When must I file a Court of Federal Claims bill of costs after final judgment?

RCFC 54(d)(1)(B)(i) requires a bill of costs within 30 days after final judgment as defined in 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(2)(G). That definition requires a final and nonappealable judgment and includes an order of settlement. RCFC 54(d)(1)(D) separately bars clerk taxation in an action terminated by settlement.

Responsible actor. The prevailing party seeking allowable costs other than attorney’s fees, to the extent permitted by law.

Identify the judgment and independently establish when it is final and not appealable under section 2412(d)(2)(G). A docket entry or opinion date alone does not establish that event.

Check the actual appeal history, postjudgment proceedings and any applicable settlement. Do not add a fixed appeal period mechanically to every judgment.

A settlement order falls within the statutory definition, but RCFC 54(d)(1)(D) says the clerk may not tax costs in an action terminated by settlement. Read the settlement’s costs terms before using the ordinary bill-of-costs branch.

1. Independently established date of final judgment that is final and not appealable under 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(2)(G)
2. Exclude the established event day. Count every subsequent calendar day, including intermediate weekends and legal holidays, under RCFC 6(a)(1). If the final day is a Saturday, Sunday or Rule 6(a)(6) legal holiday, continue to the next day that is not.
3. Check actual last-day court access and a different controlling order.

The calculator covers independently established events on or after the retained July 27, 2026 compilation boundary and results through December 31, 2027. Earlier editions and later dates require separate review. The bundled national holiday calendar does not infer an additional day declared by the President or Congress, actual clerk inaccessibility or a contrary order. The boundary is not a finding that an actual filing is late.

Fictitious example

Fictitious independently established final and nonappealable judgment date. The ordinary procedure applies, with no different statute or court order.

Fictitious facts. Effective service, statutory finality, motion effects, entitlement and actual court access are independently established assumptions. The calculator does not determine them.

Settlement

A settlement agreement should resolve costs. Absent a special agreement, each party bears its own costs; the clerk may not tax costs in an action terminated by settlement.

Required supporting documents

The bill must include an affidavit and memorandum supporting costs other than the filing fee, plus vouchers, receipts or invoices supporting requested costs.

Different fee claim

Attorney’s fees and related nontaxable expenses use the separate Rule 54(d)(2) procedure, not the taxable bill of costs.

Extensions and actual orders

Read the actual rule, statute and order. RCFC 6(b)(1) has good-cause and excusable-neglect branches, while the controlling fee statute may impose separate limits. A request does not establish a granted extension or override a statutory requirement.

Clerk inaccessibility and calendar scope

The calculator covers independently established events on or after the retained July 27, 2026 compilation boundary and results through December 31, 2027. Earlier editions and later dates require separate review. The bundled national holiday calendar does not infer an additional day declared by the President or Congress, actual clerk inaccessibility or a contrary order. The boundary is not a finding that an actual filing is late. Under RCFC 6(a)(3)(A), actual last-day clerk inaccessibility extends filing to the first accessible day that is not a weekend or legal holiday, unless the court orders otherwise.

• Use after independently establishing statutory finality, the prevailing party’s entitlement and an action eligible for clerk taxation. The calculator does not derive nonappealability from a first judgment docket entry.
• This page does not grant an extension, establish fee or costs entitlement, decide finality or detect a motion, appeal, settlement or later order.

• Establish prevailing-party status and the legal authority for each requested taxable cost.
• Preserve the final-and-not-appealable judgment date and relevant appeal history.
• Check settlement terms and the bar on clerk taxation after settlement.
• Use Form 4 and attach the required affidavit, memorandum and supporting exhibits.
• File the bill with the clerk and complete applicable service requirements.
• Unless a statute or court order sets a different time, RCFC 6(a)(4) ends electronic filing at midnight Eastern Time. Other filing uses scheduled clerk closing, subject to RCFC 77.1(a). That rule states ordinary business-day hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern and provides a night box until midnight for papers due that business day. Confirm current access, the actual method and a completed filing. Filing and effective service are separate acts.