(1)In section 81 of the M1Value Added Tax Act 1994 (which makes provision for the set-off of credits and debits), after subsection (3) there shall be inserted the following subsection—
“(3A)Where—
(a)the Commissioners are liable to pay or repay any amount to any person under this Act,
(b)that amount falls to be paid or repaid in consequence of a mistake previously made about whether or to what extent amounts were payable under this Act to or by that person, and
(c)by reason of that mistake a liability of that person to pay a sum by way of VAT, penalty, interest or surcharge was not assessed, was not enforced or was not satisfied,
any limitation on the time within which the Commissioners are entitled to take steps for recovering that sum shall be disregarded in determining whether that sum is required by subsection (3) above to be set against the amount mentioned in paragraph (a) above.”
(2)Subsection (1) above shall be deemed to have come into force on 18th July 1996 as a provision applying for determining the amount of any payment or repayment by the Commissioners on or after that date, including a payment or repayment in respect of a liability arising before that date.