Finance Act 1994

Penalties U.K.

25 U.K. For section 93 of the Management Act there shall be substituted the following section—

“93 Failure to make return for income tax and capital gains tax.

(1) This section applies where—

(a) any person (the taxpayer) has been required by a notice served under or for the purposes of section 8 or 8A of this Act (or either of those sections as extended by section 12 of this Act) to deliver any return, and

(b) he fails to comply with the notice.

(2) The taxpayer shall be liable to a penalty which shall be £100.

(3) If, on an application made to them by an officer of the Board, the General or Special Commissioners so direct, the taxpayer shall be liable to a further penalty or penalties not exceeding £60 for each day on which the failure continues after the day on which he is notified of the direction (but excluding any day for which a penalty under this subsection has already been imposed).

(4) If—

(a) the failure by the taxpayer to comply with the notice continues after the end of the period of six months beginning with the filing date, and

(b) no application is made under subsection (3) above before the end of that period,

the taxpayer shall be liable to a further penalty which shall be £100.

(5) Without prejudice to any penalties under subsections (2) to (4) above, if—

(a) the failure by the taxpayer to comply with the notice continues after the anniversary of the filing date, and

(b) there would have been a liability to tax shown in the return,

the taxpayer shall be liable to a penalty of an amount not exceeding the liability to tax which would have been so shown.

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

(7) If the taxpayer proves that the liability to tax shown in the return would not have exceeded a particular amount, the penalty under subsection (2) above, together with any penalty under subsection (4) above, shall not exceed that amount.

(8) On an appeal against the determination under section 100 of this Act of a penalty under subsection (2) or (4) above, neither section 50(6) to (8) nor section 100B(2) of this Act shall apply but the Commissioners may—

(a) if it appears to them that, throughout the period of default, the taxpayer had a reasonable excuse for not delivering the return, set the determination aside; or

(b) if it does not so appear to them, confirm the determination.

(9) References in this section to a liability to tax which would have been shown in the return are references to an amount which, if a proper return had been delivered on the filing date, would have been payable by the taxpayer under section 59B of this Act for the year of assessment.

(10) In this section—

• “the filing date” means the day mentioned in section 8(1A) or, as the case may be, section 8A(1A) of this Act;

• “the period of default”, in relation to any failure to deliver a return, means the period beginning with the filing date and ending with the day before that on which the return was delivered.”

26 U.K. After section 93 of the Management Act there shall be inserted the following section—

“93A Failure to make partnership return.

(1) This section applies where, in the case of a trade, profession or business carried on by two or more persons in partnership—

(a) a partner (the representative partner) has been required by a notice served under or for the purposes of section 12AA(2) or (3) of this Act to deliver any return, and

(b) he fails to comply with the notice.

(2) Each relevant partner shall be liable to a penalty which shall be £100.

(3) If, on an application made to them by an officer of the Board, the General or Special Commissioners so direct, each relevant partner shall be liable, for each day on which the failure continues after the day on which the representative partner is notified of the direction (but excluding any day for which a penalty under this subsection has already been imposed), to a further penalty or penalties not exceeding £60.

(4) If—

(a) the failure by the representative partner to comply with the notice continues after the end of the period of six months beginning with the filing date, and

(b) no application is made under subsection (3) above before the end of that period,

each relevant partner shall be liable to a further penalty which shall be £100.

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

(6) Where, in respect of the same failure to comply, penalties under subsection (2), (3) or (4) above are determined under section 100 of this Act as regards two or more relevant partners—

(a) no appeal against the determination of any of those penalties shall be brought otherwise than by the representative partner;

(b) any appeal by that partner shall be a composite appeal against the determination of each of those penalties; and

(c) section 100B(3) of this Act shall apply as if that partner were the person liable to each of those penalties.

(7) On an appeal against a determination under section 100 of this Act of a penalty under subsection (2) or (4) above, neither section 50(6) to (8) nor section 100B(2) of this Act shall apply but the Commissioners may—

(a) if it appears to them that, throughout the period of default, the representative partner had a reasonable excuse for not delivering the return, set the determination aside; or

(b) if it does not so appear to them, confirm the determination.

(8) In this section—

• “the filing date” means the day specified in the notice under section 12AA(2) or (3) of this Act;

• “the period of default”, in relation to any failure to deliver a return, means the period beginning with the filing date and ending with the day before that on which the return was delivered;

• “relevant partner” means a person who was a partner at any time during the period in respect of which the return was required.”

27 (1) In subsection (1) of section 95 of the Management Act (incorrect return or accounts for income tax or capital gains tax), for the words “section 8 or 8A or 9 of this Act (or any of those sections” there shall be substituted the words “ section 8 or 8A of this Act (or either of those sections ”. U.K.

(2) In subsection (3) of that section, the words from “and the references” to the end shall cease to have effect.

28 U.K. After section 95 of the Management Act there shall be inserted the following section—

“95A Incorrect partnership return or accounts.

(1) This section applies where, in the case of a trade, profession or business carried on by two or more persons in partnership—

(a) a partner (the representative partner)—

(i) delivers an incorrect return of a kind mentioned in section 12AA of this Act, or

(ii) makes any incorrect statement or declaration in connection with such a return, or

(iii) submits to an officer of the Board any incorrect accounts in connection with such a return, and

(b) either he does so fraudulently or negligently, or his doing so is attributable to fraudulent or negligent conduct on the part of a relevant partner.

(2) Each relevant partner shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding the difference between—

(a) the amount of income tax or corporation tax payable by him for the relevant period (including any amount of income tax deducted at source and not repayable), and

(b) the amount which would have been the amount so payable if the return, statement, declaration or accounts made or submitted by the representative partner had been correct;

and in determining each such penalty, regard shall be had only to the fraud or negligence, or the fraudulent or negligent conduct, mentioned in subsection (1(b) above.

(3) Where, in respect of the same return, statement, declaration or accounts, penalties under subsection (2) above are determined under section 100 of this Act as regards two or more relevant partners—

(a) no appeal against the determination of any of those penalties shall be brought otherwise than by the representative partner;

(b) any appeal by that partner shall be a composite appeal against the determination of each of those penalties; and

(c) section 100B(3) of this Act shall apply as if that partner were the person liable to each of those penalties.

(4) In this section—

• “relevant partner” means a person who was a partner at any time during the relevant period;

• “relevant period” means the period in respect of which the return was made.”

29 U.K. After section 97 of the Management Act there shall be inserted the following section—

“97AA Failure to produce documents under section 19A.

(1) Where a person fails to comply with a notice or requirement under section 19A(2) or (3) of this Act, he shall be liable, subject to subsection (4) below—

(a) to a penalty which shall be £50, and

(b) if the failure continues after a penalty is imposed under paragraph (a) above, to a further penalty or penalties not exceeding the relevant amount for each day on which the failure continues after the day on which the penalty under that paragraph was imposed (but excluding any day for which a penalty under this paragraph has already been imposed).

(2) In subsection (1)(b) above “the relevant amount” means—

(a) in the case of a determination of a penalty by an officer of the Board under section 100 of this Act, £30;

(b) in the case of a determination of a penalty by the Commissioners under section 100C of this Act, £150.

(3) An officer of the Board authorised by the Board for the purposes of section 100C of this Act may commence proceedings under that section for any penalty under subsection (1)(b) above, notwithstanding that it is not a penalty to which subsection (1) of section 100 of this Act does not apply by virtue of subsection (2) of that section.

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

30 (1) For subsection (2) of section 98B of the Management Act (European Economic Interest Groupings) there shall be substituted the following subsections— U.K.

“(2) Subsections (2A) to (4) below apply where a grouping or member of a grouping required by a notice given under section 12A of this Act to deliver a return or other document fails to comply with the notice.

(2A) The grouping or member shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding £300 multiplied by the number of members of the grouping at the time of the failure to comply.

(2B) If, on an application made to them by an officer of the Board, the General or Special Commissioners so direct, the grouping or member shall be liable, for each day on which the failure continues after the day on which the grouping or member is notified of the direction (but excluding any day for which a penalty under this subsection has already been imposed), to a further penalty or penalties not exceeding £60 multiplied by the number of members of the grouping at the end of that day.”

(2) In subsection (3) of that section, for the words “subsection (2)” there shall be substituted the words “ subsection (2A) or (2B) ”.

(3) In subsection (4) of that section, for the words “subsection (2)” there shall be substituted the words “ subsections (2A) and (2B) ”.

31 (1) In subsection (1) of section 100B of the Management Act (appeals against penalty determinations), after the words “subject to” there shall be inserted the words “ sections 93, 93A and 95A of this Act ”. U.K.

(2) At the beginning of subsection (2) of that section there shall be inserted the words “ Subject to sections 93(8) and 93A(7) of this Act ”.

32 U.K. In subsection (2) of section 103 of the Management Act (time limit for penalties), for the words “the end of the chargeable period” there shall be substituted the words “ the 31st January next following the chargeable period ”.

33 U.K. After section 103 of the Management Act there shall be inserted the following section—

“103A Interest on penalties.

A penalty under any of the provisions of Part II or VA or this Part of this Act shall carry interest at the rate applicable under section 178 of the Finance Act 1989 from the date on which it becomes due and payable until payment.”