Supreme Court Civil Appeal Fee Schedule in the Philippines
(A comprehensive primer for practitioners, litigants & researchers)
1. Why “civil‑appeal fees” matter
Every pleading addressed to the Supreme Court (SC) that seeks review of a civil controversy—whether by ordinary appeal, petition for review on certiorari (Rule 45), special civil action (Rule 65), or petition for review from the Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan or Court of Tax Appeals—must be accompanied by the correct docket and other lawful fees. Payment:
- vests the Court with jurisdiction over the appeal;
- funds the Judiciary Development Fund (JDF), Special Allowance for the Judiciary (SAJ) and, residually, the National Treasury; and
- triggers the mechanical flow of the case (raffle, docketing, service of notice, transmittal of records, etc.).
Failure to pay on time and in full is a well‑used ground for outright dismissal.
2. Legal framework
| Instrument | Key points |
|---|---|
| 1987 Constitution, Art. VIII §5(5) | Supreme Court may “Promulgate rules concerning pleading, practice, and procedure in all courts… including the fixing of legal fees.” |
| Rule 141, Rules of Court | Governs all judiciary fees. Originally revised 1997; periodically updated by administrative matters (A.M.). |
| A.M. No. 04‑2‑04‑SC (2004) | First major post‑1997 adjustment; introduced a four‑stage staggered increase (2004‑2006) to restore the real value of fees. |
| A.M. No. 17‑12‑09‑SC (2017, eff. Nov 21 2017) | Re‑based fees, imposed modest automatic biennial increases (10 %) until 2021, and authorized electronic modes of payment. |
| Clerks of Court Circulars (yearly) | Publish the running peso amounts after each scheduled escalation. The Clerk of Court of the Supreme Court also issues a Current Schedule of Legal Fees poster at the Cashier’s window and on sc.judiciary.gov.ph. |
Practical tip: Always request or download the current Clerk‑of‑Court circular; printed amounts in textbooks quickly become stale.
3. The fee basket for a civil appeal
| Fee heading (Supreme Court) | Ordinary civil appeal (notice of appeal via Rule 41/45) | Special civil action (Rule 65) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Docket/Filing fee | ₱ 4,000 basic (as of the last published tranche, 2023); + ₱ 500 per additional petitioner or respondent beyond the first five. | Same. | Previously ₱ 3,000 (2012‑2017). |
| Legal Research Fund (LRF) | 1 % of the docket fee, but not less than ₱ 10. | Same. | Remitted to the National Law Library. |
| Victim Compensation Fund (when required) | ₱ 5.00 | ₱ 5.00 | Per R.A. 7309. |
| Sheriff’s/Process Service | ₱ 2,000 advance deposit (refundable difference) | ₱ 2,000 | Covers mailing, messengerial, and sheriff’s travel. |
| Transcript & copying | ₱ 4.00 per page (ordinary), ₱ 5.00 per page (certified true copy) | Same | Often overlooked by counsel. |
| Bar matter certification, if any | ₱ 50.00 | — | Applicable only when the pleading touches on bar admission issues (rare). |
The table reflects the amounts after the final 10 % escalation scheduled by A.M. No. 17‑12‑09‑SC on 1 January 2023. Subsequent increases will require a fresh A.M. by the Court En Banc; none had been issued up to April 19 2025.
4. Graduated fees for money or real‑property judgments
When the Supreme Court appeal puts in issue a specific money judgment or real‑property value, an additional ad valorem component is charged on top of the flat ₱ 4,000, computed thus (Rule 141, §4):
| Amount/value involved | Additional fee |
|---|---|
| Not over ₱ 100,000 | none |
| Over ₱ 100,000 up to ₱ 200,000 | ₱ 100 + 1 % of the excess over ₱ 100,000 |
| Over ₱ 200,000 up to ₱ 400,000 | ₱ 200 + 1 % of the excess over ₱ 200,000 |
| Over ₱ 400,000 | ₱ 400 + 0.3 % of the excess (rounded up) |
The Clerk of Court will review the complaint, decision or valuation roll to fix the exact surcharge. Counsel is expected to do the arithmetic and attach a computation sheet to avoid assessment delays.
5. Modes, place & proof of payment
- Over‑the‑counter – Cashier, Supreme Court Main Bldg., Padre Faura, Manila.
- Land Bank On‑Coll – For counsel located outside Metro Manila; deposit‑slip copy + machine validation pages are stapled to the petition.
- Philippine Judicial e‑Payment System (JEPS) – Live in all regions by 2024; allows debit/credit card, GCash and Maya. The e‑receipt (PDF) is uploaded to the Verified E‑Portal and a hard copy is still annexed.
- Postal money order – Accepted only when counsel certifies the absence of banking facilities in his locality (rare).
Attach the Official Receipt (OR) to the front of the rollo and indicate its number in the Verification and Certification page. Non‑attachment is a curable defect—but only within the reglementary period.
6. Exemptions, reductions & refunds
| Category | Authority | Extent of privilege | Compliance proof |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indigent litigants | Rule 141 §19; Sec. 21, Rule 3 (1997 Rules) | 100 % waiver of all docket & sheriff’s fees | Sworn affidavit that (a) gross family income < double the monthly minimum wage and (b) no real property > ₱ 300,000 |
| Republic/Government of the Phils. | Rule 141 §18 | No docket fees; pays only LRF & sheriff’s actual disbursements | Pleading signed by the Solicitor General, OGCC or authorized agency counsel |
| Local government units | idem | 50 % of all fees | Certification from treasurer that budgetary appropriation exists |
| Labor‑related petitions | Art. 276, Labor Code; Rule 65‐NLRC | No docket fees | Statement explaining NLRC jurisdiction |
| Environmental cases | Rule of Procedure for Environmental Cases (2010) | Unitary docket ₱ 2,000 (no ad valorem) | Pleading invokes environmental rule |
| Refund for withdrawn petitions | Rule 141 §22 | 75 % if withdrawal is before raffling; 50 % if before action in Chambers | Motion to withdraw + Court resolution |
7. Consequences of late or insufficient payment
| Scenario | Typical result | Salvage options |
|---|---|---|
| No payment within 15 days (or the extended period under Rule 45) | Petition dismissed motu proprio (e.g., Heirs of Malate v. Gamboa, G.R. No. 210633, 2021) | Motion for reconsideration citing excusable negligence + tender of full amount (rarely granted) |
| Under‑payment (mis‑computed ad valorem) | Clerk issues Assessment Notice; if unpaid within the balance of the period, same fate as above | Pay the difference immediately & pray for liberal construction |
| Bounced check/e‑payment chargeback | Treated as non‑payment | Cash replacement + affidavit + possible contempt |
8. Accounting & statutory disposition
All sums are collected under the Trust Receipts of the judiciary, apportioned automatically by the cashiering system:
- 50 % → Judiciary Development Fund (JDF) – capital outlay & employee benefits;
- 25 % → Special Allowance for the Judiciary (SAJ) – additional allowances for justices/judges;
- 25 % → National Treasury (unprogrammed receipts).
The Commission on Audit annually issues a post‑audit report; clerks who fail to remit within 24 hours (cash) or 48 hours (check) commit serious dishonesty.
9. Jurisprudential highlights
- Manalansan v. Llego (G.R. No. 139099, Jan 29 2002) – Payment of the full docket fee is an indispensable step for jurisdiction; indigent claim must be proven, not presumed.
- Republic v. Mangotara (G.R. No. 170375, Mar 22 2010) – Government exempt, but must still pay the LRF because the exemption statute did not expressly cover it.
- Natalia Realty v. Court of Appeals (G.R. No. 118645, Aug 7 1997) – Erroneous valuation supplied by counsel does not toll the reglementary period; Clerk’s assessment controls.
- Figueroa v. Eala (A.C. No. 5885, Apr 7 2009) – Charging improper or excessive fees constitutes gross misconduct for a clerk of court.
10. Practical checklist for counsel
- Compute early. Draft a one‑page Fee Computation Sheet and attach it behind the verification page.
- Reserve OR numbers. Many Manila‑based law firms send a messenger the day before filing to secure the OR so that the number appears in the pleading.
- Electronic docketing. For e‑filed petitions, upload the e‑receipt in PDF and embed a machine‑readable QR code on the cover.
- Watch the clock. Rule 45 & Rule 65 both run 15 natural days; extensions are discretionary and rarely exceed 30 days. If your bank cut‑off is 3 p.m., treat it as the actual deadline.
- Check for new A.M. circulars every January 1. The biennial escalator adopted in 2017 ended in 2023, but the Court can issue a fresh schedule at any time.
Key take‑aways
- The Supreme Court’s civil appeal fee schedule is anchored on Rule 141 but is dynamic, shifting with administrative circulars.
- Payment is jurisdictional; mis‑steps are fatal unless strongly excused.
- Several statutory exemptions exist, but the burden of proof lies with the litigant.
- Fees fund not just court operations but the welfare and professional growth of the entire judiciary.
For absolute certainty, always requisition the latest Clerk of Court circular and read any newly issued Administrative Matter before filing.