{
  "id": "gdpr-fines",
  "title": "GDPR fine tiers and the EDPB calculation bands",
  "description": "Article 83 maximums and the starting-point bands and turnover adjustments of EDPB Guidelines 04/2022.",
  "verified": "2026-10-19",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"
  },
  "attribution": "ClevSec (https://clevsec.one)",
  "disclaimer": "For informational purposes only; not legal advice. Check the cited sources and your national law.",
  "human_readable": "https://clevsec.one/blog/how-gdpr-fines-are-calculated/?ref=agent",
  "sources": [
    "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj/eng",
    "https://www.edpb.europa.eu/system/files/2023-06/edpb_guidelines_042022_calculationofadministrativefines_en.pdf"
  ],
  "tiers": [
    {
      "reference": "Art. 83(4)",
      "fixed_eur": 10000000,
      "turnover_percent": 2,
      "maximum": "EUR 10 million or 2% of total worldwide annual turnover, whichever is higher",
      "covers": "controller and processor obligations under Arts. 8, 11, 25 to 39, 42, 43"
    },
    {
      "reference": "Art. 83(5)-(6)",
      "fixed_eur": 20000000,
      "turnover_percent": 4,
      "maximum": "EUR 20 million or 4% of total worldwide annual turnover, whichever is higher",
      "covers": "basic principles and consent (Arts. 5, 6, 7, 9), data subject rights (Arts. 12 to 22), transfers (Arts. 44 to 49), non-compliance with orders"
    }
  ],
  "steps": [
    "Identify the processing operations and apply Art. 83(3)",
    "Find the starting point: classification, seriousness, turnover",
    "Aggravating and mitigating circumstances (Art. 83(2))",
    "Apply the legal maximum",
    "Check effectiveness, proportionality and dissuasiveness"
  ],
  "seriousness_bands": [
    {
      "level": "low",
      "starting_amount_percent_of_legal_maximum": [
        0,
        10
      ]
    },
    {
      "level": "medium",
      "starting_amount_percent_of_legal_maximum": [
        10,
        20
      ]
    },
    {
      "level": "high",
      "starting_amount_percent_of_legal_maximum": [
        20,
        100
      ]
    }
  ],
  "turnover_adjustment": [
    {
      "annual_turnover_eur": "up to 2 million",
      "up_to_eur": 2000000,
      "percent_of_starting_amount": [
        0.2,
        0.4
      ]
    },
    {
      "annual_turnover_eur": "2 to 10 million",
      "up_to_eur": 10000000,
      "percent_of_starting_amount": [
        0.3,
        2
      ]
    },
    {
      "annual_turnover_eur": "10 to 50 million",
      "up_to_eur": 50000000,
      "percent_of_starting_amount": [
        1.5,
        10
      ]
    },
    {
      "annual_turnover_eur": "50 to 100 million",
      "up_to_eur": 100000000,
      "percent_of_starting_amount": [
        8,
        20
      ]
    },
    {
      "annual_turnover_eur": "100 to 250 million",
      "up_to_eur": 250000000,
      "percent_of_starting_amount": [
        15,
        50
      ]
    },
    {
      "annual_turnover_eur": "250 to 500 million",
      "up_to_eur": 500000000,
      "percent_of_starting_amount": [
        40,
        100
      ]
    },
    {
      "annual_turnover_eur": "above 500 million",
      "up_to_eur": null,
      "percent_of_starting_amount": null,
      "note": "no adjustment"
    }
  ],
  "notes": "The turnover adjustment is optional for authorities (EDPB Guidelines 04/2022, para. 68)."
}