The £500,000 fine levied on the IFA will either be used to fund the courts service, or could return to the Exchequer to be spent as the Government sees fit.
Under current arrangements, the courts service is funded by the budget agreed in the Estimates each year and the estimated income generated by fines and fees. If the latter, known as appropriations-in-aid, is less than the amount estimated at the start of the year, the courts service must make do with the reduced amount.
However, in the event that appropriations-in-aid exceed the estimate, the excess is forwarded to the Exchequer. Funding is calculated using the calendar year.