2.27.4.Refund procedure
2.27.017Under the fee refund procedure, users are required to file clear and up-to-date refund instructions in an electronically processable format (XML). Filing of electronically processable refund instructions is mandatory since 1 October 2019. Under this procedure, applicants may also indicate the account of any third party for the purpose of fee refunds.
2.27.018In the case of international applications, the refund instructions must be submitted via EPO Online Filing, Online Filing 2.0 or ePCT, using Form PCT/RO/101. They may also be filed using the PCT-SFD or PCT-DEMAND plug-in in EPO Online Filing or Online Filing 2.0.
2.27.019Refunds are made to a deposit account held with the EPO or to a bank account. Refunds cannot be made by cheque or to credit cards. If the EPO cannot make a refund to a deposit account held with it, it will invite the party to the proceedings to claim the refund via its website using Central Fee Payment.47 To do so, it will send two separate communications:
–the first communication will inform the party of the pending refund and that it can be claimed online;
–the second will contain a refund code required to identify and claim the refund.