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5 CFR § 10400.13Chapter CIV

Fees to be charged—categories of requesters

Primary source

Verbatim text below is from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the current version with the eCFR before relying on it for any legal matter.

Full Text

(a) For fees, there are four categories of FOIA requesters: commercial use requests; educational and non-commercial scientific institution requests; requests from representatives of the news media; and all other requesters.

(b) The specific levels of fees for each of these categories are:

(1) Commercial use request. IPEC will recover the full direct cost of providing search, review, and duplication services. Commercial use requests will not receive free search-time or free duplication of documents.

(2) Educational and non-commercial scientific institution requests. IPEC will charge the cost of duplication, excluding charges for the first 100 pages. Requesters must demonstrate the request is authorized by and under the auspices of a qualifying institution and that the records are sought for scholarly or scientific research not a commercial use.

(3) Requests from representatives of the news media. IPEC will charge the cost of duplication, excluding charges for the first 100 pages. Requesters must meet the criteria in § 10400.3, and the request must not be made for a commercial use. A request that supports the news dissemination function of the requester shall not be considered a commercial use.

(4) All other requesters. IPEC will recover the full direct cost of the search and the duplication of records, excluding the first 100 pages of duplication and the first two hours of search time.

eCFR data current as of: November 5, 2026

This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.