1.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) and except where proceedings have been instituted under paragraph 5, an officer of the Board authorised by the Board for the purposes of this paragraph may make a determination—
(a)imposing a penalty under Article 12 or 13, and
(b)setting it at such amount as, in his opinion, is correct or appropriate.
(2) Articles 12 and 13 does not apply to the imposition of such a penalty as is an Article 12(2)(a).
(3) Notice of a determination of a penalty under this paragraph shall be served on the person liable to the penalty and shall state the date on which it is issued and the time within which an appeal against the determination may be made.
(4) After the notice of a determination under this paragraph has been served the determination shall not be altered except in accordance with this paragraph or on appeal.
(5) If it is discovered by an officer of the Board authorised by the Board for the purposes of this paragraph that the amount of a penalty determined under this paragraph is or has become insufficient, the officer may make a determination in a further amount so that the penalty is set at the amount which, in his opinion, is correct or appropriate.
2.—(1) A penalty determined under paragraph l shall be due and payable at the end of the period of thirty days beginning with the date of the issue of the notice of determination.
(2) Part VI of the Taxes Management Act 1970 (c. 9) shall apply in relation to a penalty determined under paragraph 1 as if it were tax charged in an assessment and due and payable.
3—(1) An appeal may be brought against the determination of a penalty under paragraph 1.
(2) The provisions of the Taxes Management Act 1970 relating to appeals, except section 50(6) to (8), shall have effect in relation to an appeal against such a determination as they have effect in relation to an appeal against an assessment to tax.
(3) On an appeal by virtue of sub-paragraph (2) against the determination of a penalty under paragraph 1, the General or Special Commissioners may—
(a)if it appears to them that no penalty has been incurred, set the determination aside;
(b)if the amount determined appears to them to be appropriate, confirm the determination;
(c)if the amount determined appears to them to be excessive, reduce it to such other amount (including nil) as they consider appropriate;
(d)if the amount determined appears to them to be insufficient, increase it to such amount not exceeding the permitted maximum as they consider appropriate.
(4) An appeal from a decision of the Commissioners against the amount of a penalty which has been determined under paragraph 1 or this paragraph shall lie, at the instance of the person liable to the penalty to the High Court, and on that appeal the court shall have the like jurisdiction as is conferred on the Commissioners by virtue of this paragraph.
4.—(1) An officer of the Board authorised by the Board for the purposes ofthis paragraph may commence proceedings for any penalty to which sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 1 does not apply by virtue of sub-paragraph (2) of that paragraph.
(2) Proceedings under this paragraph shall be by way of information in writing, made to the General or Special Commissioners, and upon summons issued by them to the defendant to appear before them at a time and place stated in the summons and they shall hear and decide each case in a summary way.
(3) Part VI of the Taxes Management Act 1970 (c. 9) shall apply in relation to a penalty determined in proceedings under this paragraph as if it were tax charged in an assessment and due and payable.
(4) An appeal against the determination of a penalty in proceedings under this paragraph shall lie to the High Court—
(a)by any party on a question of law, and
(b)by the defendant against the amount of the penalty.
(5) On any such appeal the court may—
(a)if it appears that no penalty has been incurred, set the determination aside;
(b)if the amount determined appears to be appropriate, confirm the determination;
(c)if the amount determined appears to be excessive, reduce it to such other amount (including nil) as the court considers appropriate;
(d)if the amount determined appears to be insufficient, increase it to such amount not exceeding the permitted maximum as the court considers appropriate.
5.—(1) Where in the opinion of the Board the liability of any person for a penalty under Article 12 or 13 arises by reason of the fraud of that or any other person, proceedings for the penalty may be instituted before the High Court.
(2) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), proceedings under this paragraph shall be instituted in the name of the Attorney General for Northern Ireland.
(3) Sub-paragraph (2) shall not prevent proceedings under this paragraph being instituted under the Crown Proceedings Act 1947 (c. 44) by and in the name of the Board as an authorised department for the purposes of that Act.
(4) Any proceedings under this paragraph shall be deemed to be civil proceedings by the Crown within the meaning of Part II of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947 (c. 44).
(5) If in proceedings under this paragraph the court does not find that fraud is proved but considers that the person concerned is nevertheless liable to a penalty, the court may determine a penalty notwithstanding that, but for the opinion of the Board as to fraud, the penalty would not have been a matter for the court.
6. The Board may in their discretion mitigate any penalty under Article 12 or 13, or stay or compound any proceedings for a penalty, and may also, after judgment, further mitigate or entirely remit the penalty.
7. A penalty under Article 12 or 13 may be determined by an officer of the Board, or proceedings for the penalty may be commenced before the Commissioners or the court, at any time within six years after the date on which the penalty was incurred or began to be incurred.
8.—(1) After paragraph (q) of section 178(2) of the Finance Act 1989 (c. 26) (setting rates of interest) there shall be inserted—
“(r)paragraph 8 of Schedule I to the Employment (Northem Ireland) Order 2002.”
(2) A penalty under Article 12 or 13 shall carry interest at the rate applicable under section 178 of the Finance Act 1989 (c. 26) from the date on which it becomes due and payable until payment.
9. In this Schedule “General Commissioners” and “Special Commissioners” have the same meanings as in the Taxes Management Act 1970 (c. 9).