Following the recent increase to the fixed fee for additional preparation and the extension of this fee to guilty plea cases, we have updated our guidance for providers to clarify the scenarios in which the fee can be claimed.
What are the scenarios?
The additional preparation fee can be claimed in any scenario where a full guilty plea fee is payable, as appropriate for representing an assisted person in a guilty plea.
For discontinuances, where the prosecution has served its evidence, these should be claimed as discontinuances on Claim for Crown Court Defence (CCCD). The additional preparation fee is payable in these cases, in addition to the guilty plea fee.
Cases which are discontinued before the service of evidence are only eligible to be paid 50% of the basic fee for a guilty plea and are not eligible for the additional preparation fee. These cases should also continue to be claimed as discontinuances on CCCD.
Where can I find out more?
Details of the new rates can be found in the below links to the amending legislation and the updated Crown Court Fee Guidance. The AGFS calculator will be updated in due course.
How can I claim the additional preparation fee?
The additional preparation fee should be claimed as follows
- navigating to the ‘miscellaneous fees’ or ‘misc fees’ page in the Claim for Crown Court Defence billing tool
- opening up the dropdown fee list
- selecting the ‘additional preparation fee’
- completing the claim submission
Please note that the update to Claim for Crown Court Defence (CCCD) to enable the increased additional preparation fee to be claimed, including in guilty plea cases, may not be available immediately from 28 July 2026. If that is the case, we will issue further communications to confirm how providers should submit claims in any interim period.
Further information
The Criminal Legal Aid (Remuneration) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2026
Crown Court Fee Guidance (paragraph 2.17A)