Finance Act 1981

Incorrect returns, accounts, etc.

17 (1) Where a person fraudulently or negligently—

(a) delivers an incorrect return under paragraph 9 above ; or

(b) submits under paragraph 16 above any document that is incorrect,

he shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding the aggregate of—

(i) £50, and

(ii) the amount or, in the case of fraud, twice the amount, of the difference between the tax payable and the tax that would have been payable if the return or document had been correct.

(2) Where a return or other document was made or submitted by a person neither fraudulently nor negligently and it comes to his notice that it was incorrect, then, unless the error is remedied without unreasonable delay, the return or document shall be treated for the purpose of this paragraph as having been negligently made or submitted.

(3) For the purposes of this paragraph any return or document made or submitted on behalf of a person shall be deemed to have been made or submitted by him unless he proves that it was submitted without his consent or connivance.

(4) In this paragraph " document" includes accounts, books and records.