Abstract: The number of valid patents owned by domestic innovators in China has increased significantly, but their patent application level and the ability of patent revenue have not been improved timely, so the burdens of annual fees for patents renewal have a certain impact on the sustainable development of innovations. On the basis of the analysis of basic principles of the annual fee system of patents renewal, through the research of survey findings of the annual fee system of patent maintenance for domestic innovators, conclusions are that: the number of valid patents in China increased significantly, while the burden of patents annual fee is too high; the annual fee system of patent maintenance is a monetary policy tool promoting innovation, which is similar to the tax leverage; the existing annual fee system of patent maintenance is not conducive to promoting the sustainable innovation activities, its comprehensive reform is beneficial to the implementation of the Innovation-driven Strategy and the Building of IP Power in China. Finally, some suggestions are put forward to perfect the annual fee system of patent maintenance in China.