Which one is appropriate?

[anupumh]

Hi,

Which one is more appropriate and why?

Paid the fees
or
Paid for the fees

Thanks

[Elif]

A fee is something you pay in return for something.
You can pay for the bus trip, you can pay for the tickets, you can pay for books, you can pay for shoes.
But you pay the fees, expenses, tuition, salary, etc.