Finance Act 1989

Penalties U.K.

F1 162 Failure to make return. U.K.

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Textual Amendments

F1 S. 162 repealed (31.1.2013) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2013 (c. 2), s. 3(2), Sch. 1 Pt. 10 Group 1

163 Incorrect return, accounts etc. U.K.

(1) In—

F2 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b) section 96(1) of that Act (incorrect return etc. for corporation tax),

for the words “the aggregate” onwards there shall be substituted thewords “the amount of the difference specified in subsection (2) below.”

(2) This section shall apply in relation to returns, statements, declarationsor accounts delivered, made or submitted on or after the day on which this Actis passed.

Textual Amendments

F2 S. 163(1)(a) repealed (19.7.2007) by Finance Act 2007 (c. 11), Sch. 27 Pt. 5(5)

164 Special returns, information etc. U.K.

(1) Section 98 of the Taxes Management Act 1970 (special returns, information etc.) shall be amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1) (initial and daily penalties)—

(a) for the word “Where” there shall be substituted the words “Subject to section 98A below, where”, and

(b) for the words “subsection (3)” onwards there shall be substituted the words “subsections (3) and (4) below—

(i) to a penalty not exceeding £300, and

(ii) if the failure continues after a penalty is imposed under paragraph (i)above, to a further penalty or penalties not exceeding £60 for each dayon which the failure continues after the day on which the penalty under paragraph (i) above was imposed (but excluding any day for which a penalty under this paragraph has already been imposed).”

(3) In subsection (2) (maximum penalty for information given fraudulently or negligently)—

(a) for the word “Where” there shall be substituted the words “Subject to section 98A below, where”, and

(b) for the words “ £250, or, in the case of fraud, £500”there shall be substituted “ £3,000”.

(4) The following subsections shall be substituted for subsection (3)—

“(3) No penalty shall be imposed under subsection (1) above in respect of a failure within paragraph (a) of that subsection at any time after the failure has been remedied.

(4) No penalty shall be imposed under paragraph (ii) of subsection (1) above in respect of a failure within paragraph (b) of that subsection at any time after the failure has been remedied.”

(5) In the Table—

(a) in the first column, in the entry relating to Part III of the M1 Taxes Management Act 1970, the words “, except sections 16 and 24(2)” shall be omitted;

F3 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(c) the entry relating to section 481(5)(k) of that Act shall be omitted from the first column and an entry relating to section 482(2) of that Act shall be inserted at the appropriate place in the second column.

(6) In consequence of the amendment made by subsection (5)(a) above section16(6) of the Taxes Management Act 1970 shall cease to have effect.

(7) This section shall apply in relation to—

(a) any failure to comply with a notice or to furnish information, give a certificate or produce a document or record beginning on or after the day on which this Act is passed, and

(b) the furnishing, giving, producing or making of any incorrect information, certificate, document, record or declaration on or after that day.

Textual Amendments

F3 S. 164(5)(b) repealed (with effect in accordance with s. 381(1) of the amending Act) by Taxation (International and Other Provisions) Act 2010 (c. 8), s. 381(1), Sch. 10 Pt. 12 (with Sch. 9 paras. 1-9, 22)

Marginal Citations

M1 1970 c.9.

165 Special penalties in the case of certain returns. U.K.

(1) The following section shall be inserted after section 98 of the TaxesManagement Act 1970—

“98A Special penalties in the case of certain returns.

(1) Regulations under section 203(2) (PAYE) or 566(1) (sub-contractors) of theprincipal Act may provide that this section shall apply in relation to anyspecified provision of the regulations.

(2) Where this section applies in relation to a provision of regulations, anyperson who fails to make a return in accordance with the provision shall beliable—

(a) to a penalty or penalties of the relevant monthly amount for each month(or part of a month) during which the failure continues, but excluding anymonth after the twelfth or for which a penalty under this paragraph hasalready been imposed, and

(b) if the failure continues beyond twelve months, without prejudice to anypenalty under paragraph (a) above, to a penalty not exceeding so much of theamount payable by him in accordance with the regulations for the year ofassessment to which the return relates as remained unpaid at the end of 19thApril after the end of that year.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(a) above, the relevant monthly amountin the case of a failure to make a return—

(a) where the number of persons in respect of whom particulars should beincluded in the return is fifty or less, is £100, and

(b) where that number is greater than fifty, is £100 for each fifty suchpersons and an additional £100 where that number is not a multiple offifty.

(4) Where this section applies in relation to a provision of regulations, anyperson who fraudulently or negligently makes an incorrect return of a kindmentioned in the provision shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding thedifference between—

(a) the amount payable by him in accordance with the regulations for the yearof assessment to which the return relates, and

(b) the amount which would have been so payable if the return had beencorrect.”

[F4 (2) In relation to a failure to make a return beginning before such day as theTreasury may by order made by statutory instrument appoint, section 98A(2)shall have effect with the substitution of the following paragraph forparagraph (a)—

“(a) to—

(i) a penalty not exceeding twelve times the relevant monthly amount, and

(ii) if the failure continues after a penalty is imposed under sub-paragraph(i) above, a further penalty or penalties of the relevant monthly amount foreach month (or part of a month) during which the failure continues, butexcluding any month after the twelfth or for which a penalty under thissub-paragraph has already been imposed,”.]

Textual Amendments

F4 S. 165(2) repealed (with effect in relation to failures beginning on or after 20.5.1995) by Finance Act 1989 (c. 26, SIF 63:1), ss. 165(2), 187(1), Sch. 17 Pt. VIII Note 7; S.I. 1994/2508, art. 2

166 Assisting in preparation of incorrect return etc. U.K.

(1) The following section shall be substituted for section 99 of the M2 Taxes Management Act 1970—

“99 Assisting in preparation of incorrect return etc.

Any person who assists in or induces the preparation or delivery of anyinformation, return, accounts or other document which—

(a) he knows will be, or is or are likely to be, used for any purpose of tax,and

(b) he knows to be incorrect,

shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding £3,000.”

(2) This section shall apply in relation to assistance and inducementsoccurring on or after the day on which this Act is passed.

Marginal Citations

M2 1970c. 9.

167 Determination of penalties. U.K.

The following sections shall be substituted for section 100 of the M3 Taxes Management Act 1970—

“100 Determination of penalties by officer of Board.

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below and except where proceedings for a penaltyhave been instituted under section 100D below or a penalty has been imposedby the Commissioners under section 53 of this Act, an officer of the Boardauthorised by the Board for the purposes of this section may make adetermination imposing a penalty under any provision of the Taxes Acts andsetting it at such amount as, in his opinion, is correct or appropriate.

(2) Subsection (1) above does not apply where the penalty is a penaltyunder—

(a) section 93(1) above as it has effect before the amendments made by section162 of the Finance Act 1989 or section 93(1)(a) above as it has effect afterthose amendments,

(b) section 94(1) above as it has effect before the substitution made bysection 83 of the Finance (No.2) Act 1987,

(c) section 98(1) above as it has effect before the amendments made by section164 of the Finance Act 1989 or section 98(1)(i) above as it has effect afterthose amendments, or

(d) paragraph (a)(i) of section 98A(2) above as it has effect by virtue ofsection 165(2) of the Finance Act 1989.

(3) Notice of a determination of a penalty under this section shall be servedon the person liable to the penalty and shall state the date on which it isissued and the time within which an appeal against the determination may bemade.

(4) After the notice of a determination under this section has been served thedetermination shall not be altered except in accordance with this section oron appeal.

(5) If it is discovered by an officer of the Board authorised by the Board forthe purposes of this section that the amount of a penalty determined underthis section is or has become insufficient the officer may make adetermination in a further amount so that the penalty is set at the amountwhich, in his opinion, is correct or appropriate.

(6) In any case where—

(a) a determination under this section is of a penalty under section 94(6)above, and

(b) after the determination has been made it is discovered by an officer ofthe Board authorised by the Board for the purposes of this section that theamount which was taken into account as the relevant amount of tax is or hasbecome excessive,

the determination shall be revised so that the penalty is set at theamount which is correct; and, where more than the correct amount has alreadybeen paid, the appropriate amount shall be repaid.

100A Provisions supplementary to section 100.

(1) Where a person who has incurred a penalty has died, a determination undersection 100 above which could have been made in relation to him may be madein relation to his personal representatives, and any penalty imposed onpersonal representatives by virtue of this subsection shall be a debt due fromand payable out of his estate.

(2) A penalty determined under section 100 above shall be due and payable atthe end of the period of thirty days beginning with the date of the issue ofthe notice of determination.

(3) A penalty determined under section 100 above shall for all purposes betreated as if it were tax charged in an assessment and due and payable.

100B Appeals against penalty determinations.

(1) An appeal may be brought against the determination of a penalty undersection 100 above and, subject to the following provisions of this section,the provisions of this Act relating to appeals shall have effect in relationto an appeal against such a determination as they have effect in relation toan appeal against an assessment to tax.

(2) On an appeal against the determination of a penalty under section 100above section 50(6) to (8) of this Act shall not apply but—

(a) in the case of a penalty which is required to be of a particular amount,the Commissioners may—

(i) if it appears to them that no penalty has been incurred, set thedetermination aside,

(ii) if the amount determined appears to them to be correct, confirm thedetermination, or

(iii) if the amount determined appears to them to be incorrect, increase orreduce it to the correct amount,

(b) in the case of any other penalty, the Commissioners may—

(i) if it appears to them that no penalty has been incurred, set thedetermination aside,

(ii) if the amount determined appears to them to be appropriate, confirm thedetermination,

(iii) if the amount determined appears to them to be excessive, reduce it tosuch other amount (including nil) as they consider appropriate, or

(iv) if the amount determined appears to them to be insufficient, increase itto such amount not exceeding the permitted maximum as they considerappropriate.

(3) Without prejudice to section 56 of this Act, an appeal from a decision ofthe Commissioners against the amount of a penalty which has been determinedunder section 100 above or this section shall lie, at the instance of theperson liable to the penalty, to the High Court or, in Scotland, to the Courtof Session as the Court of Exchequer in Scotland; and on that appeal the courtshall have the like jurisdiction as is conferred on the Commissioners byvirtue of this section.

100C Penalty proceedings before Commissioners.

(1) An officer of the Board authorised by the Board for the purposes of thissection may commence proceedings before the General or Special Commissionersfor any penalty to which subsection (1) of section 100 above does not applyby virtue of subsection (2) of that section.

(2) Proceedings under this section shall be by way of information in writing,made to the Commissioners, and upon summons issued by them to the defendant(or defender) 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) Any penalty determined by the Commissioners in proceedings under thissection shall for all purposes be treated as if it were tax charged in anassessment and due and payable.

(4) An appeal against the determination of a penalty in proceedings under thissection shall lie to the High Court or, in Scotland, the Court of Session asthe Court of Exchequer in Scotland—

(a) by any party on a question of law, and

(b) by the defendant (or, in Scotland, the defender) against the amount of thepenalty.

(5) On any such appeal the court may—

(a) if it appears that no penalty has been incurred, set the determinationaside,

(b) if the amount determined appears to be appropriate, confirm thedetermination,

(c) if the amount determined appears to be excessive, reduce it to such otheramount (including nil) as the court considers appropriate, or

(d) if the amount determined appears to be insufficient, increase it to suchamount not exceeding the permitted maximum as the court considers appropriate.

100D Penalty proceedings before court.

(1) Where in the opinion of the Board the liability of any person for apenalty arises by reason of the fraud of that or any other person, proceedingsfor the penalty may be instituted before the High Court or, in Scotland, theCourt of Session as the Court of Exchequer in Scotland.

(2) Proceedings under this section which are not instituted (in England, Walesor Northern Ireland) under the Crown Proceedings Act 1947by and in the name of the Board as an authorised department for the purposesof that Act shall be instituted—

(a) in England and Wales, in the name of the Attorney General,

(b) in Scotland, in the name of the Lord Advocate, and

(c) in Northern Ireland, in the name of the Attorney General for NorthernIreland.

(3) Any proceedings under this section instituted in England and Wales shallbe deemed to be civil proceedings by the Crown within the meaning of Part IIof the Crown Proceedings Act 1947 and any such proceedings instituted inNorthern Ireland shall be deemed to be civil proceedings within the meaningof that Part of that Act as for the time being in force in Northern Ireland.

(4) If in proceedings under this section the court does not find that fraudis proved but consider that the person concerned is nevertheless liable to apenalty, the court may determine a penalty notwithstanding that, but for theopinion of the Board as to fraud, the penalty would not have been a matter forthe court.”

Marginal Citations

M3 1970 c. 9.

168 Amendments consequential on section 167. U.K.

(1) In consequence of the amendment made by section 167 above the M4 Taxes Management Act 1970 shall be amended in accordance withsubsections (2) to (8) below.

(2) In section 20A (power to call for papers of tax accountant)—

(a) in subsection (1), for the words “awarded against him a penalty incurredby” there shall be substituted the words “a penalty imposed on”,

(b) in subsection (2), for the word “award” in the first place where itoccurs there shall be substituted the word “penalty” and for that wordin the second place where it occurs there shall be substituted the word “imposition”, and

(c) in subsection (4), for the words “award against” there shall besubstituted the words “imposition on” and for the word “award” thereshall be substituted the word “penalty”.

F5 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) In section 102 (mitigation of penalties), for the words “recoverythereof” there shall be substituted the words “a penalty”.

(5) In section 105 (evidence)—

(a) the following paragraph shall be substituted for paragraph (a) ofsubsection (1)—

“(a) pecuniary settlements may be accepted instead of a penalty beingdetermined, or proceedings being instituted, in relation to any tax,”,

(b) in paragraph (b) of subsection (2), for the words “sum” onwards thereshall be substituted the words “tax due from him”, and

(c) after that paragraph there shall be inserted the words “and

(c) any proceedings for a penalty or on appeal against the determination ofa penalty.”

(6) In section 112 (loss of documents etc.), the following subsection shallbe added at the end—

“(3) The references in subsection (1) above to assessments to tax includereferences to determinations of penalties; and in its application to suchdeterminations the proviso to that subsection shall have effect with theappropriate modifications.”

(7) In section 113 (form of documents)—

(a) the following subsection shall be inserted after subsection (1C)—

“(1D) Where an officer of the Board has decided to impose a penalty undersection 100 of this Act and has taken all other decisions needed for arrivingat the amount of the penalty, he may entrust to any other officer of the Boardresponsibility for completing the determination procedure, whether by meansinvolving the use of a computer or otherwise, including responsibility forserving notice of the determination on the person liable to the penalty.”and

(b) in subsection (3)—

(i) after the words “Every assessment,” there shall be inserted the words “determination of a penalty,”,

(ii) after the words “notice of assessment” there shall be inserted thewords “, of determination”, and

(iii) after the words “levying tax” there shall be inserted the words “ordetermining a penalty”.

[F6 (8) In paragraph 5 of Schedule 3 (rules for assigning proceedings toCommissioners), for the words “section 100(4)” there shall be substitutedthe words “section 100C or an appeal under section 100B against thedetermination of a penalty”.]

(9) In section 41 of the M5 Development Land Tax Act 1976(administration of development land tax) the following subsection shall beinserted after subsection (1)—

“(1A) Nothing in sections 167 to 169 of the Finance Act 1989 shall apply topenalties relating to development land tax.”

Textual Amendments

F5 S. 168(3) repealed (1.9.1994) by S.I. 1994/1813, reg. 2(2), Sch. 2 Pt. I

F6 S. 168(8) repealed (29.4.1996 with effect as mentioned in Sch. 22 para. 12 of the amending Act) by 1996 c. 8, s. 205, Sch. 41 Pt. V(12), note

Marginal Citations

M4 1970 c.9.

M5 1976 c. 24.

169 Time limits. U.K.

(1) The following section shall be substituted for section 103 of the M6 Taxes Management Act 1970—

“103 Time limits for penalties.

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, where the amount of a penalty is to beascertained by reference to tax payable by a person for any period, thepenalty may be determined by an officer of the Board, or proceedings for thepenalty may be commenced before the Commissioners or a court—

(a) at any time within six years after the date on which the penalty wasincurred, or

(b) at any later time within three years after the final determination of theamount of tax by reference to which the amount of the penalty is to beascertained.

(2) Where the tax was payable by a person who has died, and the determinationwould be made in relation to his personal representatives, subsection (1)(b)above does not apply if the tax was charged in an assessment made later thansix years after the end of the chargeable period for which it was charged.

(3) A penalty under section 99 of this Act may be determined by an officer ofthe Board, or proceedings for such a penalty may be commenced before a court,at any time within twenty years after the date on which the penalty wasincurred.

(4) A penalty to which neither subsection (1) nor subsection (3) above appliesmay be so determined, or proceedings for such a penalty may be commencedbefore the Commissioners or a court, at any time within six years after thedate on which the penalty was incurred or began to be incurred.”

(2) The amendment made by subsection (1) above shall not affect theapplication of section 103(4) of the M7 Taxes Management Act1970 to proceedings under section 100 of that Act as it has effect before theamendment made by section 167 above.

Marginal Citations

M6 1970c. 9.

M7 1970 c. 9.

170 Up-rating of certain penalties. U.K.

[F7 (1) In section 23(8) of the Taxes Act 1988 (maximum penalty for agents failing to make certain payments on behalf of principals), for “£50” there shall be substituted “£300”.]

F8 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F9 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) In—

F10 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F10 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(c) section 658(5) of that Act (maximum penalty for false statements or representations relating to purchased life annuities),

for “£500” there shall be substituted “£3,000”.

(5) In paragraph 2(4) of Schedule 19A to that Act and Schedule 16A to the M8 Finance Act 1973 (maximum penalty for incorrect return byLloyd’s agent), for the words “£500 in the case of fraud and £250 in the case of negligence” there shall be substituted “£3,000”.

(6) This section shall apply in relation to things done or omitted on or after the day on which this Act is passed.

Textual Amendments

F7 S. 170(1) repealed (1.5.1995 with effect as mentioned in s. 39(4)(5) of the amending Act) by 1995 c. 4, s. 162, Sch. 29 Pt. VIII(1), note

F8 S. 170(2) repealed (16.7.1992 with effect in accordance with s. 32 of the repealing Act) by Finance (No. 2) Act 1992 (c. 48), ss. 32, 82, Sch. 18 Pt. VII(4)

F9 S. 170(3) repealed (6.4.2007) by Income Tax Act 2007 (c. 3), s. 1034(1), Sch. 3 Pt. 2 (with Sch. 2)

F10 S. 170(4)(a)(b) repealed (6.4.2006) by Finance Act 2004 (c. 12), Sch. 42 Pt. 3 (with Sch. 36)

Marginal Citations

M8 1973 c. 51.