To complete your fee payment requirement as part of your annual renewal, you can calculate your fees online through My State Bar Profile and then pay with a credit card or an electronic check from a checking/savings account (ACH). You can also print the invoice available after you calculate your fees to mail with a payment by check. Mailed payments must include a copy of the generated invoice. Use of My State Bar Profile will ensure compliance with rule 2.11 and avoid nonconforming payment penalties.
Individual attorneys can make payments online through My State Bar Profile. Attorneys should make sure that the email provided for communications from the State Bar is current.
Group payments
Law firms and agencies can use the State Bar’s Agency Billing application to calculate billing costs and make group payments.
Financial hardship annual fees waivers
25 percent fee scaling reduction
To review any fee scaling eligibility, refer to rule 2.15 of the Rules of the State Bar of California. Pursuant to rule 2.15, active licensees who have a total gross annual individual income from all sources of less than $60,478.35 may request a 25 percent fee scaling reduction of annual fees. Requests to fee scale must include the required fee scaling declaration signed under penalty of perjury and payment of the reduced fee. The required fee scaling declaration may be submitted online through My State Bar Profile when calculating your annual fees. View Frequently Asked Questions about fee scaling.
To review any waiver eligibility, refer to rule 2.16 of the Rules of the State Bar of California. Pursuant to rule 2.16(c), licensees who have a total gross annual household income from all sources of $20,000 or less may request a 50 percent waiver of annual fees. A licensee may apply for a 50 percent waiver of payment of the annual fees by completing and submitting the Licensing Fee Waiver Application form.
Bar cards
Once payment of the annual license fees has been initiated, a paper bar card is available for download through My State Bar Profile. Plastic bar cards are available only upon request through My State Bar Profile. To download a paper bar card or order a plastic bar card, go to My State Bar Profile, and select “Bar Card, Payment Receipt(s), and Other Documents.”
Payment confirmation and receipts
After you have paid online, you will be able to access your online payment confirmation and receipt through My State Bar Profile under “Bar Card, Payment Receipt(s), and Other Documents.”
Please note that payments initiated by check will not generate an online receipt and take several business days to process and reflect in your record.
Late fees and penalties
The 2026 State Bar annual license fees are due March 30, 2026. Late payments will incur the following penalties:
