A key risk of not complying with your reporting obligations to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) under the UK GDPR is facing significant financial penalties , including fines of up to £8.7 million or 2% of your global annual turnover , whichever is higher, specifically for failure‑to‑notify‑a‑breach‑on‑time breaches.

Main legal and financial risks

  • The ICO can impose administrative fines for failing to report a notifiable personal‑data breach within 72 hours where required.
  • For more serious GDPR violations (beyond just late reporting), fines can rise to £17.5 million or 4% of global turnover , whichever is higher.
  • The ICO may also use corrective powers such as enforcement notices, processing bans, or restrictions on how you handle personal data.

Operational and reputational impact

  • Non‑compliance can trigger ICO audits or investigations , which are time‑consuming and can disrupt normal business operations.
  • If the ICO issues a fine or public enforcement notice, it may be publicised in press releases , leading to reputational damage , loss of customer trust, and difficulty winning or keeping contracts.

Other indirect risks

  • Affected individuals may bring compensation claims if they suffer harm from a breach you failed to report properly.
  • Persistent or serious failures can increase the chance of criminal prosecution for certain data‑protection offences, such as wilful neglect of core obligations.

In short, the primary risk of not meeting your ICO reporting duties under the GDPR is a substantial fine , but it is usually accompanied by operational disruption, reputational harm, and potential legal claims.