There are two conditions for a fee payment to be fully valid:
(i)
the payment must relate to proceedings that are pending; and
(ii)
the date of payment (see XI, 3) must be on or after the due date (see XI, 4.1.1).
If a payment does not relate to a pending European patent application (e.g. it relates to a patent application already deemed to have been withdrawn), there is no legal basis for the payment; the amount paid must be refunded.
If the payment is made before or on the due date and if, no later than that date, the legal basis ceases to exist (e.g. because the patent application is deemed to be withdrawn or is withdrawn), the amount paid is to be refunded. This also applies to renewal fees validly paid before the due date (Rule 37(1), second sentence).
CHAPTER XI FEES
10.1.2 Fee payments which are not valid
