FTC Gives Its Own Fines a Cost-of-Living Raise
Published Date: 1/17/2025
Rule
Summary
Starting January 17, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission is raising the maximum fines it can charge for breaking certain rules to keep up with inflation. This means businesses and individuals who don’t follow the law might face slightly bigger penalties than before. These changes help keep penalties fair and effective in today’s economy.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Market-manipulation fine rises above $1.5M
The maximum penalty for violations relating to market manipulation or providing false information to federal agencies (42 U.S.C. 17304) increased from $1,472,546 to $1,510,803 effective January 17, 2025. If you are subject to enforcement for these violations, the top statutory fine is now $1,510,803.
FTC raises maximum civil fines for inflation
Starting January 17, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission increased the maximum civil penalty amounts it can assess to account for inflation using a multiplier of 1.02598. Examples shown in the rule: amounts of $51,744 are adjusted to $53,088 and amounts of $680 are adjusted to $698.
Key antitrust and FTC-order fines now $53,088
Several statutory maximums used by the FTC — including premerger filing violations (15 U.S.C. 18a(g)(1)) and violations of final Commission orders or knowing violations of rules about unfair or deceptive acts (15 U.S.C. 45(l), 45(m)(1)(A), 45(m)(1)(B)) — increased from $51,744 to $53,088 effective January 17, 2025. Willful recycled oil labeling violations are also listed at $53,088.
Smaller compliance fines increased (records, reports)
Several smaller statutory penalties for failures to file reports or maintain records increased effective January 17, 2025: examples include $680 → $698 for failure to file or maintain required records/statements, $560 → $575 for certain Energy Policy and Conservation Act violations, $4,857 → $4,983 for knowing Fair Credit Reporting Act violations, $18,293 → $18,768 for certain Medicare drug filing failures, and $27,491 → $28,205 for some labeling violations.
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Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-01339, Office of Legal Policy
The Department of Justice updated the description of its Office of Legal Policy to match how it actually works today. This change affects internal rules but doesn’t cost money or change how the public interacts with the office. The update takes effect right away on January 17, 2025.
Next: 2025-01374, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network; Inflation Adjustment of Civil Monetary Penalties
Starting January 17, 2025, FinCEN is raising its civil penalty amounts to keep up with inflation. This means anyone who breaks certain financial rules could face bigger fines than before. These changes help keep penalties fair and effective without any extra paperwork or delays.