Every trademark application requires a description of the goods or services the mark will cover. Get it right and your application moves forward smoothly at the lowest filing cost. Get it wrong and you face office actions, surcharges, and delays that can add months and hundreds of dollars to the process. The ID Manual trademark tool is the single most important resource for getting it right -- and most applicants either do not know it exists or do not know how to use it effectively.

The Acceptable Identification of Goods and Services Manual (ID Manual) is the USPTO's searchable database of over 65,000 pre-approved descriptions for goods and services, organized by the 45 international Nice Classification classes and updated weekly. Using it correctly is no longer just a best practice -- since January 2025, it is the difference between a $350 filing fee and a $550 one.

This guide walks through how the ID Manual works, how to search it effectively, and how to avoid the mistakes that trigger office actions and unnecessary costs.

Why the ID Manual Matters: The $200/Class Incentive

On January 18, 2025, the USPTO restructured its trademark fee system. The old two-tier approach -- TEAS Plus at $250/class and TEAS Standard at $350/class -- was eliminated. In its place is a single $350/class base application fee with a surcharge system that penalizes applicants who do not use the ID Manual.

Filing Approach	Cost Per Class	Notes
ID Manual entry (pre-approved text)	$350	Base filing fee -- no surcharge
Custom free-form description	$550	Base fee + $200 surcharge
Custom text exceeding 1,000 characters	$550+	Additional $200 per 1,000-character increment
Missing required information	+$100	"Insufficient information" surcharge

The math is straightforward. An applicant filing in three classes who uses ID Manual descriptions pays $1,050. The same applicant using custom descriptions pays $1,650 -- a $600 difference for a single application.

Cost savings are only part of the picture. ID Manual entries are pre-approved by the USPTO, which means they will not trigger the goods-and-services office actions that are among the most common reasons applications stall.

For a full breakdown of every fee change in the 2025 restructuring, see our guide on USPTO Fee Changes Explained: How to Avoid Surcharges.

Understanding the Nice Classification System

Before diving into the ID Manual itself, it helps to understand the classification system that organizes it. The Nice Classification is an international system maintained by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) that divides all goods and services into 45 classes.

Classes 1 through 34 cover goods (physical products)
Classes 35 through 45 cover services

Every trademark application must identify at least one class, and you pay a separate filing fee for each class you include. The classification determines the scope of your protection: a mark registered in Class 25 (clothing) does not automatically protect you in Class 9 (electronics).

The 13th Edition: What Changed in 2026

The 13th edition of the Nice Classification took effect on January 1, 2026, replacing the 12th edition that had been in use since 2023. The Nice Committee of Experts adopted modifications to class headings across eight classes: 1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 26, and 29.

The most significant change for technology companies is that Class 42 now formally recognizes artificial intelligence as a standalone technological pillar. AI-related services have codified terminology within the classification, giving businesses clearer, pre-approved language for their filings. This matters because vague or improvised AI descriptions were a frequent source of office actions under the previous edition. The USPTO published its incorporation notice in the Federal Register on October 2, 2025.

Key Nice Classes by Industry

Industry	Primary Classes	Common Goods/Services
Software / SaaS	9, 42	Downloadable software (9), SaaS platforms (42)
E-commerce / Retail	35	Online retail store services, advertising
Food & Beverage	29, 30, 32, 43	Processed foods (29), staple foods (30), beverages (32), restaurants (43)
Clothing & Fashion	25, 35	Apparel (25), retail clothing stores (35)
Financial Services	36	Banking, insurance, investment services
Healthcare	5, 10, 44	Pharmaceuticals (5), medical devices (10), medical services (44)
Education & Training	41	Educational services, training programs
Cosmetics & Beauty	3, 44	Beauty products (3), beauty salon services (44)

Note that a single product can span multiple classes. A software company offering a downloadable app (Class 9), an online coaching platform (Class 42), and training services (Class 41) would need three separate class filings at $350 each.

How to Search the ID Manual: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough

The ID Manual is available at idm-tmng.uspto.gov. It is a free, public tool that requires no account or login. Here is how to use it effectively.

Step 1: Start With Commercial Terms

Search using the ordinary words consumers would use for your product or service, not legal or technical jargon. If you sell coffee mugs, search "coffee mugs" -- not "ceramic beverage receptacles." The ID Manual is built around common commercial language.

Step 2: Watch for Spacing and Formatting Sensitivity

The ID Manual search is more sensitive to formatting than most people expect.

"keychain" returns zero results
"key chain" (with a space) returns 26 results
"t-shirt" and "tee shirt" may return different results

Always try multiple variations: singular and plural forms, hyphenated and unhyphenated versions, and alternate spellings. If your first search returns nothing, the term might exist in the database under a slightly different format.

Step 3: Browse by Class Number

If you already know your Nice Classification class, enter the three-digit class code (with leading zero) to see every pre-approved identification in that class. For example:

Enter "025" to browse all clothing entries
Enter "009" to browse all software and electronics entries
Enter "042" to browse all SaaS and technology service entries

You can also combine a class number with a keyword to narrow your results. Searching "009" with "books" narrows results from over 400 to 37 -- a much more manageable list.

Step 4: Sort Results Strategically

The default sort order is "relevance," which uses an undisclosed algorithm that does not always surface the best match first. Try sorting by "Class" to group results by classification, or by "Description" for an alphabetical view. Switching sort methods often reveals entries you would have missed with the default.

Step 5: Check Effective Dates

Each ID Manual entry displays its effective date. This matters because the USPTO cannot hold applicants to standards that did not exist when their application was filed. For example, Class 9 software entries were updated in January 2019 to require specifying whether software is "downloadable" or "recorded." Applications filed before that date are not held to the updated standard.

If you are prosecuting an older application, verify the effective date of the entry you are using. An entry added after your filing date may not apply to your application.

Two Types of ID Manual Entries

The ID Manual contains two kinds of entries, and confusing them is a common source of office actions.

Exact Entries

These are complete, ready-to-use descriptions. You copy them directly into your application with no changes needed. For example:

"Downloadable mobile applications for fitness tracking" (Class 9)
"Online retail store services featuring clothing" (Class 35)
"Restaurant services" (Class 43)

Fill-In Entries

These contain curly-bracket placeholders where you must supply specific information about your goods or services. For example:

"Computer software for {indicate specific purpose}" (Class 9)
"Consulting services in the field of {indicate field}" (Class 42)

You must replace everything within the curly brackets with a concrete, accurate description of your actual goods or services. The brackets and placeholder text must not appear in your final application. Submitting an identification with {specify} or {indicate} still in place will result in an office action -- a surprisingly common mistake.

TMIDSuggest: When the ID Manual Does Not Have What You Need

With over 65,000 entries updated weekly, the ID Manual covers most goods and services. But if your product or service is genuinely novel or niche, you may not find a matching entry.

In that case, you have two options:

Use a custom free-form description and accept the $200/class surcharge. This is the faster route when time is critical.
Propose a new entry by emailing tmidsuggest@uspto.gov. Your proposed identification must be concise (25 words or fewer), and the USPTO's Office of the Administrator for Trademark Classification Policy and Practice will review it. If accepted, the entry becomes available to all applicants.

The TMIDSuggest process takes time, so it is not a solution for applications with tight filing deadlines. But for businesses that file frequently in a specialized niche, getting your terminology into the ID Manual can save $200 per class on every future filing.

Six Common Mistakes That Trigger Office Actions

The goods-and-services identification is one of the most frequent sources of office actions. If you receive one, our TMEP Office Action Response Strategies guide covers proven tactics for overcoming refusals. Here are the six mistakes that trip up applicants most often.

1. Using Overly Broad or Vague Language

Terms like "miscellaneous goods," "services in connection with," or simply "software" will be rejected. The USPTO requires specificity about the type, function, and delivery method of your goods or services. "Computer software" alone is never sufficient.

Fix: Use the ID Manual to find the most specific pre-approved entry that matches your actual goods. If none fits exactly, model your custom description on the specificity level of ID Manual entries.

2. Not Specifying Software Delivery Method

The USPTO requires software applicants to designate whether their product is prerecorded (available on physical media), downloadable, or provided as software-as-a-service (SaaS). This distinction determines which Nice Classification class applies -- downloadable software falls in Class 9, while SaaS typically falls in Class 42.

Fix: Always specify the delivery method. If your software is available in multiple formats, you may need to file in multiple classes.

3. Copying Competitor Descriptions Verbatim

Reviewing competitor filings for language examples is reasonable, but copying a description word-for-word is dangerous if it does not match your actual goods or services. If you cannot truthfully provide everything listed in a copied description, your registration could be cancelled.

Fix: Use competitor filings for inspiration, but tailor every word to what you actually sell.

4. Trying to Expand the Description After Filing

The USPTO does not allow broadening or fundamentally changing an identification after the application is filed. You may narrow the scope -- for example, amending "Fresh citrus fruit" to "Fresh citrus fruit, namely lemons and oranges" -- but you cannot expand it.

Fix: Think carefully about your full product line before filing. It is better to include slightly broader (but still accurate) ID Manual language up front than to discover later that your description is too narrow.

5. Choosing a Broad Term When a Narrow One Is More Accurate

Selecting a broader category seems like a good strategy for wider protection, but it can backfire. If your specimen does not match the stated goods, you face a fatal specimen refusal. Example: an applicant selling vinyl wrap for car exteriors filed under "Tinted plastic films for use on vehicle windows." Since the product was not for windows, the specimen did not support the identification, and the application failed.

Fix: Your identification must match what you actually sell and what your specimen shows.

6. Leaving Fill-In Placeholders in the Application

Submitting an application with {specify} or {indicate} still in the identification -- directly pasted from an ID Manual fill-in entry -- results in an immediate office action. It happens more often than you would expect.

Fix: Double-check your final application to confirm all placeholder text has been replaced with actual descriptions.

Strategic Tips for Selecting Goods and Services

Beyond avoiding mistakes, there are affirmative strategies that strengthen your filing.

Think broader within the ID Manual. When your product line may expand, choose a pre-approved entry that covers the broader category. Filing "Bottoms as clothing" instead of just "pants" provides protection if you later add skirts or shorts -- while still using a pre-approved entry at the $350 rate.

Check multiple classes. Many products and services span more than one class. A software company might need Class 9 (downloadable software), Class 35 (retail services), and Class 42 (SaaS). Identifying all relevant classes before filing prevents costly follow-up applications.

Use the ID Manual before filing to estimate costs. Since each class costs $350, knowing how many classes you need gives you an accurate budget before you commit. For a comparison of filing platforms, see our TEAS Plus vs Trademark Center guide.

Review the version effective at your filing date. If you are responding to an office action on an older application, check whether the entry the examiner references existed when you filed. The USPTO cannot hold you to standards that post-date your application.

Monitoring Your Classifications After Filing

Selecting the right goods and services is only the first step. Once your mark is registered, competitors filing similar marks in the same Nice classes may create likelihood-of-confusion conflicts or dilute your brand. Tools like GleanMark help trademark owners monitor new filings in their classes and receive alerts when potentially conflicting marks appear, so you can take action early.

Monitoring also informs future filings. If your business expands into new product lines, reviewing current ID Manual entries for those categories ensures you file with pre-approved language from day one.

Key Takeaways

The ID Manual is not a bureaucratic formality -- it is a practical tool that directly affects your filing costs, the speed of your application, and the strength of your trademark protection. Here is what to remember:

Use the ID Manual to save $200 per class. Pre-approved entries cost $350/class; custom descriptions cost $550/class.
Search with variations. Spacing, hyphenation, and plural forms all affect results.
Understand the two entry types. Exact entries are copy-and-paste ready; fill-in entries require you to replace the placeholders.
Be specific and accurate. Your identification must match your actual goods or services and be supported by your specimen.
Check the 13th edition Nice Classification. Effective January 1, 2026, it includes updated class headings and codified AI services in Class 42.
Use TMIDSuggest for novel products. Email tmidsuggest@uspto.gov to propose new entries (25 words or fewer).
Never expand after filing. You can narrow your identification but not broaden it. Plan ahead.

The goods and services identification is one of the few parts of a trademark application where preparation directly saves money and prevents delays. Spending thirty minutes with the ID Manual before filing is one of the highest-return investments in the entire trademark process.

The USPTO ID Manual: How to Select Goods and Services for Your Trademark