Legal basis: Article 94 of the Detailed Rules for the Implementation of the Patent Law of People's Republic of China (PRC). The fees specified in the Patent Law and these Detailed Rules may be paid directly to the patent administration department in the State Council, or by other means specified by the post office, bank or the patent administration department in the State Council. If remittance is made by post office or bank, the correct application number or patent number and the name of the fee paid shall be indicated on the remittance slip sent to the patent administration department in the State Council. If it does not conform to the provisions of this paragraph, it shall be deemed that it has not gone through the payment formalities. Where the fees are paid directly to the patent administrative department of the State Council, the payment date shall be the remittance date of the post office and the remittance date of the bank. If the patent fee is overpaid, re-paid or wrongly paid, the party concerned may, within 3 years from the date of payment, request a refund from the patent administration department in the State Council, and the patent administration department in the State Council shall refund it.