Companies Act 2014 section 871

Categories 1 to 4 offences — penalties

Section 871 establishes a four-tier classification system for criminal offences under the Companies Act, setting out the maximum penalties that apply to each category.

• Category 1 offences carry the most severe penalties: up to a class A fine or 12 months' imprisonment on summary conviction, or up to €500,000 or 10 years' imprisonment on indictment.
• Category 2 offences attract the same summary penalties as category 1, but on indictment the maximum fine is €50,000 and the maximum prison term is 5 years.
• Category 3 offences are summary only, carrying a maximum class A fine or up to 6 months' imprisonment or both.
• Category 4 offences are the least serious, prosecutable only summarily, with a maximum penalty of a class A fine (currently €5,000).