FINES

Iowa Code tit. XVI, ch. 909

in effect

Iowa Code § 909.1 Fine without imprisonment.

909.1. Fine without imprisonment. Upon a verdict or plea of guilty of any public offense for which a fine is authorized, the court may impose a fine instead of any other sentence where it appears that the fine will be adequate to deter the defendant and to discourage others from similar criminal activity. [C79, 81, §909.1]

Iowa Code § 909.2 Fine in addition to imprisonment.

909.2. Fine in addition to imprisonment. The court may impose a fine in addition to confinement, where such is authorized. [C79, 81, §909.2]

Iowa Code § 909.3 Payment of fines — plan — installments.

909.3. Payment of fines — plan — installments. 1. Unless a plan of payment has been issued pursuant to chapter 910, fines imposed by the court shall be paid on the day the fine is imposed, and the person shall be instructed to pay such fines with the office of the clerk of the district court on the date of imposition. 2. a. The court may, in its discretion, order a fine to be paid in installments. b. If the court orders the fine to be paid in installments, the first installment payment shall be made within thirty days of the fine being imposed. All other terms and conditions of an installment payment plan order pursuant to this section shall be established by rule by the judicial branch. [C51, §3071, 3349; R60, §4881, 5084; C73, §4509, 4689; C97, §5440, 5604; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §13588, 13964; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §762.32, 789.17; C79, 81, §909.3] 93 Acts, ch 110, §11; 2010 Acts, ch 1146, §22; 2020 Acts, ch 1074, §68, 83

Iowa Code § 909.3A Community service option.

909.3A. Community service option. The court may, in its discretion, order the defendant to perform community service work of an equivalent value to the fine imposed where it appears that the community service work will be adequate to deter the defendant and to discourage others from similar criminal activity. The rate at which community service shall be calculated shall be the federal or state minimum wage, whichever is higher. 93 Acts, ch 110, §12; 2007 Acts, ch 215, §124

Iowa Code § 909.4 Treble damage liability for corporations, partnerships and associations.

909.4. Treble damage liability for corporations, partnerships and associations. Whenever a corporation, partnership or other association, not subject to imprisonment is found guilty of any public offense, the court may impose a fine within the limits authorized by law. In addition to such fine, if the offense be a felony or aggravated misdemeanor, the corporation, partnership or association shall be liable as follows: 1. Any person who has suffered loss because of the public offense may recover from the corporation, partnership or association in an action at law damages equal to three times the amount of such loss. 2. If the corporation, partnership or association has received pecuniary benefit from the commission of the offense, the attorney general may recover from such corporation, partnership or association in an action at law for the use of the state damages equal to three times the amount of such benefit, provided, that any amount which is recovered under subsection 1 of this section shall be subtracted from the damages recovered by the state. [C79, 81, §909.4] Liability of corporations, partnerships and voluntary associations, §703.5

Iowa Code § 909.5 Nonpayment of fines and court costs — contempt.

909.5. Nonpayment of fines and court costs — contempt. A person who is able to pay a fine, court-imposed court costs for a criminal proceeding, or both, or an installment of the fine or the court-imposed court costs, or both, and who refuses to do so, or who fails to make a good faith effort to pay the fine, court costs, or both, or any installment thereof, shall be held in contempt of court. [C51, §3071, 3349; R60, §4881, 5084; C73, §4509, 4689; C97, §5440, 5604; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §13588, 13964; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §762.32, 789.17; C79, 81, §909.5] 85 Acts, ch 52, §1

Iowa Code § 909.6 Fine as judgment.

909.6. Fine as judgment. 1. Whenever a court has imposed a fine on any defendant, the judgment in such case shall state the amount of the fine, and shall have the force and effect of a judgment against the defendant for the amount of the fine. The law relating to judgment liens, executions, and other process available to creditors for the collection of debts shall be applicable to such judgments; provided, that no law exempting the personal property of the defendant from any lien or legal process shall be applicable to such judgments. 2. At the time of imposing the sentence, the court shall inform the offender of the amount of the fine and that the judgment includes the imposition of a criminal surcharge, court costs, and applicable fees. The court shall also inform the offender of the duty to pay the judgment in a timely manner. [R60, §4902, 5003; C73, §4518, 4609; C97, §5446, 5531; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §13969, 13976; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §790.1, 791.6; C79, 81, §909.6] 93 Acts, ch 110, §13; 94 Acts, ch 1142, §14; 2018 Acts, ch 1041, §127

Iowa Code § 909.7 Ability to pay fine presumed.

909.7. Ability to pay fine presumed. 1. A defendant is presumed to be able to pay a fine. However, if the defendant proves to the satisfaction of the court that the defendant cannot pay the fine, the defendant shall not be sentenced to confinement for the failure to pay the fine. 2. A defendant who proves that the defendant cannot pay the fine may, at the discretion of the court, be ordered to perform community service pursuant to section 909.3A. 85 Acts, ch 197, §45; 93 Acts, ch 110, §14; 2018 Acts, ch 1041, §127

Iowa Code § 909.8 Payment and collection provisions apply to surcharge.

909.8. Payment and collection provisions apply to surcharge. The provisions of this chapter governing the payment and collection of a fine, except section 909.3A, also apply to the payment and collection of surcharges imposed pursuant to chapter 911. 87 Acts, ch 72, §1; 93 Acts, ch 110, §15; 2001 Acts, ch 168, §6; 2004 Acts, ch 1119, §8; 2008 Acts, ch 1172, §29

Source: Iowa Legislature (legis.iowa.gov)URL: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/law/iowaCode/sections?codeChapter=909&year=2026Fetched: 10/20/2026