TEAS Plus vs TEAS Standard — and What Replaced Them (2026 Guide)
If you are researching TEAS Plus versus TEAS Standard, here is what they were, how they differed, and the new USPTO fee structure that replaced them in 2025.
Free Trademark Search →What TEAS Plus and TEAS Standard were
TEAS Plus offered a lower government fee in exchange for stricter rules: you had to select your goods and services from the USPTO's pre-approved ID Manual and complete all application fields upfront. TEAS Standard cost more but let you write custom (free-form) descriptions and leave certain fields for later. The trade-off was cost versus flexibility — TEAS Plus saved money if your goods fit the pre-approved list.
What replaced them in 2025
In January 2025, the USPTO consolidated its filing system into the new Trademark Center and replaced the TEAS Plus/Standard split with a single base application fee of $350 per class, plus surcharges: $200 per class for a free-form (custom) identification instead of pre-approved ID Manual wording, $200 per class for each additional 1,000 characters in a free-form description, and $100 per class when an application is missing required information. The practical lesson is unchanged: using pre-approved descriptions where possible keeps your fees lower.
What this means for filing today
You no longer choose between TEAS Plus and TEAS Standard — you file through the Trademark Center and your total fee depends on how you describe your goods and services and how complete your application is. Choosing accurate, pre-approved descriptions avoids surcharges, and getting the classification right the first time avoids costly Office Actions. This is exactly where a professional filing service saves money.
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Start Your RegistrationFrequently asked questions
What was the difference between TEAS Plus and TEAS Standard?
TEAS Plus had a lower fee but required pre-approved descriptions and complete upfront information. TEAS Standard cost more but allowed custom descriptions and more flexibility.
Do TEAS Plus and TEAS Standard still exist?
No. In January 2025 the USPTO retired both and moved to the Trademark Center with a single base application fee plus surcharges.
How much is the USPTO trademark application fee now?
The base application fee is $350 per class, with additional surcharges for using free-form (custom) identifications or for applications with insufficient information.
How do I keep my USPTO fees low?
Use accurate descriptions from the USPTO's pre-approved ID Manual where possible and complete your application fully to avoid surcharges and Office Actions.
Do I need a lawyer to file a trademark application?
U.S.-domiciled applicants are not required to use an attorney. Secure Mark USA provides expert filing support and is not a law firm.
About the author: Bill
Bill is a Business Growth Expert at Secure Mark USA with two years of Business Growth experience. He works daily with our technical team and senior case analysts to optimize our automated platform, ensuring e-commerce entrepreneurs can seamlessly discover, search, and secure real-time trademark protection. This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice; Bill is not an attorney.
Sources
- USPTO: Summary of 2025 trademark fee changes (base application and surcharges replacing TEAS Plus and TEAS Standard)
- USPTO: TEAS initial application forms retiring (Trademark Center became the only place to file new applications on 18 Jan 2025)
- USPTO fee schedule, checked 17 Oct 2026
Helpful resources
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