Legal analysis: the annual patent fee is paid from the date of application. The annual fee for the year when the patent right is granted shall be paid within the time limit specified in the notice of granting the patent right issued by the Patent Office, and the annual fee thereafter shall be paid in advance within one month before the expiration of the previous year. If the payment is not made within one month before the expiration, the Patent Office will grant a grace period of one month. If the fee is not paid within one month after the expiration, there will be a late fee.
Legal basis: Article 43 of the Patent Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) stipulates that the patentee shall pay the annual fee from the year when the patent right is granted.