Civil Penalties

HIPAA Civil Penalties

Financial exposure rises with knowledge, negligence, and whether the violation is corrected. Actual outcomes remain fact-specific.

See All Four Tiers Understand Other Consequences

Inflation-adjusted amounts

Four civil penalty tiers

The ranges below are the 2025 inflation-adjusted amounts effective January 28, 2026 for covered assessments described in the final rule.

Tier 1

Could not reasonably have known

$145 – $73,011

For each violation

The facts do not establish actual awareness or awareness that reasonable diligence would have produced.

Tier 2

Knowledge without willful neglect

$1,461 – $73,011

For each violation

Actual or constructive knowledge is present, while the conduct does not rise to willful neglect.

Tier 3

Willful neglect; timely correction

$14,602 – $73,011

For each violation

The matter involves willful neglect and is corrected during the applicable 30-day correction window.

Tier 4

Willful neglect; no timely correction

$73,011 – $2,190,294

For each violation

The matter involves willful neglect and remains unresolved through the applicable correction period.

Repeated violations of the same HIPAA provision can be subject to a calendar-year ceiling as high as $2,190,294. The applicable law, underlying facts, corrective work, statutory considerations, and enforcement judgment all affect the outcome. This is educational information, not legal advice.

Primary source: 91 FR 3665 — Annual Civil Monetary Penalties Inflation Adjustment. Confirm current amounts and obtain qualified legal advice for an actual matter.

Practical implication

Correction and evidence matter

Organizations should not wait for enforcement pressure to document risk decisions. Track findings, assign owners, preserve remediation proof, and test whether safeguards operate as described.

Continue with the HIPAA action and evidence plan, or review the broader analysis of HIPAA breach costs and cyber risk.