Question 1 of 8. The fee above is the court's; ours is $49 for the paperwork.
- Filing fee
- $55–$300
- Claim limit
- $8,000
- Service per defendant
- $40
- Pay online
- Yes
What Hillsborough County charges to file
Source: Hillsborough County Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller, County Civil/Small Claims Department fee schedule
| Your claim | You pay |
|---|---|
| Up to $99.99 | $55 |
| $100 – $500 | $80 |
| $500.01 – $2,500 | $175 |
| $2,500.01 – $8,000 | $300 |
Fees change — confirm the current amount with the clerk at 813-276-8100 before you file.
The costs that are not the filing fee
Filing is the first charge, not the only one. Hillsborough County also charges:
- Summons issuance initial alias pluries: $10
- Additional defendant over five: $2.50
- Garnishment attachment replevin distress: $85
- Eviction of tenant: $185
- Replevin with claims under $1000: $130
- Lis pendens first page: $5
- Lis pendens each additional page: $4
- Reopen under $500: $25
- Reopen over $500: $50
- Reopen non monetary: $50
- Crossclaim counterclaim third party $2500–$15000: $295
- Crossclaim counterclaim third party over $15000: $395
- Attorney pro hac vice: $100
None of these are optional once the case is moving, and all of them are recoverable in the judgment if you win. They are simply not quoted at the counter when you ask what it costs to file.
Fees change — confirm the current amount with the clerk at 813-276-8100 before you file.
What it costs to serve the defendant
Hillsborough County charges $40 per defendant for service. That is on top of the filing fee, and you pay it for each person or business you are suing.
- County sheriff (civil process division)
- Certified process server appointed/approved in the circuit
- Certified mail, where permitted for the case type
Certified mail without complete proof of service will stall the case.
How this clerk takes payment
Hillsborough County Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller, County Civil/Small Claims Department accepts:
- Cash (in person at a Clerk location or Amscot)
- Personal check, cashier's check, or money order payable to Clerk of Court (mail: PO Box 3360, Tampa, FL 33601-3360)
- Credit or debit card online (3.5% surcharge applied)
- Sheriff's service fee: money order or cashier's check payable to the Sheriff
Filing through Florida Courts E-Filing Portal takes card payment at the time you file.
Common questions
How much does it cost to file a small claims case in Hillsborough County?
$55–$300 to file, depending on how much you are suing for, plus $40 per defendant for service. Fees change — confirm the current amount with the clerk at 813-276-8100 before you file.
Can I get the filing fee back if I win?
Court costs, including the filing fee and service, are normally included in the judgment you ask for. Getting them back still depends on collecting the judgment.
What if I cannot afford the filing fee in Hillsborough County?
Courts have a fee-waiver application for filers below an income threshold. Ask the clerk for the indigency or fee-waiver form. We cannot tell you whether you qualify.
How do I pay the Hillsborough County filing fee?
Hillsborough County Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller, County Civil/Small Claims Department takes 4 forms of payment, listed above.
The Hillsborough County filing packet — $49
Everything above, assembled and filled in with your facts:
- Your Hillsborough County filing forms, completed with your claim in the language the court expects
- A demand letter built from the same facts
- A filing checklist with Hillsborough County Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller, County Civil/Small Claims Department's address, hours, and the current fee
- What to bring to your hearing
Answer a few questions first. See your claim written out before you pay anything.
Reviewed by Small Claims Desk · Last reviewed 2026-08-20 · Sourced from hillsclerk.com - official Hillsborough County Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller (County Civil page, Fees and Fines County Civil schedule read in full, Help File #6 small claims PDF, Service Options and Locations, Pay page) and Fla. Stat. Ch. 34 (County Courts). See how we verify.