Sakkomaksut

Sakkomaksut are monetary penalties imposed as punishment or sanction for violations of laws, regulations, or contractual obligations. The term is used in Finnish law to describe fines or penalty payments that are typically payable to a relevant authority, such as the state or a municipality, but can also arise in private law cases, including contract enforcement.

In public-law contexts, sakkomaksut include administrative fines issued by authorities for regulatory violations (for example traffic or environmental offenses) and criminal fines that accompany a court verdict. The amount is usually determined by statute or by a court, and in some systems may take into account factors such as the offender’s ability to pay or the severity of the offense.

In private law, sakkomaksut can appear as contractual penalties or liquidated damages agreed in a contract. These penalties aim to deter breach of contract or late performance and are generally governed by the contract terms and applicable law, with some jurisdictions placing limits to ensure proportionality and enforceability.

Sakkomaksut also cover late payment penalties charged by creditors in loan or sale agreements. These are typically defined in the contract or in consumer-credit regulations and serve to encourage timely payment. If a sakkomaksu is not paid, standard enforcement channels may be used, including collection actions or other remedies provided by law.

Applications and procedures relating to sakkomaksut can be subject to appeals, remissions, or payment arrangements in certain situations. They differ from damages (korvaus) in that sakkomaksut function primarily as sanctions or incentives to comply rather than as compensation for a proven loss.