When must I object to a Court of Federal Claims bill of costs?

RCFC 54(d)(1)(C)(i) permits an objection to some or all requested costs within 28 days after service of the bill of costs. Qualifying RCFC 5 service adds three days after ordinary expiration under RCFC 6(d). This is different from a later motion to review the clerk’s action.

Responsible actor. A party objecting to some or all costs requested in a served bill of costs.

Identify the served bill of costs and the items challenged. Its effective service starts the objection period.

Do not substitute the underlying judgment date or the date the clerk taxes costs. Those events belong to different procedures.

Confirm service on the proper recipient under Rule 5, the actual method and any different court order.

1. Legally effective service of the bill of costs
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. For the mapped service-based period, RCFC 6(d) adds three calendar days after the ordinary Rule 6(a) expiration only for Rule 5(b)(2)(C), (D) or (F). Apply final-day treatment to the added period. Electronic, hand and qualifying office or home service receive no addition. Use the effective incoming method; a duplicate mailed copy after effective electronic service adds none.
4. 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 legally effective incoming electronic service. The identified ordinary procedure applies, with no motion-altered period or different 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.

Reply to the objection

RCFC 54(d)(1)(C)(ii) separately permits a reply within seven days after service of the objection. This 28-day calculator does not calculate that reply.

Court review of clerk action

Rule 54(d)(1)(C)(iv) permits a motion for court review within 14 days after clerk action. That event and period are separate from an objection to the bill.

Clerk decision

Unless the clerk schedules a conference, Rule 54(d)(1)(C)(iii) provides for taxation or disallowance on the existing record. Filing an objection does not establish the outcome.

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 the objection to the served bill under Rule 54(d)(1)(C)(i). Establish its effective service and method. Do not use this calculator for a reply or review of the clerk’s taxation.
• This page does not grant an extension, establish fee or costs entitlement, decide finality or detect a motion, appeal, settlement or later order.

• Identify the bill, its service evidence and each disputed item.
• Select the legally effective incoming Rule 5 service method.
• Read relevant orders and any scheduled clerk conference.
• Explain the objection and preserve supporting authority or records.
• File the objection and complete separate 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.