Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005

18 Confidentiality U.K.

(1) Revenue and Customs officials may not disclose information which is held by the Revenue and Customs in connection with a function of the Revenue and Customs.

(2) But subsection (1) does not apply to a disclosure—

(a) which—

(i) is made for the purposes of a function of the Revenue and Customs, and

(ii) does not contravene any restriction imposed by the Commissioners,

(b) which is made in accordance with section 20 or 21,

(c) which is made for the purposes of civil proceedings (whether or not within the United Kingdom) relating to a matter in respect of which the Revenue and Customs have functions,

(d) which is made for the purposes of a criminal investigation or criminal proceedings (whether or not within the United Kingdom) relating to a matter in respect of which the Revenue and Customs have functions,

(e) which is made in pursuance of an order of a court,

(f) which is made to Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Constabulary, the Scottish inspectors or the Northern Ireland inspectors for the purpose of an inspection by virtue of section 27,

(g) which is made to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, or a person acting on its behalf, for the purpose of the exercise of a function by virtue of section 28, F1 ...

(h) which is made with the consent of each person to whom the information relates[F2 , or

(i) which is made to the Scottish Ministers in connection with the collection and management of a devolved tax within the meaning of the Scotland Act 1998.]

[F3 (2A) Information disclosed in reliance on subsection (2)(i) may not be further disclosed without the consent of the Commissioners (which may be general or specific).]

(3) Subsection (1) is subject to any other enactment permitting disclosure.

(4) In this section—

(a) a reference to Revenue and Customs officials is a reference to any person who is or was—

(i) a Commissioner,

(ii) an officer of Revenue and Customs,

(iii) a person acting on behalf of the Commissioners or an officer of Revenue and Customs, or

(iv) a member of a committee established by the Commissioners,

(b) a reference to the Revenue and Customs has the same meaning as in section 17,

(c) a reference to a function of the Revenue and Customs is a reference to a function of—

(i) the Commissioners, or

(ii) an officer of Revenue and Customs,

(d) a reference to the Scottish inspectors or the Northern Ireland inspectors has the same meaning as in section 27, and

(e) a reference to an enactment does not include—

(i) an Act of the Scottish Parliament or an instrument made under such an Act, or

(ii) an Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly or an instrument made under such an Act.

Textual Amendments

F1 Word in s. 18(2)(g) omitted (1.7.2012) by virtue of Scotland Act 2012 (c. 11), ss. 24(3)(a), 44(2)(b)

F2 S. 18(2)(i) and preceding word inserted (1.7.2012) by Scotland Act 2012 (c. 11), ss. 24(3)(b), 44(2)(b)

F3 S. 18(2A) inserted (1.7.2012) by Scotland Act 2012 (c. 11), ss. 24(4), 44(2)(b)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 18(1) referred to (1.1.2007) by Finance Act 2006 (c. 25), s. 53(1), Sch. 5 para. 24; S.I. 2006/3399, art. 2

C2 S. 18(1) restricted (1.4.2009) (with effect in accordance with s. 1329(1) of the amending Act) by Corporation Tax Act 2009 (c. 4), ss. 1206(1), 1329(1) (with Pts. 1, 2, Sch. 2 paras. 128, 129)

C3 S. 18(1) restricted by 2009 c. 4, s. 1217CM (as inserted (17.7.2013 for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with Sch. 17 para. 3 and 1.4.2014 in so far as not already in force) by Finance Act 2013 (c. 29), Sch. 17 paras. 1, 2; S.I. 2014/1962, art. 2(1)(2))

C4 S. 18(1) restricted by 2009 c. 4, s. 1216CM (as inserted (17.7.2013 for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with Sch. 16 para. 3 and 19.7.2013 in so far as not already in force) by Finance Act 2013 (c. 29), Sch. 16 paras. 1, 2; S.I. 2013/1817, art. 2(1))

C5 S. 18(1) restricted (17.7.2013) by Finance Act 2013 (c. 29), s. 80(6)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 18 in force at 7.4.2005 by S.I. 2005/1126, art. 2(1)