Finance Act 1996

13 (1) Regulations may make provision in respect of England and Wales and Northern Ireland—

(a) for authorising distress to be levied on the goods and chattels of any person refusing or neglecting to pay any tax due from him or any amount recoverable as if it were tax due from him;

(b) for the disposal of any goods or chattels on which distress is levied in pursuance of the regulations;

(c) for the imposition and recovery of costs, charges, expenses and fees in connection with anything done under the regulations.

(2) In respect of Scotland, where any tax or any amount recoverable as if it were tax is due and has not been paid, the sheriff, on an application by the Commissioners accompanied by a certificate by the Commissioners—

(a) stating that none of the persons specified in the application has paid the tax or other sum due from him,

(b) stating that payment of the amount due from each such person has been demanded from him, and

(c) specifying the amount due from and unpaid by each such person,

shall grant a summary warrant in a form prescribed by act of sederunt authorising the recovery, by any of the diligences mentioned in sub-paragraph (3) below, of the amount remaining due and unpaid.

(3) The diligences referred to in sub-paragraph (2) above are—

(a) a poinding and sale in accordance with Schedule 5 to the [1987 c. 18.] Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987;

(b) an earnings arrestment;

(c) an arrestment and action of furthcoming or sale.

(4) Subject to sub-paragraph (5) below and without prejudice to paragraphs 25 to 34 of Schedule 5 to the Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987 (expenses of poinding and sale) the sheriff officer’s fees, together with the outlays necessarily incurred by him, in connection with the execution of a summary warrant shall be chargeable against the debtor.

(5) No fee shall be chargeable by the sheriff officer against the debtor for collecting, and accounting to the Commissioners for, sums paid to him by the debtor in respect of the amount owing.

(6) Regulations may make provision for anything which the Commissioners may do under sub-paragraphs (2) to (5) above to be done by an officer of the Commissioners holding such rank as the regulations may specify.