The Internet Corporation For Assigned Names and Numbers [ICANN] has approved adding a $0.25 transaction fee to each domain name registration. This fee will be charged to the registrar; it is up to the registrar to charge the customers this fee [in addition to the current registration fees] or not.

More about this can be read online at the ICANN Adopted Fiscal Year 2004–2005 Budget, under the heading “Creating a Reserve Fund”. ICANN also details on how it proposes to invoice this additional charge.