Deputyship Costs Increase 2024
Posted: 28th May 2024
by Nahdia Bloundele
2024 has been quite a year for increased costs in relation to deputyships!
It was announced late last year that from 1 January 2024 the Guideline Hourly Rates (GHR) would increase by an average of 6.7% across the various bands which govern the hourly rates charged by deputies and their teams, dependent upon location.
On 1 April 2024 the fixed costs contained within Practice Direction 19(b) increased and these are set out below. The allowance for a simple tax return was increased from £250 to £317 plus VAT, and the rules surrounding a what type of tax return to charge for also changed on this date. This is quite an interesting change, which is possibly because the Courts have picked up on deputies charging for “complex” tax returns when that may not be justified. A further, specific, blog on tax will follow shortly.
Two further increases came into effect on 1 May 2024, being Court application and assessment fees. The application fee increased from £371 to £408, and the fees for the Senior Courts Costs Office (SCCO) assessment fees increased from £87 to £96.
It has also been confirmed annual increases to the Guideline Hourly Rates will be implemented based on the Services Producer Price Index (SPPI) with effect from January 2025 and therefore deputyship costs will increase on an annual basis, unlike previously. As and when the figure index is announced, a blog will follow.
The increased legal costs are summarised below. Those fees marked with an * are subject to VAT.
| Previous costs | Increased costs | |
| Fixed fee application costs* | £950.00 | £1,204.00 |
| Fixed fee first year of deputyship management fees* | £1,670.00 | £2,116.00 |
| Fixed fee second and ongoing years deputyship management fees* | £1,320.00 | £1,672.00 |
| OPG annual accounts filing fee* | £265.00 | £336.00 |
| Simple tax return* | £250.00 | £317.00 |
| Court application fee | £371.00 | £408.00 |
| SCCO assessment fee | £87.00 | £96.00 |