HMCTS Payment by Account for online services
Source: gov.uk (2025-08-08)

How to register for Payment by Account (PBA) to pay for HMCTS online court fees with MyHMCTS and E-Filing.

About Payment by Account

Payment by Account (PBA) is a free service, enabling legal firms and organisations to pay for HMCTS related online court fees by direct debit. The service is managed by a third-party provider, Liberata UK.

You may need a Payment by Account number to use the MyHMCTS online case management application for (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/myhmcts-online-case-management-for-legal-professionals):
- civil damages claims
- divorce
- family public law order
- financial remedy
- immigration and asylum appeals
- probate
You can use a Payment by Account for digital filing services with E-Filing (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hmcts-e-filing-service-for-citizens-and-professionals) for:
- Business and Property Courts
- King’s Bench Division of the High Court
- Senior Courts Costs Office
- High Court Family Appeals
- Upper Tribunal – Tax and Chancery Chamber
- Upper Tribunal – Lands Chamber
- Employment Appeal Tribunal
- Court of Protection
Before you start

If you already have a PBA number to pay court fees in person or by post, you can use that to register for MyHMCTS. Ask your organisation’s billing team.

If you are still unsure about the status of a PBA number in your organisation, email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

If your organisation has a PBA number, we will pass your enquiry to your organisation’s named contact. They can give you the correct PBA number to use. We cannot give you your organisation’s PBA number directly for data protection reasons.

If your organisation does not have a PBA number, you must register for one.

How to register

Register using the Fee Account – Customer Application Form (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/form-fee-account-application-form-fee-account-customer-application-form).

Please send the completed and signed application form to:

Liberata PBA Support Team PO Box 3166 Cardiff CF30 0FH

or

DX 134282 CARDIFF 46

Once we have received your request, we aim to respond by email with a decision within 7 working days. Incomplete or incorrect forms will take longer.

Multiple PBA numbers in one organisation

Individual branches or businesses within a larger organisation can have separate PBA numbers. Branches are limited to the organisation’s maximum credit limit and each branch is assigned a proportion of that limit.

If there are any problems with the registration, we will contact the registered main contact.

What happens next

We carry out credit reference checks with a registered credit reference agency.

If their recommendation is less than the limit requested, we will contact you using your nominated email address. This may increase the time it takes to complete your registration.

If your application is declined or you wish to appeal this decision, email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

Account administration

Invoicing

Invoices are issued electronically to the billing address weekly, 3 days ahead of each direct debit call. The invoice will be titled ‘Advance Notice’ and will be itemised with each case fee and reference number. You can also request an XML format version of your weekly invoices to make your own electronic accounting process easier.

Refunds

If the court have provided you with confirmation of a refund, it will be itemised in your next Payment by Account invoice and direct debit settlement.

Get help

Contact the PBA support team if you need help with:
- invoices and refunds
- changing your credit limit or frequency
- bank debit issues
- PBA fee account suspensions
- requesting an XML format
PBA support team Email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx

The PBA support team aims to respond to emails within 7 working days.

Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges)