On Friday, December 27, 2019, the Enforcement Bureau released an Order amending Section 1.80(b) of the Commission’s rules to adjust the forfeiture penalties for inflation. The Commission is required under the 2015 Inflation Adjustment Act to annually adjust the covered civil monetary penalties and publish each adjustment by January 15.
For 2020, the adjusted penalty or penalty range for each applicable penalty is calculated by multiplying the most recent penalty amount by the 2020 annual adjustment (1.01764), then rounding the result to the nearest dollar. The adjusted penalty only applies to such civil monetary penalties assessed on or after January 15, 2020. The Appendix to the Order lists the amended rule and amended penalty rates for 2020.
The Order is effective upon publication in the Federal Register.
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