gjaldtækt

Gjaldtækt is an Icelandic term used in finance and law to describe something that is chargeable or subject to a fee. In practice, it means that a cost will be billed to a person or entity, rather than being included at no extra cost. The term commonly appears in price lists, contractual terms, invoices, and regulatory texts.

Origin and form: The word is formed from gjald, meaning fee or charge, and a suffix that yields an adjective indicating a status or condition. It is typically used as an attributive descriptor, for example in phrases such as gjaldtækt þjónusta (a chargeable service) or gjaldtækur kostnaður (a cost that will be charged). Another common construct is gjaldskrá, the schedule of fees, which clarifies what items are gjaldtæk.

Usage: In contracts, gjaldtækt indicates that a service or item is not included in the base price and will incur additional charges according to the applicable gjaldskrá. It is also used in consumer information and official documents to differentiate between included services and those that are payable. The term has no implication about the legality of charging; it simply flags that a fee applies.

Notes: The concept overlaps with related terms such as gjöld (fees), kostnaður (cost), and innheimta (collection). In official texts, precise amounts and circumstances are typically specified in a gjaldskrá or pricing schedule.