Finance Act 1994

188 Amendment of self-assessment

Immediately before section 29 of the Manageml be inserted the following section—

“28A Amendment of self-assessment where enquiries made

(1) This section applies where an officer of the Board gives notice under section 9A(1) or 11AB(1) of this Act to any person (the taxpayer) of his intention to enquire into—

(a) the return on the basis of which the taxpayer’s self-assessment was made, or

(b) any amendment of that return on the basis of which an amendment (the taxpayer’s amendment) of that assessment has been made by the taxpayer.

(2) If, at any time before the officer’s enquiries are completed, the officer is of opinion that—

(a) the tax contained in the taxpayer’s self-assessment is insufficient and, in a case falling within subsection (1)(b) above, the deficiency is attributable (wholly or partly) to the taxpayer’s amendment, and

(b) unless the assessment is immediately so amended as to make good the deficiency or, as the case may be, so much of the deficiency as is so attributable, there is likely to be a loss of tax to the Crown,

he may by notice to the taxpayer amend the assessment accordingly.

(3) At any time in the period of 30 days beginning with the day on which the officer’s enquiries are completed, the taxpayer may so amend his self-assessment—

(a) as to make good any deficiency or eliminate any excess which, on the basis of the conclusions stated in the officer’s notice under subsection (5) below, is a deficiency or excess which could be made good or eliminated under subsection (4) below; or

(b) in a case falling within subsection (1)(a) above where the return was made before the end of the period of twelve months beginning with the filing date, as to give effect to any amendments to the return which he has notified to the officer.

(4) If, at any time in the period of 30 days beginning immediately after the period mentioned in subsection (3) above, the officer is of opinion that—

(a) the tax contained in the taxpayer’s self-assessment is insufficient or excessive, and

(b) in a case falling within subsection (1)(b) above, the deficiency or excess is attributable (wholly or partly) to the taxpayer’s amendment,

he may by notice to the taxpayer so amend the assessment as to make good or eliminate the deficiency or excess or, where paragraph (b) above applies, so much of the deficiency or excess as is so attributable.

(5) Subject to subsection (6) below, the officer’s enquiries shall be treated as completed at such time as he by notice—

(a) informs the taxpayer that he has completed his enquiries, and

(b) states his conclusions as to the amount of tax which should be contained in the taxpayer’s self-assessment.

(6) At any time before a notice is given under subsection (5) above the taxpayer may apply to the Commissioners for a direction that the officer shall give such a notice within such period as may be specified in the direction; and the Commissioners shall give such a direction unless they are satisfied that the officer has reasonable grounds for not giving such a notice.

(7) Proceedings under subsection (6) above shall be heard and determined in the same way as an appeal.

(8) In this section “filing date” means the day mentioned in section 8(1A), section 8A(1A) or, as the case may be, section 11(4) of this Act.”