Court fees depend on the case category, the amount involved and the procedure. For an ordinary monetary property claim in mainland China, the standard filing fee follows a progressive scale. Lawyer fees, translation, preservation security and other expenses belong in separate parts of your budget.
Use this guide to understand the filing-fee schedule, payment timing and who bears the charges. Use our litigation budget guide for the wider budget, or enter your amount in the China court fee calculator for a detailed calculation and Word download.
What is the official filing-fee schedule?
Article 13 of the Measures for the Payment of Litigation Fees, State Council Order No. 481 applies progressive rates to monetary property claims. Each rate applies to the part of the claim within that band. The equivalent quick formulas below use the whole claim amount, expressed in CNY.
| Claim amount (CNY) | Standard filing fee: quick formula |
|---|---|
| Up to 10,000 | 50 |
| Over 10,000 to 100,000 | Amount × 2.5% − 200 |
| Over 100,000 to 200,000 | Amount × 2% + 300 |
| Over 200,000 to 500,000 | Amount × 1.5% + 1,300 |
| Over 500,000 to 1,000,000 | Amount × 1% + 3,800 |
| Over 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 | Amount × 0.9% + 4,800 |
| Over 2,000,000 to 5,000,000 | Amount × 0.8% + 6,800 |
| Over 5,000,000 to 10,000,000 | Amount × 0.7% + 11,800 |
| Over 10,000,000 to 20,000,000 | Amount × 0.6% + 21,800 |
| Over 20,000,000 | Amount × 0.5% + 41,800 |
The Supreme People's Court publishes the same quick-calculation schedule. Non-monetary disputes and some special categories have different schedules. The court's payment notice determines the amount payable in a particular filing.
Filing-fee examples
A CNY 100,000 claim attracts CNY 100,000 × 2.5% − CNY 200 = CNY 2,300, or 2.3% of the claim. For CNY 500,000, the fee is CNY 500,000 × 1.5% + CNY 1,300 = CNY 8,800, or 1.76%. Each rate applies only within its band; the quick formula gives the combined fee.
Currency conversion is a budgeting assumption, not an additional court fee. Confirm the applicable conversion and claim valuation before filing.
When is the filing fee payable, and can it be reduced?
The plaintiff generally prepays the filing fee. Article 22 sets a seven-day payment period after receipt of the court's fee notice. If payment is difficult, raise any available application for deferral, reduction or exemption promptly; do not ignore the notice.
Under Articles 15 and 16, court mediation, withdrawal and cases heard under summary procedure can attract a half-rate filing fee. A low claim amount does not by itself establish that your foreign-related dispute qualifies for summary procedure. The applicable procedural rules and court's determination must be checked.
Article 29 generally allocates litigation fees to the losing party, with allocation by the court for partial success and other situations. Allocation does not guarantee reimbursement if the debtor cannot pay. A responsible budget keeps the initial cash outlay and expected reimbursement separate.
How much is the preservation application fee?
Article 14(2) applies a separate property-preservation schedule, with a court application fee capped at CNY 5,000. Enter the value of the property being preserved in the China court fee calculator to see every band and the cap calculation.
This is the court application fee, not the security needed to support the application. Cash collateral, a third-party guarantee or an insurer's guarantee may involve separate requirements and costs. Court acceptance of security and approval of preservation are not automatic. See asset preservation requirements.
How is the enforcement application fee calculated?
Article 14(1) uses the enforcement amount or value, which can differ from the original claim. Select the enforcement category in the China court fee calculator for the full schedule and calculation.
Under Articles 20 and 38, the enforcement application fee is not prepaid by the applicant and is generally borne by the judgment debtor. Settlement and the actual enforcement circumstances can affect allocation. It should not be presented as an automatic deduction from the creditor's principal in every case.
What is outside these court fees?
Lawyer fees, translation, notarization or Apostille, expert appraisal, travel and preservation-insurance premiums are separate budget items. Article 12 addresses certain expenses paid directly to the relevant provider. They are not all statutory court charges, and they cannot responsibly be priced without the scope and provider's quotation.
Before approving a lawsuit, check China court fees and ask for a budget separating: upfront court fees, legal work by stage, third-party estimates, security or collateral, and possible later enforcement costs. Also assess whether there are reachable assets to justify that spend.
For an unpaid invoice, assess the economics of debt collection in China alongside these court charges.
For an initial review, send the dispute type, approximate amount, contract terms and any known asset concerns. Discuss your claim and costs.