EX160 — Apply for help with court fees

EX160 is the HMCTS form used to apply for full or partial remission of court and tribunal fees in England & Wales, including the issue fee for a possession claim. Reference page sourced from GOV.UK and HMCTS guidance EX160A.

What it is: EX160 (and the accompanying guidance EX160A) is the HM Courts & Tribunals Service form used to apply for 'help with fees' — full or partial remission of the fee otherwise payable to start most civil court and tribunal proceedings in England & Wales, including a possession claim issued on Form N5 or N5B.

Statutory authority: The Help with Fees scheme is operated under the Civil Proceedings, Family Proceedings and Upper Tribunal Fees (Amendment) Order and successive remission orders published by the Ministry of Justice. The current rules are set out in HMCTS guidance EX160A on GOV.UK.

RRA 2025 status: active — EX160 is unaffected by the Renters' Rights Act 2025 — it remains the standard remission route for court fees, including the issue fee on N5 / N5B / N119 possession claims.

When to use

• When you can't afford the court issue fee or hearing fee for a civil claim, including a possession claim on Form N5 or N5B.
• Where your disposable capital (savings, investments — excluding the home you live in and certain pension assets) is below the threshold published on EX160A.
• Where your gross monthly income (and that of any partner) is below the threshold, or you receive certain qualifying benefits (e.g. Universal Credit with gross annual earnings under the limit, Income-based JSA, Income-related ESA, Income Support, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit).
• Within 3 months of the date the fee was paid — you can apply for a refund retrospectively if you would have qualified at the time of payment.

When NOT to use

• Where you can afford the fee — the scheme is means-tested.
• For fees in Scotland or Northern Ireland (separate schemes apply).
• For private fees (e.g. solicitor fees, bailiff fees not paid to the court).

Common mistakes that invalidate it

• Issuing the claim and paying the fee before submitting EX160 — you can apply for a refund within 3 months but it's simpler to apply before issue and pay only what HMCTS confirms is due.
• Forgetting to include evidence of benefits, savings and income — incomplete applications are rejected and the court will not start the claim until the fee (or remission) is settled.
• Treating the personal capital and personal income tests separately — both must be passed (or a qualifying benefit must be in payment with income under the limit).
• Filing EX160 in the wrong place — it goes to the court or tribunal where the proceedings will be issued, alongside the claim documents.

Procedure

1. Check whether you qualify — Read EX160A on GOV.UK to confirm your disposable capital is under the threshold and either your income is under the limit or you receive a qualifying means-tested benefit. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-apply-for-help-with-a-court-or-tribunal-fee-ex160a) 2. Complete Form EX160 — Download the current EX160 from GOV.UK. Fill in details of capital, income, benefits, partner and dependants. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-for-help-with-court-and-tribunal-fees) 3. Gather evidence — Recent bank statements, evidence of benefits, payslips and any award letters. HMCTS will reject incomplete applications. (https://www.gov.uk/get-help-with-court-fees) 4. Submit with your claim — File EX160 at the court where the proceedings will be issued, alongside the claim form (e.g. N5 or N5B). The court will not start the claim until the fee or remission is settled. (https://www.gov.uk/get-help-with-court-fees) 5. Or apply for a refund within 3 months — If you've already paid, you can still apply for full or partial remission within 3 months of the payment date. (https://www.gov.uk/get-help-with-court-fees)

FAQ

Can I apply for help with fees for a possession claim? Yes. EX160 covers most civil court fees including the issue fee for N5 (standard possession) and N5B (accelerated possession). It also covers hearing fees and warrant-of-possession fees later in the process.

What are the income and capital thresholds? Thresholds change periodically and are published on GOV.UK guidance EX160A. You must pass both a disposable capital test (savings / investments under the published limit) and either qualify on income (gross monthly income under the limit, with allowances for partner and children) or receive a qualifying means-tested benefit. Always check the live figures on EX160A before applying.

Can I claim a refund if I've already paid the fee? Yes. EX160 can be submitted up to 3 months after the date the fee was paid. If you would have qualified for remission at the time of payment, HMCTS will refund the fee in full or in part.

Does EX160 cover Scottish or Northern Irish courts? No. EX160 applies only to courts and tribunals in England & Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland operate separate fee-remission schemes through their own court services.

Sources: - GOV.UK — Get help paying court and tribunal fees — https://www.gov.uk/get-help-with-court-fees - GOV.UK — Form EX160: Apply for help with fees — https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-for-help-with-court-and-tribunal-fees - GOV.UK — EX160A: How to apply for help with fees (guidance) — https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-apply-for-help-with-a-court-or-tribunal-fee-ex160a - GOV.UK — Court fees: what they are and how to pay them — https://www.gov.uk/court-fees-what-they-are

Last reviewed: 2026-09-13. Next review: 2027-09-13.