U.S. flag An official website of the United States government
  1. Home
  2. Regulatory Information
  3. Freedom of Information
  4. FOIA Fees
  1. Freedom of Information

FOIA requestors may have to pay fees covering some or all of the costs of processing their request. Requestors may want to include the maximum dollar amount they are willing to pay. If the fees exceed the maximum amount stated, FDA will contact the requestor before filling the request. Requestors are generally billed for fees after their requests have been processed; however, if total fees are expected to exceed $250.00 FDA may require payment in advance of processing.

Commercial Use Requestors:

  • Search and review charges: $23.00, $46.00 and $83.00 depending on the grade level of the FDA employee filling the request.
  • Duplication: $ .10 per page for standard-size paper or actual cost per page for odd-size paper.
  • Certifications: $10 each.
  • Computer Charges: actual cost for time involved.
  • Electronic Forms/Formats: actual cost for form/format requested.

Noncommercial Use Requestors, Such as Representatives of the News Media, Public Interest Groups, and Educational and Noncommercial Scientific Institutions:

  • Duplication charges at the same rates listed above with no charge for first 100 pages of duplication.

Other Requestors, Including Consumers:

  • Search and duplication charges at rates listed above with no charge for the first two hours of search and the first 100 pages of duplication. 

Requestors should not send payment with their requests. They will be billed if the total processing charges are $25 or more. FDA does not accept credit cards. Payment must be made by check or money order. A standard charge of $5.75 will be added to all invoices for Commercial and Other requesters.

Notice to Customers Making Payment by Personal Check

If you send us a personal check, it will be converted into an electronic funds transfer (EFT). This means we will copy your check and use the account information on it to electronically debit your account for the amount of the check. The debit from your account will usually occur within 24 hours, and will be shown on your regular account statement.

You will not receive your original check back. We will destroy your original check, but we will keep the copy of it. If the EFT cannot be processed for technical reasons, you authorize us to process the copy in place of your original check. If the EFT cannot be completed because of insufficient funds, we may try to make the transfer up to 2 times.

Online Payment

Prefer to pay online? Need to review your invoices? Want to know how much you owe?

With the new Account Management System you can pay your invoices by ACH (electronic check) or Credit Card! You can also review your account transactions and balances, all from one website. For more information about the Account Management System, click here.

FOIA Invoice Payment Options:

Payment can be forwarded to FDA by one of the following methods:

1. Online Payment:


Sign in and access your invoice on The User Fee Account Management System


Select the invoice you would like to pay and then click the 'Pay' button. On the next screen, click on the 'Pay Now' button to pay online through Pay.gov.

For more help, see the 'How To Guide'

If checks are sent by U.S. Mail, send to:

Food and Drug Administration
P.O. Box 979107
St. Louis, MO 63197-9000

If checks are to be sent by courier that requires a street address, deliver to:

U.S. Bank
ATTN: Government Lockbox 979107
1005 Convention Plaza
St. Louis, MO 63101

Note: Courier Address is for delivery only. Make sure the FDA Lockbox number (979107) is on the enclosed check.

If a phone number is also required for the courier delivery, note (314) 418-4013.

Your invoice number must be noted on your remittance.



Back to Top