Tribunals service confirms implementation date for fees

Fees will be due for employment tribunal claims and appeals to the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT), from 29 July 2013. 

HM Courts and Tribunals Service has confirmed in a letter to stakeholders that, from 29 July 2013 and subject to parliamentary approval, employment tribunal claimants and appellants to the EAT will be liable to pay a fee. The draft Employment Tribunals and the Employment Appeal Tribunal Fees Order 2013 will, when enacted, effect the introduction of fees. Fees will not be payable on claims submitted, or notices of appeal received, before the Order comes into force. 

There will be two main charging points: first on issue of a claim and second prior to the final hearing for a claim that proceeds to that stage. For employment tribunal claims, different fee levels will apply, depending on whether the claim is a level 1 or level 2 claim. The Order lists the claims that come under level 1 (which includes claims for unpaid wages and redundancy payments). Other claims come under level 2. 

For level 1 claims, the issue fee will be £160 and the hearing fee will be £230. For level 2 claims, the issue fee will be £250 and the hearing fee will be £950. Different fee levels will apply to claims involving multiple claimants. 

For lodging an appeal with the EAT, the appellant will pay an issue fee of £400 and a hearing fee of £1,200. There will be only one level of fee regardless of the type of claim or number of claimants. 

Also

XpertHR legal timetable and HR calendar Keep up to date with new legislation, consultations and HR developments in 2013 with XpertHR's legal timetable and HR calendar. 

See the Tribunal procedures and penalties section of the XpertHR employment law manual for more details about the introduction of employment tribunal fees and other tribunal reforms.