County Court Fees for Small Claims in England and Wales (2026 EX50 Rates)
What You'll Pay
County court fees for small claims come in two parts: the issue fee (paid when you file the claim) and the hearing fee (paid if the case is defended and goes to a hearing). Both are set by the EX50 schedule, updated by statutory instrument — the rates below reflect the July 2026 schedule.
The issue fee is the same whether you file online through OCMC or on paper via Form N1.
Issue fees by claim value:
| Claim value (including interest) | Issue fee |
|---|---|
| Up to £300 | £35 |
| £300.01–£500 | £50 |
| £500.01–£1,000 | £70 |
| £1,000.01–£1,500 | £80 |
| £1,500.01–£3,000 | £115 |
| £3,000.01–£5,000 | £205 |
| £5,000.01–£10,000 | £455 |
Hearing fees (small claims track only):
| Claim value | Hearing fee |
|---|---|
| Up to £300 | £27 |
| £300.01–£500 | £59 |
| £500.01–£1,000 | £85 |
| £1,000.01–£1,500 | £123 |
| £1,500.01–£3,000 | £181 |
| £3,000.01–£10,000 | £346 |
The claim value that determines the bracket includes any interest you're claiming up to the date of issue. Calculate your interest before filing — it affects which fee band you fall into.
Other Fees You Might Hit
If you need to make an application during the case (for example, to amend the claim or to set aside a judgment), you'll pay an application fee. Form N244 on notice costs £313; by consent or without notice, £123–£126.
These application fees are avoidable if you get the claim right the first time — correct defendant name, accurate interest calculation, and complete Particulars of Claim.
Can You Get the Fees Back?
Yes. If you win, the judge orders the defendant to repay both the issue fee and the hearing fee as part of the judgment. Court fees are one of the few costs fully recoverable on the small claims track under CPR 27.14.
What you can't recover: solicitor fees (beyond a small fixed allowance of £50–£100 on issue), your own preparation time, or research costs. This is exactly why many people handle small claims without a solicitor — you'd pay for representation and couldn't reclaim those costs from the other side.
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Fee Remission: Help with Fees (EX160)
If you're on a low income or receiving certain benefits, you can apply to have your court fees reduced or waived entirely under the Help with Fees scheme.
You qualify automatically if you receive Income Support, Income-based JSA, Income-related ESA, Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit), or Universal Credit with gross earnings under £6,000 per year.
Otherwise, eligibility depends on your savings and gross monthly income. For a single applicant, full remission requires savings no higher than £4,250 (for fees up to £1,420) and gross monthly income under £1,420. Couples have a £2,130 monthly threshold, with additions per dependent child.
Apply online or via paper Form EX160 before you file the claim. You'll receive an HWF reference number to enter on the claim form.
The Making a County Court Money Claim guide includes the full EX50 fee table alongside the fee remission thresholds so you can calculate your total outlay before spending anything.
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