Kertamaksuna

Kertamaksuna is a Finnish term meaning “as a one-time payment.” It is used in contracts and financial documents to indicate that a fee or charge is paid in a single upfront payment rather than in multiple installments. The word derives from kertamaksu (one-time payment) with the suffix -na forming a phrase that describes the payment method.

In practice, kertamaksuna is commonly found in licensing fees, registration charges, software or service access fees, and other situations where a lump sum is paid at signing or at the start of a service period. It provides budgeting predictability for the payer and administrative simplicity for the provider, but it also imposes a larger upfront cost and can affect cash flow.

In legal and accounting contexts, specifying payment as kertamaksuna clarifies the timing of revenue recognition and can influence tax handling, sometimes affecting VAT treatment or discount eligibility. It is generally contrasted with osamaksulla (in installments) and with recurring charges or subscriptions.

Limitations include potential penalties for early termination or changes to the service, depending on contract terms. While widely used in Finland and among Finnish-speaking businesses, the exact interpretation of kertamaksuna can vary by contract, industry, and regulatory framework.