rules 2017. You must file a completely new application at the correct fee. This mistake costs ₹4,500 per class — and invalidates the incorrectly-filed application for the concession purpose.

What Happens If You File Under the Wrong Category?

Filing under the wrong applicant category is one of the most common and most expensive mistakes in Indian trademark filings. Here is exactly what happens:

• You pay ₹9,000 per class instead of ₹4,500 — an unnecessary overpayment of ₹4,500 per class
• The ₹9,000 government fee is non-refundable — there is no refund mechanism under Trade Marks Rules 2017
• The application itself remains valid (it will proceed through examination) — the error is purely financial
• You must file a new application under the correct category (₹4,500 per class) if you want to recover the correct rate — which means paying a total of ₹13,500 per class (₹9,000 wrong filing + ₹4,500 correct refiling) — or accepting the ₹9,000 overpayment and abandoning the wrong application (which wastes the ₹9,000)

How Legismith Verifies Your Eligibility

Legismith verifies every client’s MSME/startup eligibility before every filing. During the free initial consultation, we ask for your Udyam Registration Certificate or DPIIT Startup Recognition Certificate. We review the certificate validity, entity name match with the trademark applicant, and classification before selecting the applicant type on the IP India portal. This takes 5 minutes and prevents the ₹4,500 per class overpayment error that costs clients money every day across India.

To understand the full trademark registration process in India before filing, read our complete guide. To verify your eligibility with Legismith before filing, send your Udyam or DPIIT certificate via WhatsApp and we confirm your fee category within 2 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions — MSME Startup Trademark Concession

Does a private limited company qualify for the ₹4,500 trademark fee?

A private limited company does not qualify for the ₹4,500 concessional rate simply by being a company. However, if the private limited company holds a valid Udyam Registration Certificate as a Micro, Small, or Medium enterprise — which is available to companies that meet the investment and turnover criteria — it qualifies for the ₹4,500 rate. Similarly, a DPIIT-recognised startup that is structured as a private limited company also qualifies. The concession is based on the certificate, not the legal entity type.

Can I claim the MSME concession if my Udyam certificate was recently issued?

Yes. There is no minimum holding period for the Udyam Registration Certificate. As long as your Udyam certificate is valid on the date of trademark filing, you qualify for the ₹4,500 concessional rate. Similarly, a DPIIT startup recognition certificate is valid as long as the startup meets the eligibility criteria (age within 10 years, turnover within ₹100 crore). Legismith reviews your certificate validity before every filing as part of the standard eligibility check.

Is the MSME concession available for trademark renewal?

No. The 50% concessional fee rate (₹4,500 per class) applies only to the initial trademark application filing fee (Form TM-A) under the Trade Marks Rules 2017 First Schedule. The trademark renewal fee (Form TM-R) is ₹9,000 per class for all applicant types without exception — individuals, MSMEs, startups, and companies all pay the same renewal fee. There is no concessional renewal rate. This means a startup that filed at ₹4,500 per class in 2024 will pay ₹9,000 per class when renewing in 2034.

Can a sole proprietorship claim the MSME concession?

Yes. A sole proprietorship that has obtained Udyam Registration qualifies for the ₹4,500 concessional trademark filing rate as a Small Enterprise under Trade Marks Rules 2017. The Udyam Registration scheme covers individuals operating as sole proprietors, provided their business meets the investment and turnover thresholds (Investment up to ₹10 crore AND turnover up to ₹50 crore for small enterprise classification). The trademark application would be filed in the name of the individual proprietor with the Udyam certificate as supporting document.

What if my DPIIT startup recognition expired after filing?

The qualifying condition for the ₹4,500 concessional rate is that the applicant holds a valid DPIIT startup recognition certificate at the time of trademark filing. If your recognition certificate was valid when you filed, the concessional rate applies — even if the recognition subsequently expires (for example, because the startup crossed the 10-year age limit). The trademark registration itself is not affected by a post-filing change in startup recognition status.

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Don’t Pay ₹9,000 When You Qualify for ₹4,500 — Verify Before Filing

Filing under the wrong category costs ₹4,500 per class with no refund. Legismith verifies your eligibility before every filing — free, within 2 hours, via WhatsApp.

🔆 WhatsApp Us Now — Verify Your Eligibility Free

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