Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Act 2014

PART 1 S Overview of Act

1 Overview of Act S

This Act is arranged as follows—

• Part 2 establishes Revenue Scotland and provides for its general functions and responsibilities,

• Part 3 makes provision about the use and protection of taxpayer and other information,

• Part 4 establishes the Scottish Tax Tribunals,

• Part 5 puts in place a general anti-avoidance rule,

• Part 6 contains provisions on the self-assessment system, the checking of tax returns by Revenue Scotland and claims for repayment of tax,

• Part 7 makes provision for Revenue Scotland's investigatory powers,

• Part 8 sets out the matters in relation to which penalties may be imposed,

• Part 9 makes provision about the interest payable on unpaid tax, on penalties and on tax repayments,

• Part 10 contains provisions on debt enforcement by Revenue Scotland,

• Part 11 sets out the system for the review, mediation and appeal of Revenue Scotland decisions, and

• Part 12 contains general and final provisions.

Commencement Information

I1 S. 1 in force at 1.1.2015 by S.S.I. 2014/370, art. 2, sch.

PART 2 S Revenue Scotland

Establishment of Revenue Scotland S

2 Revenue Scotland S

(1) There is established a body corporate to be known as Revenue Scotland.

(2) In Gaelic, Revenue Scotland is to be known as Teachd-a-steach Alba.

(3) Schedule 1 makes further provision about the membership, procedures and staffing of Revenue Scotland.

Commencement Information

I2 S. 2 in force at 1.1.2015 by S.S.I. 2014/370, art. 2, sch.

Functions of Revenue Scotland S

3 Functions of Revenue Scotland S

(1) Revenue Scotland's general function is the collection and management of the devolved taxes.

(2) Revenue Scotland has the following particular functions—

(a) providing information, advice and assistance to the Scottish Ministers relating to tax,

(b) providing information and assistance to taxpayers, their agents and other persons relating to the devolved taxes,

(c) efficiently resolving disputes relating to the devolved taxes (including by mediation),

(d) protecting the revenue against tax fraud and tax avoidance.

(3) “Devolved taxes” has the meaning given by section 80A(4) of the Scotland Act 1998 (c.46).

Commencement Information

I3 S. 3 in force at 1.1.2015 by S.S.I. 2014/370, art. 2, sch.

Delegation of Revenue Scotland functions S

4 Delegation of functions by Revenue Scotland S

(1) Revenue Scotland may delegate—

(a) any of its functions relating to land and buildings transaction tax to the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland (“the Keeper”),

(b) any of its functions relating to Scottish landfill tax to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (“SEPA”).

(2) Revenue Scotland may give directions to the Keeper or to SEPA as to how a delegated function is to be exercised and the Keeper and SEPA must comply with any such direction.

(3) Delegations or directions under this section may be varied or revoked at any time.

(4) Revenue Scotland must publish information about—

(a) delegations under this section, and

(b) directions given under this section.

(5) Revenue Scotland must lay before the Scottish Parliament a copy of information published under subsection (4).

(6) Subsections (4) and (5) do not apply to the extent that Revenue Scotland considers that publication of the information would prejudice the effective exercise of its functions.

(7) Delegation of a function under this section does not affect—

(a) Revenue Scotland's ability to exercise that function,

(b) Revenue Scotland's responsibility for that function.

(8) Revenue Scotland may reimburse the Keeper or SEPA for any expenditure incurred which is attributable to the exercise by the Keeper or SEPA of functions delegated under this section.

Commencement Information

I4 S. 4 in force at 1.1.2015 by S.S.I. 2014/370, art. 2, sch.

Money S

5 Payments into the Scottish Consolidated Fund S

(1) Revenue Scotland must pay money received in the exercise of its functions into the Scottish Consolidated Fund.

(2) But Revenue Scotland may do so after deduction of payments in connection with repayments, including payments of interest on—

(a) repayments, or

(b) payments treated as repayments.

Commencement Information

I5 S. 5 in force at 1.1.2015 by S.S.I. 2014/370, art. 2, sch.

6 Rewards S

Revenue Scotland may pay a reward to a person in return for a service which relates to a function of Revenue Scotland.

Commencement Information

I6 S. 6 in force at 1.1.2015 by S.S.I. 2014/370, art. 2, sch.

Independence of Revenue Scotland S

7 Independence of Revenue Scotland S

(1) The Scottish Ministers must not—

(a) give directions relating to, or

(b) otherwise seek to control,

the exercise by Revenue Scotland of its functions.

(2) This section is subject to any contrary provision made by or under this Act or any other enactment.

Commencement Information

I7 S. 7 in force at 1.1.2015 by S.S.I. 2014/370, art. 2, sch.

Ministerial guidance S

8 Ministerial guidance S

(1) The Scottish Ministers may give guidance to Revenue Scotland about the exercise of its functions.

(2) Revenue Scotland must have regard to any guidance given by Ministers.

(3) Ministers must publish any guidance given to Revenue Scotland under this section as they consider appropriate.

(4) The Scottish Ministers must lay before the Scottish Parliament a copy of guidance published under subsection (3).

(5) Subsections (3) and (4) do not apply to the extent that Ministers consider that publication of the guidance would prejudice the effective exercise by Revenue Scotland of its functions.

Commencement Information

I8 S. 8 in force at 1.1.2015 by S.S.I. 2014/370, art. 2, sch.

Provision of information, advice or assistance to Ministers S

9 Provision of information, advice or assistance to the Scottish Ministers S

(1) Revenue Scotland must provide the Scottish Ministers with such information, advice or assistance relating to its functions as Ministers may from time to time require.

(2) The information, advice or assistance must be provided in such form as Ministers determine.

Commencement Information

I9 S. 9 in force at 1.1.2015 by S.S.I. 2014/370, art. 2, sch.

Charter of standards and values S

10 Charter of standards and values S

(1) Revenue Scotland must prepare a Charter.

(2) The Charter must include—

(a) standards of behaviour and values which Revenue Scotland is expected to adhere to when dealing with taxpayers, their agents and other persons in the exercise of its functions, and

(b) standards of behaviour and values which Revenue Scotland expects taxpayers, their agents and other persons to adhere to when dealing with Revenue Scotland.

(3) Revenue Scotland must—

(a) publish the Charter as it considers appropriate,

(b) review the Charter from time to time, and

(c) revise the Charter when it considers it appropriate to do so.

(4) Before publishing or revising the Charter, Revenue Scotland must consult such persons as it considers appropriate.

(5) Revenue Scotland must lay the first Charter and any revised Charter before the Scottish Parliament.

Commencement Information

I10 S. 10 in force at 1.1.2015 by S.S.I. 2014/370, art. 2, sch.

Corporate plan S

11 Corporate plan S

(1) Revenue Scotland must, before the beginning of each planning period, prepare a corporate plan and submit it for approval by the Scottish Ministers.

(2) The corporate plan must set out—

(a) Revenue Scotland's main objectives for the planning period,

(b) the outcomes by reference to which the achievement of the main objectives may be measured, and

(c) the activities which Revenue Scotland expects to undertake during the planning period.

(3) Ministers may approve the corporate plan subject to such modifications as may be agreed between them and Revenue Scotland.

(4) If Ministers approve a corporate plan, Revenue Scotland must—

(a) publish the plan as Revenue Scotland considers appropriate, and

(b) lay a copy of the plan before the Scottish Parliament.

(5) During the planning period to which a corporate plan relates, Revenue Scotland may review the plan and submit a revised corporate plan to Ministers for approval.

(6) Subsections (2) to (4) apply to a revised corporate plan as they apply to a corporate plan.

(7) “Planning period” means—

(a) a first period specified by the Scottish Ministers by order, and

(b) each subsequent period of 3 years.

(8) The Scottish Ministers may by order substitute for the period for the time being specified in subsection (7)(b) such other period as they consider appropriate.

Commencement Information

I11 S. 11 in force at 7.11.2014 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2014/278, art. 2, sch.

I12 S. 11 in force at 1.1.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.S.I. 2014/370, art. 2, sch.

Annual report S

12 Annual report S

(1) As soon as possible after the end of each financial year, Revenue Scotland must—

(a) prepare and publish a report on the exercise of its functions during that year,

(b) send a copy of the report to the Scottish Ministers, and

(c) lay a copy of the report before the Scottish Parliament.

(2) “Financial year” means—

(a) the period beginning with the establishment of Revenue Scotland and ending on 31 March in the following year, and

(b) each subsequent period of a year ending on 31 March.

(3) Revenue Scotland may publish such other reports and information on matters relevant to its functions as it considers appropriate.

Commencement Information

I13 S. 12 in force at 1.1.2015 by S.S.I. 2014/370, art. 2, sch.

PART 3 S Information

Use of information by Revenue Scotland etc. S

13 Use of information by Revenue Scotland and other persons S

(1) A relevant person may use information held by the person in connection with a function in connection with any other function.

(2) In this section and section 14 “relevant person” means any or all of the following persons—

(a) Revenue Scotland,

(b) a member of Revenue Scotland,

(c) a committee of Revenue Scotland (and a member of any committee),

(d) the chief executive or any other member of staff of Revenue Scotland,

(e) a person to whom Revenue Scotland has delegated any of its functions,

(f) a member of staff of a person mentioned in paragraph (e).

(3) In this section and section 14 references to a “function” are references to—

(a) a function of any of the persons mentioned in subsection (2)(a) to (d),

(b) in the case of a person mentioned in subsection (2)(e)—

(i) a function which Revenue Scotland has delegated to the person, and

(ii) a function under any other enactment,

(c) in the case of a member of staff of a person mentioned in subsection (2)(e)—

(i) a function which Revenue Scotland has delegated to the person and which the member of staff is exercising, and

(ii) a function of the person under any other enactment which the member of staff is exercising.

Commencement Information

I14 S. 13 in force at 1.1.2015 by S.S.I. 2014/370, art. 2, sch.

Protected taxpayer information S

14 Protected taxpayer information S

(1) “Protected taxpayer information” means information relating to a person—

(a) which is held by a relevant person in connection with a function of Revenue Scotland, and

(b) by which a person may be identified.

(2) Subsection (1)(a) does not apply to information about internal administrative arrangements of Revenue Scotland or of a person to whom Revenue Scotland has delegated any of its functions (whether the information relates to members or staff of Revenue Scotland or of such a person or to other persons).

(3) For the purposes of subsection (1)(b) a person may be identified by information if—

(a) the person's identity is specified in the information, or

(b) the person's identity can be deduced from the information (whether from that information on its own or from that information taken together with other information disclosed by or on behalf of Revenue Scotland).

Commencement Information

I15 S. 14 in force at 1.1.2015 by S.S.I. 2014/370, art. 2, sch.

15 Confidentiality of protected taxpayer information S

(1) A relevant official must not disclose protected taxpayer information unless the disclosure is permitted by subsection (3).

(2) In this section and section 16 “relevant official” means any individual who is or was—

(a) a member of Revenue Scotland,

(b) a member of a committee of Revenue Scotland,

(c) the chief executive or any other member of staff of Revenue Scotland,

(d) exercising functions on behalf of Revenue Scotland.

(3) A disclosure is permitted by this subsection if—

(a) it is made with the consent of each person to whom the information relates,

(b) it is made in accordance with any provision made by or under this Act or any other enactment requiring or permitting the disclosure,

(c) it is made for the purposes of obtaining services in connection with a function of Revenue Scotland,

(d) it is made for the purposes of civil proceedings,

(e) it is made for the purposes of a criminal investigation or criminal proceedings or for the purposes of the prevention or detection of crime,

(f) it is made in pursuance of an order of a court or tribunal,

(g) it is made to a person exercising functions on behalf of Revenue Scotland (other than a person to whom Revenue Scotland has delegated any of its functions) for the purposes of those functions.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 15 modified (1.1.2015) by The Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Act 2014 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3294), arts. 1(2), 4(2)

C2 S. 15 modified (31.12.2018) by The Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Act 2014 (Ancillary Provision) Order 2018 (S.S.I. 2018/346), arts. 1, 2

Commencement Information

I16 S. 15 in force at 1.1.2015 by S.S.I. 2014/370, art. 2, sch.

16 Protected taxpayer information: declaration of confidentiality S

(1) Each relevant official must make a declaration acknowledging the obligation of confidentiality under section 15.

(2) A declaration must be made—

(a) as soon as reasonably practicable following the person's appointment, and

(b) in such form and manner as Revenue Scotland may determine.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(a)—

(a) the renewal of a fixed term appointment is not to be treated as an appointment,

(b) a person mentioned in section 15(2)(d) is to be treated as appointed when the person begins to exercise functions on behalf of Revenue Scotland.

Commencement Information

I17 S. 16 in force at 1.1.2015 by S.S.I. 2014/370, art. 2, sch.

Other limits on use and disclosure of information S

17 Disclosure of information prohibited or restricted by statute or agreement S

Sections 13(1) and 15(3) are subject to any provision which prohibits or restricts the use of information and which is contained in—

(a) this Act,

(b) any other enactment,

(c) an international or other agreement to which the United Kingdom, Her Majesty's Government or the Scottish Ministers is or are party.

Commencement Information

I18 S. 17 in force at 1.1.2015 by S.S.I. 2014/370, art. 2, sch.

18 Protected taxpayer information: use by the Keeper S

(1) This section applies to information that—

(a) is held by the Keeper in connection with a function which Revenue Scotland has delegated to the Keeper, and

(b) is protected taxpayer information.

(2) The Keeper may not use that information in connection with the Keeper's functions under section 108 of the Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 5).

Commencement Information

I19 S. 18 in force at 1.1.2015 by S.S.I. 2014/370, art. 2, sch.

Offence of wrongful disclosure S

19 Wrongful disclosure of protected taxpayer information S

(1) A person commits an offence if the person discloses protected taxpayer information contrary to section 15(1).

(2) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) to prove that the person reasonably believed—

(a) that the disclosure was lawful under section 15, or

(b) that the information had already lawfully been made available to the public.

(3) A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (or both),

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or a fine (or both).

(4) This section does not affect the pursuit of any remedy or the taking of any action in relation to a contravention of section 15(1).

Commencement Information

I20 S. 19 in force at 1.1.2015 by S.S.I. 2014/370, art. 2, sch.

F1 PART 4 S The Scottish Tax Tribunals

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F1 Pt. 4 repealed (24.4.2017) by The Tribunals (Scotland) Act 2014 (Ancillary Provisions) Regulations 2017 (S.S.I. 2017/108), regs. 1, 2(1)

PART 5 S The general anti-avoidance rule

Introductory S

62 The general anti-avoidance rule: introductory S

(1) This Part has effect for the purpose of counteracting tax advantages arising from tax avoidance arrangements that are artificial.

(2) The rules in this Part are collectively to be known as “the general anti-avoidance rule”.

Commencement Information

I21 S. 62 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Artificial tax avoidance arrangements S

63 Tax avoidance arrangements S

(1) An arrangement (or series of arrangements) is a tax avoidance arrangement if, having regard to all the circumstances, it would be reasonable to conclude that obtaining a tax advantage is the main purpose, or one of the main purposes, of the arrangement.

(2) An “arrangement”—

(a) includes any transaction, scheme, action, operation, agreement, grant, understanding, promise, undertaking or event (whether legally enforceable or not), and

(b) may comprise one or more stages or parts.

Commencement Information

I22 S. 63 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

64 Meaning of “artificial” S

(1) A tax avoidance arrangement is artificial if condition A or B is met.

(2) Condition A is met if the entering into or carrying out of the arrangement is not a reasonable course of action in relation to the tax provisions in question having regard to all the circumstances, including—

(a) whether the substantive results of the arrangement are consistent with—

(i) any principles on which those provisions are based (whether express or implied), and

(ii) the policy objectives of those provisions,

(b) whether the arrangement is intended to exploit any shortcomings in those provisions.

(3) Condition B is met if the arrangement lacks economic or commercial substance.

(4) Each of the following is an example of something which might indicate that a tax avoidance arrangement lacks economic or commercial substance—

(a) whether the arrangement is carried out by a person in a manner which would not normally be employed in reasonable business conduct,

(b) whether the legal characterisation of the steps in the arrangement is inconsistent with the legal substance of the arrangement as a whole,

(c) whether the arrangement includes elements which have the effect of offsetting or cancelling each other,

(d) whether transactions are circular in nature,

(e) whether the arrangement results in a tax advantage that is not reflected in the business risks undertaken by the taxpayer.

(5) The fact that—

(a) a tax avoidance arrangement accords with established practice, and

(b) Revenue Scotland had, at the time the arrangement was entered into, indicated its acceptance of that practice,

is an example of something that might indicate that the arrangement is not artificial.

(6) The examples given in subsections (4) and (5) are not exhaustive.

(7) Where a tax avoidance arrangement forms part of any other arrangements, regard must also be had to those other arrangements.

Commencement Information

I23 S. 64 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

65 Meaning of “tax advantage” S

(1) A “tax advantage” includes in particular—

(a) relief or increased relief from tax,

(b) repayment or increased repayment of tax,

(c) avoidance or reduction of a charge to tax or an assessment to tax,

(d) avoidance of a possible assessment to tax, and

(e) deferral of a payment of tax or advancement of a repayment of tax.

(2) In determining whether a tax avoidance arrangement has resulted in a tax advantage, regard may be had to the amount of tax that would have been payable in the absence of the arrangement.

Commencement Information

I24 S. 65 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Counteracting tax advantages S

66 Counteracting tax advantages S

(1) Revenue Scotland may make such adjustments as it considers just and reasonable to counteract the tax advantages that would (ignoring this Part) arise from a tax avoidance arrangement that is artificial.

(2) The adjustments may be made in respect of the tax in question or any other devolved tax.

(3) The adjustments that may be made include (but are not restricted to) those that impose or increase a liability to tax in any case where (ignoring this Part) there would be no liability or a smaller liability, and tax is to be charged in accordance with any such adjustment.

(4) Any adjustments required to be made under this section (whether by Revenue Scotland or the person to whom the tax advantage would arise) may be made by—

(a) the amendment of a return (see sections 83, 87 and 93),

(b) the correction of a return (see section 84),

(c) the making of a Revenue Scotland determination (see section 95),

(d) the making of a tax return (see section 97),

(e) the making of a Revenue Scotland assessment (see section 100),

(f) the entering into of a contract settlement (see section 118), or

(g) such other method as Revenue Scotland considers appropriate.

(5) No steps may be taken by Revenue Scotland unless the procedural requirements of sections 68 and 69 have been complied with.

(6) The power to make adjustments by virtue of this section is subject to any time limit imposed by or under Part 6, any other provision of this Act or any other enactment.

Commencement Information

I25 S. 66 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

67 Proceedings in connection with the general anti-avoidance rule S

(1) In proceedings before a court or tribunal in connection with the general anti-avoidance rule, Revenue Scotland must show—

(a) that there is a tax avoidance arrangement that is artificial, and

(b) that the adjustments made to counteract the tax advantages arising from the tax avoidance arrangement are just and reasonable.

(2) In determining any issue in connection with the general anti-avoidance rule, a court or tribunal must take into account any guidance published by Revenue Scotland about the general anti-avoidance rule (at the time the tax avoidance arrangement was entered into).

(3) In determining any issue in connection with the general anti-avoidance rule, a court or tribunal may take into account—

(a) guidance, statements or other material (whether by Revenue Scotland or anyone else) that was in the public domain at the time the tax avoidance arrangement was entered into, and

(b) evidence of established practice at that time.

Commencement Information

I26 S. 67 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

68 Notice to taxpayer of proposed counteraction of tax advantage S

(1) If a designated officer considers—

(a) that a tax advantage has arisen to a person (“the taxpayer”) from a tax avoidance arrangement that is artificial, and

(b) that the advantage should be counteracted under section 66,

the officer must give the taxpayer a notice to that effect.

(2) The notice must—

(a) specify the tax avoidance arrangement and the tax advantage,

(b) explain why the officer considers that a tax advantage has arisen to the taxpayer from a tax avoidance arrangement that is artificial,

(c) set out the counteraction that the officer considers should be taken, and

(d) inform the taxpayer of the period under subsection (4) for making representations.

(3) The notice may set out the steps that the taxpayer may take to avoid the proposed counteraction.

(4) If a notice is given to a taxpayer under subsection (1), the taxpayer has 45 days beginning with the day on which the notice is given to send representations to the designated officer in response to the notice.

(5) The designated officer may, on a request made by the taxpayer, extend the period during which representations may be made.

(6) The designated officer must take into account any representations made by the taxpayer.

Commencement Information

I27 S. 68 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

69 Final notice to taxpayer of counteraction of tax advantage S

(1) The designated officer must, after the expiry of the period in which representations may be made under section 68, give the taxpayer a notice setting out whether the tax advantage arising from the tax avoidance arrangement is to be counteracted under the general anti-avoidance rule.

(2) If the notice states that a tax advantage is to be counteracted, the notice must also set out—

(a) the adjustments required to give effect to the counteraction, and

(b) if relevant, any steps that the taxpayer is required to take to give effect to it and the period within which those steps must be taken.

Commencement Information

I28 S. 69 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

70 Counteraction of tax advantages: payment of tax charged etc. S

(1) This section applies where—

(a) a designated officer gives a taxpayer a notice under section 69, and

(b) the notice sets out the adjustments required to give effect to the counteraction of a tax advantage.

(2) The taxpayer must pay any amount, or additional amount, of tax chargeable or penalty or interest imposed as a result of the adjustments before the end of the period of 30 days beginning with the date on which the notice is issued.

(3) Subsection (2) applies in place of any other provision of this Act or any other enactment which specifies a time limit for the payment of tax, penalty or interest.

Commencement Information

I29 S. 70 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

71 Assumption of tax advantage S

(1) A designated officer may give a notice under section 68 or 69 where the officer considers that a tax advantage might have arisen to the taxpayer.

(2) Accordingly, any notice given by a designated officer under section 68 or 69 may be expressed to be given on the assumption that the tax advantage does arise (without agreeing that it does).

Commencement Information

I30 S. 71 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

General anti-avoidance rule: commencement and transitional provision S

72 General anti-avoidance rule: commencement and transitional provision S

(1) The general anti-avoidance rule has effect in relation to any tax avoidance arrangement entered into on or after the date on which this Part comes into force.

(2) Where the tax avoidance arrangement forms part of any other arrangements entered into before that day, those other arrangements are to be ignored for the purposes of section 64(7), subject to subsection (3).

(3) Account is to be taken of those other arrangements if, as a result, the tax avoidance arrangement would not be artificial.

Commencement Information

I31 S. 72 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

PART 6 S Tax returns, enquiries and assessments

CHAPTER 1 S Overview

73 Overview S

This Part makes provision about the assessment of devolved taxes including—

(a) taxpayers' duties in relation to tax records,

(b) the timing of tax returns,

(c) amendment and correction of tax returns by taxpayers and Revenue Scotland,

(d) enquiries by Revenue Scotland into taxpayers' self-assessments,

(e) determination by Revenue Scotland of tax due where no return is made,

(f) assessment by Revenue Scotland of tax due outwith enquiries where tax losses or other situations are brought about by taxpayers carelessly or deliberately, and

(g) claims for relief from double assessment and for repayment of tax.

Commencement Information

I32 S. 73 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

CHAPTER 2 S Taxpayer duties to keep and preserve records

Duties to keep records S

74 Duty to keep and preserve records S

(1) A person who is required to make a tax return in relation to a devolved tax must—

(a) keep any records that may be needed to enable the person to make a correct and complete return, and

(b) preserve those records in accordance with this section.

(2) The records mentioned in subsection (1) must be preserved until the end of the later of the relevant day and the date on which—

(a) an enquiry into the return is completed, or

(b) if there is no enquiry, a designated officer no longer has power to enquire into the return.

(3) A person who is liable to be registered for tax (a “registrable person”) must—

(a) keep any records that may be needed to enable the registrable person to comply with a requirement to notify Revenue Scotland of the person's intention—

(i) to carry out taxable activities, or

(ii) to cease to carry out taxable activities,

(b) make records relating to material at a landfill site or part of a landfill site, and

(c) preserve those records in accordance with this section.

(4) The records mentioned in subsection (3) must be preserved until the end of the relevant day.

(5) “The relevant day” in relation to records mentioned in subsection (1) means—

(a) the fifth anniversary of the day on which the return is made or, if the return is amended, the day notice of the amendment is given under section 83, or

(b) any earlier day that may be specified by Revenue Scotland.

(6) The “relevant day” in relation to records mentioned in subsection (3) means—

(a) in the case of records mentioned in subsection (3)(a), the fifth anniversary of the day on which the notice was given,

(b) in the case of records mentioned in subsection (3)(b), the fifth anniversary of the day on which the record was made, or

(c) in either case, any earlier day that may be specified by Revenue Scotland.

(7) Different days may be specified for different purposes under subsection (5)(b) or (6)(c).

(8) The records required to be kept and preserved under subsection (1) include—

(a) details of any relevant transaction (including relevant instruments relating to any transaction, in particular, any contract or conveyance, and any supporting maps, plans or similar documents),

(b) details of any relevant taxable activity,

(c) records of relevant payments, receipts and financial arrangements.

(9) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations—

(a) provide that the records required to be kept and preserved under this section do, or do not, include records specified in the regulations, and

(b) specify supporting documents that are required to be kept under this section.

(10) Regulations under this section may make provision by reference to things specified in a notice published by Revenue Scotland in accordance with the regulations (and not withdrawn by a subsequent notice).

(11) “Supporting documents” includes accounts, books, deeds, contracts, vouchers and receipts.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C3 S. 74(2) applied (1.4.2015) by The Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Act (Record Keeping) Regulations 2015 (S.S.I. 2015/130), regs. 1, 4(2)

C4 S. 74(5) applied (with modifications) (1.4.2015) by The Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Act (Record Keeping) Regulations 2015 (S.S.I. 2015/130), regs. 1, 4(2), (3)

C5 S. 74(7) applied (1.4.2015) by The Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Act (Record Keeping) Regulations 2015 (S.S.I. 2015/130), regs. 1, 4(2)

C6 S. 74(8) applied (1.4.2015) by The Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Act (Record Keeping) Regulations 2015 (S.S.I. 2015/130), regs. 1, 4(2)

Commencement Information

I33 S. 74 in force at 7.11.2014 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2014/278, art. 2, sch.

I34 S. 74 in force at 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

75 Preservation of information etc. S

The duty under section 74 to preserve records may be satisfied—

(a) by preserving them in any form and by any means, or

(b) by preserving the information contained in them in any form and by any means, subject to any conditions or exceptions prescribed by the Scottish Ministers by regulations.

Commencement Information

I35 S. 75 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Penalties for failing to keep and preserve records S

76 Penalty for failure to keep and preserve records S

(1) A person (“P”) who fails to comply with section 74 in relation to a devolved tax is liable to a penalty not exceeding £3,000, subject to the following exception.

(2) No penalty is incurred if Revenue Scotland is satisfied that any facts that it reasonably requires to be proved, and that would have been proved by the records, are proved by other documentary evidence provided to Revenue Scotland.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C7 Ss. 76-79 applied (1.4.2015) by The Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Act (Record Keeping) Regulations 2015 (S.S.I. 2015/130), regs. 1, 4(2)

Commencement Information

I36 S. 76 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

77 Reasonable excuse for failure to keep and preserve records S

(1) If P satisfies Revenue Scotland or (on appeal) the tribunal that there is a reasonable excuse for a failure to comply with section 74, liability to a penalty under section 76 does not arise in relation to that failure.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)—

(a) an insufficiency of funds is not a reasonable excuse unless attributable to events outside P's control,

(b) where P relies on any other person to do anything, that is not a reasonable excuse unless P took reasonable care to avoid the failure, and

(c) where P had a reasonable excuse for the failure but the excuse has ceased, P is to be treated as having continued to have the excuse if the failure is remedied without unreasonable delay after the excuse ceased.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C7 Ss. 76-79 applied (1.4.2015) by The Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Act (Record Keeping) Regulations 2015 (S.S.I. 2015/130), regs. 1, 4(2)

Commencement Information

I37 S. 77 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

78 Assessment of penalties under section 76 S

(1) Where a person becomes liable to a penalty under section 76, Revenue Scotland must—

(a) assess the penalty, and

(b) notify the person.

(2) An assessment of a penalty under section 76 must be made within the period of 12 months beginning with the date on which the person became liable to the penalty.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C7 Ss. 76-79 applied (1.4.2015) by The Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Act (Record Keeping) Regulations 2015 (S.S.I. 2015/130), regs. 1, 4(2)

Commencement Information

I38 S. 78 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

79 Enforcement of penalties under section 76 S

(1) A penalty under section 76 must be paid—

(a) before the end of the period of 30 days beginning with the date on which the notification under section 78 was issued,

(b) if a notice of review against the penalty is given, before the end of the period of 30 days beginning with the date on which the review is concluded,

(c) if, following review, mediation is entered into, before the end of the period of 30 days beginning with the date either Revenue Scotland or the person who gave the notice of review gave notice of withdrawal from mediation, or

(d) if a notice of an appeal against the penalty is given, before the end of the period of 30 days beginning with the date on which the appeal is determined or withdrawn.

(2) A penalty under section 76 is to be treated for enforcement purposes as an assessment to tax.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C7 Ss. 76-79 applied (1.4.2015) by The Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Act (Record Keeping) Regulations 2015 (S.S.I. 2015/130), regs. 1, 4(2)

Commencement Information

I39 S. 79 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

80 Power to change penalty provisions in sections 76 to 79 S

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision (or further provision) about penalties under this Chapter.

(2) Provision under subsection (1) includes provision—

(a) about the circumstances in which a penalty is payable,

(b) about the amounts of penalties,

(c) about the procedure for issuing penalties,

(d) about appealing penalties,

(e) about enforcing penalties.

(3) Regulations under subsection (1) may not create criminal offences.

(4) Regulations under subsection (1) may modify any enactment (including this Act).

(5) Regulations under subsection (1) do not apply to a failure which began before the date on which the regulations come into force.

Commencement Information

I40 S. 80 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Duty to keep and preserve records: further provision S

81 Further provision: land and buildings transaction tax S

(1) This section applies in relation to land and buildings transaction tax.

(2) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision for the keeping and preservation of records in relation to land transactions that are not notifiable.

(3) Regulations under this section may require the buyer in a land transaction which is not notifiable to—

(a) keep such records as may be needed to enable the buyer to demonstrate that the transaction is not notifiable, and

(b) preserve those records in accordance with the regulations.

(4) The regulations may apply sections 74 to 79 (with or without modifications) to a buyer mentioned in subsection (3) as those sections apply to a person mentioned in section 74(1).

(5) Expressions used in this section and in the LBTT(S) Act 2013 have the meanings given in that Act.

Commencement Information

I41 S. 81 in force at 7.11.2014 by S.S.I. 2014/278, art. 2, sch.

CHAPTER 3 S Tax returns

Filing dates S

82 Meaning of “filing date” S

In this Act “the filing date” in relation to a tax return is the date by which that return requires to be made by or under any enactment.

Commencement Information

I42 S. 82 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Amendment and correction of returns S

83 Amendment of return by taxpayer S

(1) A person (the “taxpayer”) who has made a tax return may amend the return by notice to Revenue Scotland.

(2) An amendment under this section must be made by the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the relevant date (the “amendment period”).

(3) The relevant date is—

(a) the filing date, or

(b) such other date as the Scottish Ministers may by order prescribe.

(4) This section is subject to sections 87(3) and 93(4).

Commencement Information

I43 S. 83 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

84 Correction of return by Revenue Scotland S

(1) Revenue Scotland may correct any obvious error or omission in a tax return.

(2) A correction under this section—

(a) is made by notice to the taxpayer, and

(b) is regarded as effecting an amendment of the return.

(3) The reference in subsection (1) to an error includes, for instance, an arithmetical mistake or an error of principle.

(4) A correction under this section must be made by the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the day on which the return was made.

(5) A correction under this section has no effect if the taxpayer rejects it by—

(a) during the amendment period, amending the return so as to reject the correction, or

(b) after that period, giving a notice rejecting the correction.

(6) A notice under subsection (5)(b) must be given to Revenue Scotland before the end of the period of 3 months beginning with the date of issue of the notice of correction.

Commencement Information

I44 S. 84 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

CHAPTER 4 S Revenue Scotland enquiries

Notice and scope of enquiry S

85 Notice of enquiry S

(1) A designated officer may enquire into a tax return if subsection (2) has been complied with.

(2) Notice of the intention to make an enquiry must be given—

(a) to the person by whom or on whose behalf the return was made (“the relevant person”),

(b) before the end of the period of 3 years after the relevant date.

(3) The relevant date is—

(a) the filing date, if the return was made on or before that date, or

(b) the date on which the return was made, if the return was made after the filing date.

(4) A return that has been the subject of one notice under this section may not be the subject of another, except a notice given in consequence of an amendment of the return under section 83.

(5) A notice under this section is referred to as a “notice of enquiry”.

Commencement Information

I45 S. 85 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

86 Scope of enquiry S

(1) An enquiry extends to anything contained in the tax return, or required to be contained in the return, that relates—

(a) to the question whether the relevant person is chargeable to the devolved tax to which the return relates, or

(b) to the amount of tax chargeable on the relevant person.

(2) Subsection (3) applies if the notice of enquiry is given as a result of the amendment of a return under section 83 after an enquiry into the return has been completed.

(3) The enquiry is limited to—

(a) matters to which the amendment relates, and

(b) matters affected by the amendment.

Commencement Information

I46 S. 86 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Amendment of return during enquiry S

87 Amendment of self-assessment during enquiry to prevent loss of tax S

(1) If, at a time when an enquiry is in progress into a tax return, a designated officer forms the opinion—

(a) that the amount stated in the self-assessment contained in the return as the amount of tax payable is insufficient, and

(b) that unless the assessment is immediately amended there is likely to be a loss of tax to the Crown,

the officer may by notice to the relevant person amend the assessment to make good the deficiency.

(2) If the enquiry is one that is limited by section 86(2) and (3) to matters arising from an amendment of the return, subsection (1) applies only so far as the deficiency is attributable to the amendment.

(3) Where a designated officer gives notice under subsection (1), section 83 does not apply.

(4) The taxpayer must pay any amount, or additional amount, of tax chargeable as a result of an amendment under this section immediately on receipt of notice of the amendment.

(5) For the purposes of this section and section 88 the period during which an enquiry is in progress is the whole of the period—

(a) beginning with the day on which the notice of enquiry is given, and

(b) ending with the day on which the enquiry is completed.

Commencement Information

I47 S. 87 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Referral during enquiry S

88 Referral of questions to appropriate tribunal during enquiry S

(1) At any time when an enquiry is in progress into a tax return any question arising in connection with the subject-matter of the return may be referred to the appropriate tribunal for determination.

(2) Notice of the referral must be given to the appropriate tribunal jointly by the relevant person and a designated officer.

(3) More than one notice of referral may be given under this section in relation to an enquiry.

Commencement Information

I48 S. 88 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

89 Withdrawal of notice of referral S

A designated officer or the relevant person may withdraw a notice of referral under section 88.

Commencement Information

I49 S. 89 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

90 Effect of referral on enquiry S

(1) While proceedings on a referral under section 88 are in progress in relation to an enquiry—

(a) no closure notice may be given in relation to the enquiry, and

(b) no application may be made for a direction to give a closure notice.

(2) Proceedings on a referral are “in progress” where—

(a) notice of referral has been given and has not been withdrawn, and

(b) the question referred has not been finally determined.

(3) A question referred has been “finally determined” when—

(a) it has been determined by the appropriate tribunal, and

(b) there is no further possibility of the determination being varied or set aside (disregarding any power to grant permission to appeal out of time).

Commencement Information

I50 S. 90 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

91 Effect of determination S

(1) A determination under section 88 is binding on the parties to the referral in the same way, and to the same extent, as a decision on a preliminary plea in an appeal.

(2) The designated officer conducting the enquiry must take the determination into account—

(a) in reaching conclusions on the enquiry, and

(b) in the formulation of any amendments of the tax return that may be required to give effect to those conclusions.

(3) The question determined may not be reopened on an appeal, except to the extent that it could be reopened if it had been determined as a preliminary plea in that appeal.

Commencement Information

I51 S. 91 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

92 “Appropriate tribunal” S

(1) Where the question to be referred under section 88 is of the market value of any land, the appropriate tribunal is the Lands Tribunal for Scotland.

(2) In any other case a referral under section 88 is to be made to—

(a) the First-tier Tribunal,

(b) where determined by or under tribunal rules, the Upper Tribunal, or

(c) any other court or tribunal specified by the Scottish Ministers by order.

(3) References to the “appropriate tribunal” in sections 88 and 90 are to be read accordingly.

Commencement Information

I52 S. 92 in force at 7.11.2014 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2014/278, art. 2, sch.

I53 S. 92 in force at 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Completion of enquiry S

93 Completion of enquiry S

(1) An enquiry under section 85 is completed—

(a) when a designated officer informs the relevant person by a notice (a “closure notice”) that the enquiry is complete and states the conclusions reached in the enquiry, or

(b) no closure notice having been given, 3 years after the relevant date.

(2) A closure notice must be given no later than 3 years after the relevant date.

(3) A closure notice must either—

(a) state that in the officer's opinion no amendment of the tax return is required, or

(b) make the amendments of the return required to give effect to the officer's conclusions.

(4) Where a closure notice is given which makes amendments of a return as mentioned in subsection (3)(b), section 83 does not apply.

(5) A closure notice takes effect when it is issued.

(6) The taxpayer must pay any amount, or additional amount, of tax chargeable as a result of an amendment made by a closure notice before the end of the period of 30 days beginning with the day on which the notice is given.

(7) In subsections (1) and (2) “relevant date” has the same meaning as in section 85.

Commencement Information

I54 S. 93 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

94 Direction to complete enquiry S

(1) The relevant person may apply to the tribunal for a direction that a closure notice is to be given within a specified period.

(2) The tribunal hearing the application must give a direction unless satisfied that Revenue Scotland has reasonable grounds for not giving a closure notice within that period.

(3) In this paragraph “the tribunal” means—

(a) the First-tier Tribunal, or

(b) where determined by or under tribunal rules, the Upper Tribunal.

Commencement Information

I55 S. 94 in force at 7.11.2014 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2014/278, art. 2, sch.

I56 S. 94 in force at 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

CHAPTER 5 S Revenue Scotland determinations

95 Determination of tax chargeable if no return made S

(1) This section applies where—

(a) Revenue Scotland has reason to believe that a person (“P”) is chargeable to a devolved tax,

(b) P has not made a tax return in relation to that liability, and

(c) the relevant filing date has passed.

(2) “The relevant filing date” means the date by which Revenue Scotland believes a return was required to be made.

(3) Revenue Scotland may make a determination (a “Revenue Scotland determination”) to the best of its information and belief of the amount of tax to which P is chargeable.

(4) Notice of the determination must be given to P and must state the date on which it is issued.

(5) P must pay the tax chargeable as a result of the determination immediately on receipt of notice of the determination.

(6) No Revenue Scotland determination may be made more than 5 years after the relevant date.

(7) The relevant date is—

(a) the relevant filing date, or

(b) such other date as the Scottish Ministers may by order prescribe.

Commencement Information

I57 S. 95 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

96 Determination to have effect as a self-assessment S

(1) A Revenue Scotland determination has effect for enforcement purposes as if it were a self-assessment made by P.

(2) In subsection (1) “for enforcement purposes” means for the purposes of Part 10.

(3) Nothing in this section affects any liability of a person to a penalty for failure to make a tax return.

Commencement Information

I58 S. 96 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

97 Determination superseded by actual self-assessment S

(1) If, after a Revenue Scotland determination has been made, P makes a tax return with respect to the tax in question, the self-assessment included in that return supersedes the determination.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a return made—

(a) more than 5 years after the power to make the determination first became exercisable, or

(b) more than 3 months after the date of the determination,

whichever is the later.

(3) Where—

(a) proceedings have been begun for the recovery of any tax charged by a Revenue Scotland determination, and

(b) before the proceedings are concluded the determination is superseded by a self-assessment,

the proceedings may be continued as if they were proceedings for the recovery of so much of the tax charged by the self-assessment as is due and payable and has not yet been paid.

Commencement Information

I59 S. 97 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

CHAPTER 6 S Revenue Scotland assessments

Assessment of loss of tax or of excessive repayment S

98 Assessment where loss of tax S

(1) This section applies if a designated officer comes to the view honestly and reasonably that—

(a) an amount of devolved tax that ought to have been assessed as tax chargeable on a person has not been assessed,

(b) an assessment of the tax chargeable on a person is or has become insufficient, or

(c) relief has been claimed or given that is or has become excessive.

(2) The designated officer may make an assessment of the amount, or additional amount, that ought in the officer's opinion to be charged in order to make good to the Crown the loss of tax.

Commencement Information

I60 S. 98 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

99 Assessment to recover excessive repayment of tax S

(1) If an amount of tax has been, but ought not to have been, repaid to a person that amount may be assessed and recovered as if it were unpaid tax.

(2) If the repayment was made with interest, the amount assessed and recovered may include the amount of interest that ought not to have been paid.

Commencement Information

I61 S. 99 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

100 References to “Revenue Scotland assessment” S

In this Act “Revenue Scotland assessment” means an assessment under section 98(2) or 99(1), as the case may be.

Commencement Information

I62 S. 100 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

101 References to the “taxpayer” S

In sections 102 to 105 “taxpayer” means—

(a) in relation to an assessment under section 98, the person chargeable to the tax,

(b) in relation to an assessment under section 99, the person mentioned in section 99(1).

Commencement Information

I63 S. 101 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Conditions for making Revenue Scotland assessments S

102 Conditions for making Revenue Scotland assessments S

(1) A Revenue Scotland assessment may be made only where the situation mentioned in section 98(1) or 99(1) was brought about carelessly or deliberately by—

(a) the taxpayer,

(b) a person acting on the taxpayer's behalf, or

(c) a person who was a partner of the taxpayer.

(2) But no Revenue Scotland assessment may be made if—

(a) the situation mentioned in section 98(1) or 99(1) is attributable to a mistake in the return as to the basis on which the tax liability ought to have been calculated, and

(b) the return was in fact made on the basis prevailing, or in accordance with the practice generally prevailing, at the time it was made.

Commencement Information

I64 S. 102 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

103 Time limits for Revenue Scotland assessments S

(1) The general rule is that no Revenue Scotland assessment may be made more than 5 years after the relevant date.

(2) An assessment of a person in any case involving a loss of tax or a situation brought about deliberately by the taxpayer or a related person may be made up to 20 years after the relevant date.

(3) An assessment under section 99 (assessment to recover excessive repayment of tax) is not out of time if it is made within the period of 12 months beginning with the date on which the repayment in question was made.

(4) If the taxpayer has died—

(a) any assessment on the personal representatives must be made within 3 years after the death, and

(b) an assessment is not to be made by virtue of subsection (1) in respect of a relevant date more than 5 years before the death.

(5) Any objection to the making of an assessment on the ground that the time limit for making it has expired can only be made on a review or appeal against the assessment.

(6) In this section—

• “related person”, in relation to the taxpayer, means—

  (a)

  a person acting on the taxpayer's behalf, or

  (b)

  a person who was the partner of the taxpayer,

• “relevant date” means—

  (a)

  the filing date, or

  (b)

  the date on which the return was made, if the return was made after the filing date.

Commencement Information

I65 S. 103 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

104 Losses brought about carelessly or deliberately S

(1) This section applies for the purposes of sections 102 and 103.

(2) A loss of tax or a situation is brought about carelessly by a person if the person fails to take reasonable care to avoid bringing about that loss or situation.

(3) Subsection (4) applies where—

(a) information is provided to Revenue Scotland,

(b) the person who provided the information, or the person on whose behalf the information was provided, discovers some time later that the information was inaccurate, and

(c) that person fails to take reasonable steps to inform Revenue Scotland.

(4) Any loss of tax or situation brought about by the inaccuracy is to be treated as having been brought about carelessly by that person.

(5) References to a loss of tax or to a situation brought about deliberately by a person include a loss of tax or situation brought about as a result of a deliberate inaccuracy in a document given to Revenue Scotland by or on behalf of that person.

Commencement Information

I66 S. 104 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Notice of assessment and other procedure S

105 Assessment procedure S

(1) Notice of a Revenue Scotland assessment must be served on the taxpayer.

(2) The notice must state—

(a) the tax due,

(b) the date on which the notice is issued,

(c) the date by which—

(i) the amount, or additional amount, of tax chargeable as a result of the assessment (as mentioned in section 98(2)), or

(ii) the amount of tax or interest repaid that ought not to have been (as mentioned in section 99(1)),

must be paid, and

(d) the time within which any review or appeal against the assessment must be requested.

(3) The—

(a) amount, or additional amount, of tax chargeable as a result of the assessment (as mentioned in section 98(2)), or

(b) amount of tax or interest repaid that ought not to have been (as mentioned in section 99(1)),

must be paid before the end of the period of 30 days beginning with the date on which the assessment is issued.

(4) After notice of the assessment has been served on the taxpayer, the assessment may not be altered except in accordance with the express provisions of this Part or of Part 5.

(5) Where a designated officer has decided to make an assessment to tax, and has taken all other decisions needed for arriving at the amount of the assessment, the officer may entrust to some other designated officer the responsibility for completing the assessment procedure, whether by means involving the use of a computer or otherwise, including responsibility for serving notice of the assessment.

Commencement Information

I67 S. 105 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

CHAPTER 7 S Relief in case of excessive assessment or overpaid tax

Double assessment S

106 Relief in case of double assessment S

A person who believes that tax has been assessed on that person more than once in respect of the same matter may make a claim to Revenue Scotland for relief against any double charge.

Commencement Information

I68 S. 106 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Overpaid tax etc. S

107 Claim for relief for overpaid tax etc. S

(1) This section applies where—

(a) a person has paid an amount by way of tax but believes the tax was not chargeable, or

(b) a person has been assessed as chargeable to an amount of tax, or a determination has been made that a person is chargeable to an amount of tax, but the person believes the tax is not chargeable.

(2) The person may make a claim to Revenue Scotland for the amount to be repaid or discharged.

(3) Where this section applies, Revenue Scotland is not liable to give relief, except as provided in this Part or by or under any other provision of this Act.

(4) For the purposes of this section and sections 109 to 118, an amount paid by one person on behalf of another is treated as paid by the other person.

Commencement Information

I69 S. 107 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Order changing tax basis not approved S

108 Claim for repayment if order changing tax basis not approved S

(1) This section applies where a relevant order has ceased to have effect by virtue of a relevant provision and—

(a) a person has paid an amount by way of tax that would not have been payable but for the order, or

(b) a person has been assessed as chargeable to an amount of tax, or a determination has been made that a person is chargeable to an amount of tax, that would not have been chargeable but for the order.

(2) The person may make a claim to Revenue Scotland—

(a) for the amount of tax, and

(b) any related penalty or interest,

to be repaid or discharged to the extent that it was paid, or assessed or determined as chargeable, in consequence of the relevant order.

(3) A “relevant order” is an order mentioned in column 1, and a “relevant provision”, in relation to such an order, is the provision mentioned in the corresponding entry in column 2, of the following table.

Relevant orders	Relevant provisions
Under the LBTT(S) Act 2013— (a) a second or subsequent order under section 24(1), (aa) [F2 an order under paragraph 19(1) or (2) of schedule 2A,] (b) a second or subsequent order under paragraph 3(1) of schedule 19.	Section 68(4)(b) of that Act
Under the LT(S) Act 2014— (a) an order under section 5(5) providing for anything which would otherwise not be a disposal of material by way of landfill to be such a disposal, (b) an order under section 6(1) which produces the result that a landfill site activity which would otherwise not be prescribed for the purposes of section 6 is so prescribed, (c) a second or subsequent order under section 13(2) or (5), (d) an order under section 13(4), (e) an order under section 14(7) other than one which provides only that an earlier order under section 14(7) is not to apply to material.	Section 41(3)(b) of that Act

(4) A penalty or interest is related to an amount of tax to the extent that it—

(a) is attributable to the amount, and

(b) would not have been incurred but for the relevant order.

(5) A claim for repayment must be made before the end of the period of 2 years after the relevant date.

(6) The relevant date is—

(a) the filing date, or

(b) the date on which the tax return was made, if the return was made after the filing date.

(7) For the purposes of this section and sections 109 to 112, 114, 116 and 118, an amount paid by one person on behalf of another is treated as paid by the other person.

(8) Expressions used in this section and in the LT(S) Act 2014 have the meanings given in that Act.

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in s. 108(3) inserted (1.4.2016) by Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2016 (asp 11), ss. 2(2), 5(2) (with s. 3)

Commencement Information

I70 S. 108 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Defence of unjustified enrichment S

109 Defence to certain claims for relief under section 107 or 108 S

It is a defence to a claim for relief made under section 107 or 108 that repayment or, as the case may be, discharge of the amount would unjustly enrich the claimant.

Commencement Information

I71 S. 109 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

110 Unjustified enrichment: further provision S

(1) This section applies where—

(a) there is an amount paid by way of tax which (apart from section 109) would fall to be repaid or discharged to any person (“the taxpayer”), and

(b) the whole or a part of the cost of the payment of that amount to Revenue Scotland has, for practical purposes, been borne by a person other than the taxpayer.

(2) Where, in a case to which this section applies, loss or damage has been or may be incurred by the taxpayer as a result of mistaken assumptions made in the taxpayer's case about the operation of any provisions relating to a tax, that loss or damage is to be disregarded, except to the extent of the quantified amount, in the making of any determination—

(a) of whether or to what extent the repayment or discharge of an amount to the taxpayer would enrich the taxpayer, or

(b) of whether or to what extent any enrichment of the taxpayer would be unjust.

(3) In subsection (2) “the quantified amount” means the amount (if any) which is shown by the taxpayer to constitute the amount that would appropriately compensate the taxpayer for loss or damage shown by the taxpayer to have resulted, for any business carried on by the taxpayer, from the making of the mistaken assumptions.

(4) The reference in subsection (2) to provisions relating to a tax is a reference to any provisions of—

(a) any enactment, subordinate legislation or EU legislation (whether or not still in force) which relates to that tax or to any matter connected with it, or

(b) any notice published by Revenue Scotland under or for the purposes of any such enactment or subordinate legislation.

Commencement Information

I72 S. 110 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

111 Unjustified enrichment: reimbursement arrangements S

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision for reimbursement arrangements made by any person to be disregarded for the purposes of section 109 except where the arrangements—

(a) contain such provision as may be required by the regulations, and

(b) are supported by such undertakings to comply with the provisions of the arrangements as may be required by the regulations to be given to Revenue Scotland.

(2) In this section “reimbursement arrangements” means any arrangements for the purposes of a claim under section 107 or 108 which—

(a) are made by any person for the purpose of securing that the person is not unjustly enriched by the repayment or discharge of any amount in pursuance of the claim, and

(b) provide for the reimbursement of persons who have for practical purposes borne the whole or any part of the cost of the original payment of that amount to Revenue Scotland.

(3) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) above, the provision that may be required by regulations under this section to be contained in reimbursement arrangements includes—

(a) provision requiring a reimbursement for which the arrangements provide to be made within such period after the repayment to which it relates as may be specified in the regulations,

(b) provision for the repayment of amounts to Revenue Scotland where those amounts are not reimbursed in accordance with the arrangements,

(c) provision requiring interest paid by Revenue Scotland on any amount repaid by it to be treated in the same way as that amount for the purposes of any requirement under the arrangements to make reimbursement or to repay Revenue Scotland,

(d) provision requiring such records relating to the carrying out of the arrangements as may be described in the regulations to be kept and produced to Revenue Scotland, or to a designated officer.

(4) Regulations under this section may impose obligations on such persons as may be specified in the regulations—

(a) to make the repayments to Revenue Scotland that they are required to make in pursuance of any provisions contained in any reimbursement arrangements by virtue of subsection (3)(b) or (c),

(b) to comply with any requirements contained in any such arrangements by virtue of subsection (3)(d).

(5) Regulations under this section may make provision for the form and manner in which, and the times at which, undertakings are to be given to Revenue Scotland in accordance with the regulations and any such provision may allow for those matters to be determined by Revenue Scotland in accordance with the regulations.

Commencement Information

I73 S. 111 in force at 7.11.2014 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2014/278, art. 2, sch.

I74 S. 111 in force at 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

112 Reimbursement arrangements: penalties S

(1) Regulations under section 111 may make provision for penalties where a person breaches an obligation imposed by virtue of section 111(4).

(2) The regulations may in particular make provision including provision—

(a) about the circumstances in which a penalty is payable,

(b) about the amounts of penalties,

(c) for fixed penalties, daily penalties and penalties calculated by reference to the amount of repayments which the person would have been liable to make to Revenue Scotland if the obligation had been breached,

(d) about the procedure for issuing penalties,

(e) about appealing penalties,

(f) about enforcing penalties.

(3) But the regulations may not create criminal offences.

(4) Regulations made by virtue of this section may amend any enactment (including this Act).

Commencement Information

I75 S. 112 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Other defences to claims S

113 Cases in which Revenue Scotland need not give effect to a claim S

(1) Revenue Scotland need not give effect to a claim under section 107 if or to the extent that the claim falls within a case described in this section.

(2) Case A is where the amount of tax paid, or liable to be paid, is excessive because of—

(a) a mistake in a claim, or

(b) a mistake consisting of making, or failing to make, a claim.

(3) Case B is where the claimant is or will be able to seek relief by taking other steps under this Part of this Act.

(4) Case C is where the claimant—

(a) could have sought relief by taking such steps within a period that has now expired, and

(b) knew or ought reasonably to have known, before the end of that period, that such relief was available.

(5) Case D is where the claim is made on grounds that—

(a) have been put to a court or tribunal in the course of an appeal by the claimant relating to the amount paid or liable to be paid, or

(b) have been put to Revenue Scotland in the course of a review or appeal by the claimant relating to that amount that is treated as having been determined by the tribunal by virtue of section 246 (settling matters in question by agreement).

(6) Case E is where the claimant knew, or ought reasonably to have known, of the grounds for the claim before the latest of the following—

(a) the date on which a relevant appeal in the course of which the ground could have been put forward was determined by a court or tribunal (or is treated as having been so determined),

(b) the date on which the claimant withdrew a relevant appeal to a court or tribunal,

(c) the end of the period in which the claimant was entitled to make a relevant appeal to a court or tribunal.

(7) In subsection (6) “relevant appeal” means an appeal by the claimant relating to the amount paid or liable to be paid.

(8) Case F is where the amount in question was paid or is liable to be paid—

(a) in consequence of proceedings enforcing the payment of that amount brought against the claimant by Revenue Scotland, or

(b) in accordance with an agreement between the claimant and Revenue Scotland settling such proceedings.

(9) Case G is where—

(a) the amount paid, or liable to be paid, is excessive by reason of a mistake in calculating the claimant's liability to tax, and

(b) liability was calculated in accordance with the practice generally prevailing at the time.

(10) Case G does not apply where the amount paid, or liable to be paid, is tax which has been charged contrary to EU law.

(11) For the purposes of subsection (10), an amount of tax is charged contrary to EU law if, in the circumstances in question, the charge to tax is contrary to—

(a) the provisions relating to the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital in Titles II and IV of Part 3 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, or

(b) the provisions of any subsequent treaty replacing the provisions mentioned in paragraph (a).

Commencement Information

I76 S. 113 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Procedure for making claims S

114 Procedure for making claims etc. S

Schedule 3 applies in relation to claims under sections 106 to 108.

Commencement Information

I77 S. 114 in force at 7.11.2014 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2014/278, art. 2, sch.

I78 S. 114 in force at 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

115 Time-limit for making claims S

(1) A claim under section 106 or 107 must be made within the period of 5 years after the date by which the tax return, to which the payment by way of tax, or the assessment or determination relates, required to be made.

(2) A claim under section 107 may not be made by being included in a return.

Commencement Information

I79 S. 115 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

116 The claimant: partnerships S

(1) This section is about the application of sections 107 and 108 in a case where either—

(a) (in a case falling within section 107(1)(a) or 108(1)(a)) the person paid the amount in question in the capacity of a responsible partner or representative partner, or

(b) (in a case falling within section 107(1)(b) or 108(1)(b)) the assessment was made on, or the determination related to the liability of, the person in such a capacity.

(2) In such a case, only a relevant person who has been nominated to do so by all of the relevant persons may make a claim under section 107 or 108 in respect of the amount in question.

(3) The relevant persons are all the persons who would have been liable as responsible partners to pay the amount in question had the payment been due or (in a case falling within section 107(1)(b) or 108(1)(b)) had the assessment or determination been correctly made.

Commencement Information

I80 S. 116 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

117 Assessment of claimant in connection with claim S

(1) This section applies where—

(a) a claim is made under section 107,

(b) the grounds for giving effect to the claim also provide grounds for a Revenue Scotland assessment on the claimant in respect of the tax, and

(c) such an assessment could be made but for a relevant restriction.

(2) In a case falling within section 116(1)(a) or (b), the reference to the claimant in subsection (1)(b) of this section includes any relevant person (as defined in section 116(3)).

(3) The following are relevant restrictions—

(a) the restrictions in section 102 (conditions for assessment where return has been delivered),

(b) the expiry of a time limit for making a Revenue Scotland assessment.

(4) Where this section applies—

(a) the relevant restrictions are to be disregarded,

(b) the Revenue Scotland assessment is not out of time if it is made before the final determination of the claim.

(5) A claim is not finally determined until it, or the amount to which it relates, can no longer be varied (whether on review, appeal or otherwise).

Commencement Information

I81 S. 117 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Contract settlements S

118 Contract settlements S

(1) In sections 107(1)(a) and 108(1)(a) the reference to an amount paid by a person by way of tax includes an amount paid by a person under a contract settlement in connection with tax believed to be due.

(2) Subsections (3) to (7) apply if the person who paid the amount under the contract settlement (“the payer”) and the person from whom the tax was due (“the taxpayer”) are not the same person.

(3) In relation to a claim under section 107 in respect of that amount—

(a) the references to the claimant in section 113(5), (6) and (8) (Cases D, E and F) have effect as if they included the taxpayer,

(b) the reference to the claimant in section 113(9) (Case G) has effect as if it were a reference to the taxpayer, and

(c) the reference to the claimant in section 117(1)(b) has effect as if it were a reference to the taxpayer.

(4) In relation to a claim under section 107 or 108 in respect of that amount, references to tax in schedule 3 (as it applies to a claim under section 107 or 108) include the amount paid under the contract settlement.

(5) Subsection (6) applies where the grounds for giving effect to a claim by the payer in respect of the amount also provide grounds for a Revenue Scotland assessment on the taxpayer in respect of the tax.

(6) Revenue Scotland may set any amount repayable to the payer as a result of the claim against any amount payable by the taxpayer as a result of the assessment.

(7) The obligations of Revenue Scotland and the taxpayer are discharged to the extent of any set-off under subsection (6).

(8) “Contract settlement” means an agreement made in connection with any person's liability to make a payment to Revenue Scotland by or under this Act or any other enactment.

Commencement Information

I82 S. 118 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

PART 7 S Investigatory powers of Revenue Scotland

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C8 Pt. 7 applied (1.4.2015) by The Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (Administration) (Scotland) Regulations 2014 (S.S.I. 2014/375), regs. 1, 6

CHAPTER 1 S Investigatory powers: introductory

Overview S

119 Investigatory powers of Revenue Scotland: overview S

This Part is arranged as follows—

(a) Chapter 2 sets out Revenue Scotland's investigatory powers in relation to information and documents,

(b) Chapter 3 contains restrictions on the powers in Chapter 2,

(c) Chapter 4 sets out Revenue Scotland's investigatory powers in relation to premises and other property,

(d) Chapter 5 sets out further investigatory powers,

(e) Chapter 6 is about reviews and appeals against information notices, and

(f) Chapter 7 sets out offences relating to information notices.

Commencement Information

I83 S. 119 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Interpretation S

120 Meaning of “tax position” S

(1) In this Part unless otherwise stated “tax position”, in relation to a person, means the person's position as regards any devolved tax, including the person's position as regards—

(a) past, present and future liability to pay any devolved tax,

(b) penalties and other amounts that have been paid, or are or may be payable, by or to the person in connection with any devolved tax, and

(c) claims, elections, applications and notices that have been or may be made or given in connection with the person's liability to pay any devolved tax,

(and references to a person's position as regards a particular tax (however expressed) are to be interpreted accordingly).

(2) References in this Part to the tax position of a person include the tax position of—

(a) an individual who has died,

(b) a company that has ceased to exist.

(3) References in this Part to a person's tax position are to the person's tax position at any time or in relation to any period, unless otherwise stated.

(4) References to checking a person's tax position include carrying out an investigation or enquiry of any kind.

Commencement Information

I84 S. 120 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

121 Meaning of “carrying on a business” S

(1) In this Part references to carrying on a business include—

(a) the letting of property,

(b) the activities of a charity, and

(c) the activities of a local authority and any other public authority.

(2) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations provide that for the purposes of this Part—

(a) the carrying on of an activity specified in the regulations, or

(b) the carrying on of such an activity (or any activity) by a person specified in the regulations,

is or is not to be treated as the carrying on of a business.

Commencement Information

I85 S. 121 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

122 Meaning of “statutory records” S

(1) For the purposes of this Part information or a document forms part of a person's statutory records if it is information or a document which the person is required to keep and preserve by or under this Act, subject to subsections (2) and (3).

(2) To the extent that any information or document that is required to be kept and preserved by or under this Act—

(a) does not relate to the carrying on of a business, and

(b) is not also required to be kept or preserved by or under any other enactment relating to devolved tax,

it forms part of a person's statutory records only to the extent that any accounting period or periods to which it relates has or have ended.

(3) Information and documents cease to form part of a person's statutory records when the period for which they are required to be preserved by or under this Act has expired.

Commencement Information

I86 S. 122 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

CHAPTER 2 S Investigatory powers: information and documents

123 Power to obtain information and documents from taxpayer S

(1) If the condition in subsection (2) is met, a designated officer may by notice require a person (“the taxpayer”)—

(a) to provide information, or

(b) to produce a document.

(2) That condition is that—

(a) the information or document is reasonably required by the officer for the purpose of checking the taxpayer's tax position, and

(b) it is reasonable for the taxpayer to be required to provide the information or to produce the document.

(3) In this Part “taxpayer notice” means a notice under this section.

Commencement Information

I87 S. 123 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

124 Power to obtain information and documents from third party S

(1) If the condition in subsection (2) is met, a designated officer may by notice require a person—

(a) to provide information, or

(b) to produce a document.

(2) That condition is that—

(a) the information or document is reasonably required by the officer for the purpose of checking the tax position of another person whose identity is known to the officer (“the taxpayer”), and

(b) it is reasonable for the person to be required to provide the information or to produce the document.

(3) A notice under this section must name the taxpayer to whom it relates, unless the tribunal has approved the giving of the notice and disapplied this requirement under section 125.

(4) In this Part “third party notice” means a notice under this section.

Commencement Information

I88 S. 124 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

125 Approval of taxpayer notices and third party notices S

(1) A designated officer may not give a third party notice without—

(a) the agreement of the taxpayer, or

(b) the approval of the tribunal.

(2) A designated officer may ask for the approval of the tribunal to the giving of any taxpayer notice or third party notice (and for the effect of obtaining such approval see sections 152 and 155).

(3) An application for approval under this section may be made without notice (except as required under subsection (4)).

(4) The tribunal may not approve the giving of a taxpayer notice or third party notice unless—

(a) the tribunal is satisfied that, in the circumstances, the officer giving the notice is justified in doing so,

(b) the person to whom the notice is to be addressed has been told that the information or documents referred to in the notice are required and has been given a reasonable opportunity to make representations to a designated officer,

(c) the tribunal has been given a summary of any representations made by that person, and

(d) in the case of a third party notice, the taxpayer has been given a summary of the reasons why a designated officer requires the information and documents.

(5) Paragraphs (b) to (d) of subsection (4) do not apply to the extent that the tribunal is satisfied that taking the action specified in those paragraphs might prejudice the assessment or collection of tax.

(6) Where the tribunal approves the giving of a third party notice under this paragraph, it may also disapply the requirement to name the taxpayer in the notice if it is satisfied that the designated officer has reasonable grounds for believing that naming the taxpayer might seriously prejudice the assessment or collection of tax.

Commencement Information

I89 S. 125 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

126 Copying third party notice to taxpayer S

(1) A designated officer who gives a third party notice must give a copy of the notice to the taxpayer to whom it relates, unless the tribunal has disapplied this requirement.

(2) The tribunal may not disapply that requirement unless the tribunal is satisfied that the officer applying has reasonable grounds for believing that giving a copy of the notice to the taxpayer might prejudice the assessment or collection of tax.

Commencement Information

I90 S. 126 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

127 Power to obtain information and documents about persons whose identity is not known S

(1) If the conditions in subsection (2) are met, a designated officer may by notice require a person—

(a) to provide information, or

(b) to produce a document.

(2) Those conditions are—

(a) that the information or document is reasonably required by the officer for the purpose of checking the tax position of—

(i) a person whose identity is not known to the officer, or

(ii) a class of persons whose individual identities are not known to the officer, and

(b) the tribunal has approved the giving of the notice.

(3) An application for approval may be made without notice.

(4) The tribunal may not approve the giving of a notice under this section unless it is satisfied that—

(a) the notice would meet the condition in subsection (2)(a),

(b) there are reasonable grounds for believing that the person or any of the class of persons to whom the notice relates may have failed or may fail to comply with any provision of the law relating to a devolved tax,

(c) any such failure is likely to have led or to lead to serious prejudice to the assessment or collection of tax, and

(d) the information or document to which the notice relates is not readily available from another source.

Commencement Information

I91 S. 127 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

128 Third party notices and notices under section 127: groups of undertakings S

(1) This section applies where an undertaking is a parent undertaking in relation to another undertaking (a “subsidiary undertaking”).

(2) Where a third party notice is given to any person for the purpose of checking the tax position of the parent undertaking and any of its subsidiary undertakings—

(a) section 124(3) only requires the notice to state this and name the parent undertaking, and

(b) the references in section 125(6) to naming the taxpayer are to making that statement and naming the parent undertaking.

(3) In relation to such a notice—

(a) in sections 125 and 126 (approval of notices and copying third party notices), the references to the taxpayer have effect as if they were references to the parent undertaking, but

(b) in section 152(2)(b) (no review or appeal in relation to taxpayer's statutory records), the reference to the taxpayer has effect as if it were a reference to the parent undertaking and each of its subsidiary undertakings.

(4) Where a third party notice is given to the parent undertaking for the purpose of checking the tax position of more than one subsidiary undertaking—

(a) section 124(3) only requires the notice to state this, and

(b) the references in section 125(6) to naming the taxpayer are to making that statement.

(5) In relation to such a notice—

(a) in section 125 (approval of notices), subsections (1) and (4)(d) do not apply,

(b) section 126(1) (copying third party notices to taxpayer) does not apply,

(c) section 137 (restriction on giving taxpayer notice following a tax return) applies as if the notice was a taxpayer notice or taxpayer notices given to each subsidiary undertaking (or, if the notice names the subsidiary undertakings to which it relates, to each of those undertakings), and

(d) in section 152(2)(b) (no review or appeal in relation to a taxpayer's statutory records), the reference to the taxpayer has effect as if it were a reference to the parent undertaking or any of its subsidiary undertakings.

(6) In this section “parent undertaking”, “subsidiary undertaking” and “undertaking” have the meanings given in sections 1161 and 1162 of, and schedule 7 to, the Companies Act 2006 (c.46).

Commencement Information

I92 S. 128 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

129 Third party notices and notices under section 127: partnerships S

(1) This section applies where a business is carried on by two or more persons in partnership.

(2) Where, in respect of a taxable event entered into or undertaken by or on behalf of the members of the partnership, any partner has made a tax return, section 137 has effect as if that return had been made by each of the partners.

(3) Where a third party notice is given for the purpose of checking the tax position of more than one of the partners (in their capacity as such)—

(a) section 124(3) only requires the notice to state this and give a name by which the partnership is known or under which it is registered for any purpose, and

(b) the references in section 125(6) to naming the taxpayer are to making that statement and naming the partnership.

(4) In relation to such a notice given to a person other than one of the partners—

(a) in sections 125 and 126 (approval of notices and copying third party notices), the references to the taxpayer have effect as if they were references to at least one of the partners, and

(b) in section 152(2)(b) (no review or appeal in relation to taxpayer's statutory records), the reference to the taxpayer has effect as if it were a reference to any of the partners in the partnership.

(5) In relation to a third party notice given to one of the partners for the purpose of checking the tax position of one or more of the other partners (in their capacity as such)—

(a) in section 125 (approval of notices), subsections (1) and (4)(d) do not apply,

(b) section 126(1) (copying third party notices to taxpayer) does not apply, and

(c) in section 152(2)(b) (no review or appeal in relation to a taxpayer's statutory records), the reference to the taxpayer has effect as if it were a reference to any of the partners in the partnership.

Commencement Information

I93 S. 129 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

130 Power to obtain information about persons whose identity can be ascertained S

(1) A designated officer may by notice require a person (“P”) to provide relevant information about another person (“the taxpayer”) if the tribunal approves the giving of the notice.

(2) The tribunal may not approve the giving of a notice under this section unless satisfied that conditions A to D are met.

(3) Condition A is that the information is reasonably required by the officer for the purpose of checking the tax position of the taxpayer.

(4) Condition B is that—

(a) the taxpayer's identity is not known to the officer, but

(b) the officer holds information from which the taxpayer's identity can be ascertained.

(5) Condition C is that the officer has reason to believe that—

(a) P will be able to ascertain the taxpayer's identity from the information held by the officer, and

(b) P obtained relevant information about the taxpayer in the course of carrying on a business.

(6) Condition D is that the taxpayer's identity cannot readily be ascertained by other means from the information held by the officer.

(7) “Relevant information” means all or any of the following—

(a) name,

(b) last known address, and

(c) date of birth (in the case of an individual).

(8) This section applies for the purpose of checking the tax position of a class of persons as for the purpose of checking the tax position of a single person (and references to “taxpayer” are to be read accordingly).

Commencement Information

I94 S. 130 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

131 Notices S

(1) In this Part “information notice” means a notice under section 123, 124, 127 or 130.

(2) An information notice may specify or describe the information or documents to be provided or produced.

(3) If an information notice is given with the approval of the tribunal, it must state that it is given with that approval.

(4) A decision of the tribunal under section 125, 126, 127 or 130 is final.

Commencement Information

I95 S. 131 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

132 Complying with information notices S

(1) Where a person is required by an information notice to provide information or produce a document, the person must do so—

(a) within such period, and

(b) at such time, by such means and in such form (if any), as is reasonably specified or described in the notice.

(2) Where an information notice requires a person to produce a document, it must be produced—

(a) at a place agreed to by that person and a designated officer, or

(b) at such place as a designated officer may reasonably specify.

(3) A designated officer must not specify for the purposes of subsection (2)(b) a place that is used solely as a dwelling.

(4) The production of a document in compliance with an information notice is not to be regarded as breaking any lien claimed on the document.

Commencement Information

I96 S. 132 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

133 Producing copies of documents S

(1) Where an information notice requires a person to produce a document, the person may comply with the notice by producing a copy of the document, subject to any conditions or exceptions set out in regulations made by the Scottish Ministers.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply where—

(a) the notice requires the person to produce the original document, or

(b) a designated officer subsequently makes a request to the person for the original document.

(3) Where a designated officer requests a document under subsection (2)(b), the person to whom the request is made must produce the document—

(a) within such period, and

(b) at such time and by such means (if any),

as is reasonably requested by the designated officer.

Commencement Information

I97 S. 133 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

134 Further provision about powers relating to information notices S

The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make further provision about—

(a) the form and content of information notices,

(b) the time periods for complying with information notices, and

(c) the manner of complying with information notices.

Commencement Information

I98 S. 134 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

CHAPTER 3 S Restrictions on powers in Chapter 2

135 Information notices: general restrictions S

(1) An information notice requires a person to produce a document only if it is in the person's possession or power.

(2) An information notice may not require a person to produce a document if the whole of the document originates more than 5 years before the date of the notice, unless the notice is given with the approval of the tribunal.

(3) An information notice given for the purposes of checking the tax position of a person who has died may not be given more than 3 years after the person's death.

Commencement Information

I99 S. 135 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

136 Types of information S

(1) An information notice does not require a person to provide or produce—

(a) information that relates to the conduct of a pending review or appeal relating to tax (or any part of a document containing such information), or

(b) journalistic material (or information contained in such material).

(2) In subsection (1)(b) “journalistic material” means material acquired or created for the purposes of journalism.

(3) Material is to be treated as journalistic material if it is in the possession of someone who acquired or created it for the purposes of journalism.

(4) A person who receives material from someone who intends that the recipient will use it for the purposes of journalism is to be taken to have acquired it for those purposes.

(5) An information notice does not require a person to provide or produce personal records or information contained in such records, subject to subsection (7).

(6) In subsection (5) “personal records” means documentary and other records concerning an individual (“P”) (whether living or dead) who can be identified from them and relating—

(a) to P's physical or mental health,

(b) to spiritual counselling or assistance given or to be given to P, or

(c) to counselling or assistance given or to be given to P, for the purposes of P's personal welfare, by any voluntary organisation or by any individual who—

(i) by reason of an office or occupation has responsibilities for P's personal welfare, or

(ii) by reason of an order of a court has responsibilities for P's supervision.

(7) An information notice may require a person—

(a) to produce documents (or copies of documents) that are personal records, omitting any information whose inclusion (whether alone or with other information) makes the original documents personal records (“personal information”), and

(b) to provide any information contained in such records that is not personal information.

Commencement Information

I100 S. 136 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

137 Taxpayer notices following a tax return S

(1) Where a person has made a tax return in relation to a devolved tax in relation to an accounting period, a taxpayer notice may not be given for the purpose of checking that person's tax position in relation to that tax in relation to that accounting period.

(2) Where a person has made a tax return in relation to a devolved tax in relation to a transaction, a taxpayer notice may not be given for the purpose of checking that person's tax position in relation to that transaction.

(3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply where (or to the extent that) either of condition A or B is met.

(4) Condition A is that a notice of enquiry has been given in respect of—

(a) the return, or

(b) a claim or election (or an amendment of a claim or election) made by the person in relation to—

(i) the accounting period in respect of the tax (or one of the taxes) to which the return relates (“relevant tax”), or

(ii) the transaction to which the return relates,

and the enquiry has not been completed.

(5) Condition B is that, as regards the person, a designated officer has reason to suspect that—

(a) an amount that ought to have been assessed to relevant tax for the accounting period or, as the case may be, the transaction may not have been assessed,

(b) an assessment to relevant tax for the accounting period or, as the case may be, the transaction may be or have become insufficient, or

(c) relief from relevant tax given for the accounting period or, as the case may be, the transaction may be or have become excessive.

(6) References in this section to the person who made the return are only to that person in the capacity in which the return was made.

Commencement Information

I101 S. 137 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

138 Protection for privileged communications between legal advisers and clients S

(1) An information notice does not require a person—

(a) to provide privileged information, or

(b) to produce any part of a document that is privileged.

(2) For the purposes of this Part, information or a document is privileged if it is information or a document in respect of which a claim to confidentiality of communications as between client and professional legal adviser could be maintained in legal proceedings.

(3) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision for the resolution by the tribunal of disputes as to whether any information or document is privileged.

(4) The regulations may, in particular, make provision as to the custody of a document while its status is being decided.

Commencement Information

I102 S. 138 in force at 7.11.2014 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2014/278, art. 2, sch.

I103 S. 138 in force at 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

139 Protection for auditors S

(1) An information notice does not require a person who has been appointed as an auditor for the purpose of an enactment—

(a) to provide information held in connection with the performance of the person's functions under that enactment, or

(b) to produce documents which are that person's property and which were created by that person or on that person's behalf for or in connection with the performance of those functions.

(2) Subsection (1) has effect subject to section 140.

Commencement Information

I104 S. 139 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

140 Auditors: supplementary S

(1) Section 139(1) does not have effect in relation to—

(a) information explaining any information or document which the person to whom the notice is given has, as tax accountant, assisted any client in preparing for, or delivering to, Revenue Scotland, or

(b) a document which contains such information.

(2) In the case of a notice given under section 127, section 139(1) does not have effect in relation to—

(a) any information giving the identity or address of a person to whom the notice relates or of a person who has acted on behalf of such a person, or

(b) a document which contains such information.

(3) Section 139 is not disapplied by subsection (1) or (2) if the information in question has already been provided, or a document containing the information has already been produced, to a designated officer.

(4) Where section 139 is disapplied in relation to a document by subsection (1) or (2), an information notice that requires the document to be produced has effect as if it required any part or parts of the document containing the information mentioned in subsection (1) or (2) to be produced.

Commencement Information

I105 S. 140 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

CHAPTER 4 S Investigatory powers: premises and other property

Inspection of business premises S

141 Power to inspect business premises S

(1) If the condition in subsection (2) is met, a designated officer may enter a person's business premises and inspect—

(a) the premises,

(b) business assets that are on the premises,

(c) business documents that are on the premises.

(2) That condition is that the designated officer has reason to believe that the inspection is reasonably required for the purpose of checking the person's tax position.

(3) The powers under this section do not include power to enter or inspect any part of the premises that is used solely as a dwelling.

(4) In this Chapter—

• “business assets” means assets that a designated officer has reason to believe are owned, leased or used in connection with the carrying on of a business by any person (but does not include documents),

• “business documents” means documents or copies of documents—

  (a)

  that relate to the carrying on of a business by any person, and

  (b)

  that form part of any person's statutory records,

• “business premises”, in relation to a person, means premises (or any part of premises) that a designated officer has reason to believe are (or is) used in connection with the carrying on of a business by or on behalf of the person,

• “premises” includes any building or structure, any land and any means of transport.

Commencement Information

I106 S. 141 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

142 Power to inspect business premises of involved third parties S

(1) If the condition in subsection (2) is met, a designated officer may enter business premises of an involved third party and inspect—

(a) the premises,

(b) business assets that are on the premises, and

(c) relevant documents that are on the premises.

(2) That condition is that the designated officer has reason to believe that the inspection is reasonably required for the purpose of checking the position of any person or class of persons as regards a relevant devolved tax.

(3) In this section—

• “involved third party” means a person who is, or a category of persons who are, specified by the Scottish Ministers by order,

• “relevant documents” means such documents as may be so specified,

• “relevant devolved tax” means such devolved tax as may be so specified.

(4) The powers under this section may be exercised whether or not the identity of that person is, or the individual identities of those persons are, known to the designated officer.

(5) The powers under this section do not include power to enter or inspect any part of the premises that is used solely as a dwelling.

Commencement Information

I107 S. 142 in force at 7.11.2014 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2014/278, art. 2, sch.

I108 S. 142 in force at 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

143 Carrying out inspections under section 141 or 142 S

(1) An inspection under section 141 or 142 may be carried out only—

(a) at a time agreed to by the occupier of the premises, or

(b) if subsection (2) is satisfied, at any reasonable time.

(2) This subsection is satisfied if—

(a) the occupier of the premises has been given at least 7 days' notice in writing of the time of the inspection, or

(b) the officer has reasonable grounds for believing that giving notice of the inspection would seriously prejudice the assessment or collection of tax.

(3) A designated officer seeking to carry out an inspection under subsection (2)(b) must provide a notice in writing as follows—

(a) if the occupier of the premises is present at the time the inspection is to begin, the notice must be provided to the occupier,

(b) if the occupier of the premises is not present but a person who appears to the officer to be in charge of the premises is present, the notice must be provided to that person,

(c) in any other case, the notice must be left in a prominent place on the premises.

(4) The notice referred to in subsection (2)(a) or (3) must state the possible consequences of obstructing the designated officer in the exercise of the power.

(5) If a notice referred to in subsection (2)(a) or (3) is given in respect of an inspection approved by the tribunal (see section 147), it must state that the inspection has been so approved.

Commencement Information

I109 S. 143 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

144 Carrying out inspections under section 141 or 142: further provision S

(1) A designated officer carrying out an inspection under section 141 or 142 has the following powers.

(2) On entering the premises, the officer may take any person authorised by the officer and, if the officer has reasonable cause to apprehend any serious obstruction in the execution of the inspection, a constable.

(3) Subject to subsection (9), on entering the premises, the officer or a person authorised by the officer may take any equipment or materials required for any purpose for which the inspection is being carried out.

(4) The officer may make such examination or investigation the officer considers to be necessary in the circumstances.

(5) The officer may direct that the premises or any part of them, or anything in them, be left undisturbed (whether generally or in particular respects) for so long as is reasonably necessary for the purpose of any such examination or investigation.

(6) The officer or a person authorised by the officer may take samples of material on the premises.

(7) The power to take samples mentioned in subsection (6) includes power—

(a) to carry out experimental borings or other works on the premises, and

(b) to install, keep or maintain monitoring and other apparatus there.

(8) Any sample taken under subsections (6) and (7) is to be disposed of in such manner as Revenue Scotland may determine.

(9) An officer or authorised person may exercise the power mentioned in subsection (3) only—

(a) at a time agreed to by the occupier of the premises, or

(b) if subsection (10) is satisfied, at any reasonable time.

(10) This subsection is satisfied if—

(a) in a case where notice was given under section 143(2)(a), that the notice informed the occupier of the premises that the officer or authorised person intended to exercise the power mentioned in subsection (3), or

(b) the officer has reasonable grounds for believing that giving notice of the exercise of that power would seriously prejudice the assessment or collection of tax.

(11) Section 143(3) to (5) apply to the exercise of the power mentioned in subsection (3) by virtue of subsection (10)(b) as they apply to an inspection carried out by virtue of section 143(2)(b).

Commencement Information

I110 S. 144 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Inspection for valuation etc. S

145 Power to inspect property for valuation etc. S

(1) A designated officer may enter and inspect premises for the purpose of valuing the premises if the valuation is reasonably required for the purpose of checking any person's tax position.

(2) A designated officer may enter premises and inspect—

(a) the premises,

(b) any other property on the premises,

for the purpose of valuing, measuring or determining the character of the premises or property.

(3) Subsection (2) only applies if the valuation, measurement or determination is reasonably required for the purposes of checking any person's tax position.

(4) A person who the designated officer considers is needed to assist with the valuation, measurement or determination may enter and inspect the premises or property with the officer.

Commencement Information

I111 S. 145 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

146 Carrying out inspections under section 145 S

(1) An inspection under section 145 may be carried out only if condition A or B is met.

(2) Condition A is that—

(a) the inspection is carried out at a time agreed to by a relevant person, and

(b) the relevant person has been given notice in writing of the agreed time of the inspection.

(3) “Relevant person” means—

(a) the occupier of the premises, or

(b) if the occupier cannot be identified or the premises are vacant, a person who controls the premises.

(4) Condition B is that—

(a) the inspection has been approved by the tribunal, and

(b) any relevant person specified by the tribunal has been given at least 7 days' notice in writing of the time of the inspection.

(5) A notice under subsection (4)(b) must state the possible consequences of obstructing the officer in the exercise of the power.

(6) If a notice is given under this section in respect of an inspection approved by the tribunal (see section 147), it must state that the inspection has been so approved.

(7) A designated officer seeking to carry out an inspection under section 145 must produce evidence of authority to carry out the inspection if asked to do so by—

(a) the occupier of the premises, or

(b) any other person who appears to the officer to be in charge of the premises or property.

Commencement Information

I112 S. 146 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Approval of tribunal for premises inspections S

147 Approval of tribunal for premises inspections S

(1) A designated officer may ask the tribunal—

(a) to approve an inspection under section 141, 142 or 145, or

(b) to approve the exercise, in relation to an inspection under section 141 or 142, of any of the powers mentioned in section 144,

(and for the effect of obtaining such approval see section 195 (penalties for failure to comply or obstruction)).

(2) An application for approval under this section may be made without notice (except as required under subsection (4)).

(3) The tribunal may not approve an inspection under section 141 or 142 unless the tribunal is satisfied that, in the circumstances, the inspection is justified.

(4) The tribunal may not approve an inspection under section 145 unless—

(a) the person whose tax position is the subject of the proposed inspection has been given a reasonable opportunity to make representations to the designated officer about that inspection,

(b) the occupier of the premises has been given a reasonable opportunity to make such representations,

(c) the tribunal has been given a summary of any representations made, and

(d) the tribunal is satisfied that, in the circumstances, the inspection is justified.

(5) Subsection (4)(b) does not apply if the tribunal is satisfied that the occupier of the premises cannot be identified.

(6) A decision of the tribunal under this section is final.

Commencement Information

I113 S. 147 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Other powers in relation to premises S

148 Power to mark assets and to record information S

The powers under sections 141 to 146 include—

(a) power to mark business assets, and anything containing business assets, for the purpose of indicating that they have been inspected, and

(b) power to obtain and record information (whether electronically or otherwise) relating to the premises, property, assets and documents that have been inspected.

Commencement Information

I114 S. 148 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Restriction on inspection of documents S

149 Restriction on inspection of documents S

A designated officer may not inspect a document under this Chapter if (or to the extent that), by virtue of Chapters 2 and 3, an information notice given at the time of the inspection to the occupier of the premises could not require the occupier to produce the document.

Commencement Information

I115 S. 149 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

CHAPTER 5 S Further investigatory powers

150 Power to copy and remove documents S

(1) Where a document is produced to, or inspected by, a designated officer, the officer may take copies of, or make extracts from, the document.

(2) Where a document is produced to, or inspected by, a designated officer, the officer may—

(a) remove the document at a reasonable time, and

(b) retain it for a reasonable period, if it appears to the officer to be necessary to do so.

(3) Where a document is removed in accordance with subsection (2), the person who produced the document may request—

(a) a receipt for the document, and

(b) a copy of the document.

(4) A designated officer must comply with a request under subsection (3) without charge.

(5) The removal of a document under this section is not to be regarded as breaking any lien claimed on the document.

(6) Where a document removed under this section is lost or damaged, Revenue Scotland is liable to compensate the owner of the document for any expenses reasonably incurred in replacing or repairing the document.

(7) In this section references to a document include a copy of a document.

Commencement Information

I116 S. 150 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

151 Computer records S

(1) This section applies to any provision of this Part or Part 8 (penalties) that—

(a) requires a person to produce a document or cause a document to be produced,

(b) requires a person to permit a designated officer—

(i) to inspect a document, or

(ii) to make or take copies of or extracts from or remove a document,

(c) makes provision about penalties or offences in connection with the production or inspection of documents, including with the failure to produce or permit the inspection of documents, or

(d) makes any other provision in connection with a requirement mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b).

(2) A provision to which this section applies has effect as if—

(a) any reference in the provision to a document were a reference to anything in which information of any description is recorded, and

(b) any reference in the provision to a copy of a document were a reference to anything onto which information recorded in the document has been copied, by whatever means and whether directly or indirectly.

(3) A designated officer may, at any reasonable time, obtain access to, inspect and check the operation of, any computer and any associated apparatus or material which is or has been used in connection with a relevant document.

(4) In subsection (3) “relevant document” means a document that a person has been, or may be, required by or under a provision of this Part—

(a) to produce or cause to be produced, or

(b) to permit a designated officer—

(i) to inspect,

(ii) to make or take copies of or extracts from, or

(iii) to remove.

(5) A designated officer may require—

(a) the person by whom or on whose behalf the computer is or has been so used, or

(b) any person having charge of, or otherwise concerned with the operation of, the computer, apparatus or material,

to provide the designated officer with such reasonable assistance as may be required for the purposes of subsection (3).

(6) A person who—

(a) obstructs the exercise of a power conferred by this section, or

(b) fails to comply within a reasonable time with a requirement under subsection (5),

is liable to a penalty of £300.

(7) Sections 201 to 203 (assessment and enforcement of penalties) apply in relation to a penalty under this section as they apply in relation to a penalty under section 195.

Commencement Information

I117 S. 151 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

CHAPTER 6 S Reviews and appeals against information notices

152 Review or appeal against information notices S

(1) This section applies where a person seeks, under Part 11, to have a decision in relation to the giving of an information notice or in relation to any requirement in such a notice reviewed or appealed.

(2) The following are not appealable decisions for the purposes of section 233(1)(h)—

(a) a decision to give a taxpayer notice or third party notice if the tribunal approved the giving of the notice under section 125,

(b) a decision to include a requirement in such a notice if it is a requirement to provide any information, or produce any document, that forms part of a taxpayer's statutory records.

(3) A person may give notice of review or notice of appeal in relation to a decision to give a third party notice, or in relation to a requirement in such a notice, only on the ground that it would be unduly onerous to comply with the notice or the requirement in it.

(4) But in a case to which section 128(4) or 129(5) applies, a notice of review or notice of appeal may be given on any grounds.

(5) A person may give notice of review or notice of appeal in relation to a decision to give a notice under section 127 or 130, or in relation to a requirement in such a notice, only on the ground that it would be unduly onerous to comply with the notice or the requirement in it.

(6) But in a case to which subsection (7) applies—

(a) a notice of review or notice of appeal may be given on any grounds,

(b) a notice of review or notice of appeal may not be given in relation to a decision to include a requirement in a notice under section 127—

(i) if it is a requirement to provide any information, or produce any document, that forms part of the statutory records of the parent undertaking or any of its subsidiary undertakings, or

(ii) if it is a requirement to provide any information, or produce any document, that forms part of the partner's statutory records.

(7) This subsection applies where notice is given under section 127—

(a) to a parent undertaking for the purposes of checking the tax position of one or more subsidiary undertakings whose identities are not known to the officer giving the notice, or

(b) to one or more partners for the purpose of checking the tax position of one or more of the other partners whose identities are not known to the officer giving the notice.

(8) In this section “parent undertaking”, “subsidiary undertaking” and “undertaking” have the same meanings as in section 128.

Commencement Information

I118 S. 152 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

153 Power to modify section 152 S

The Scottish Ministers may by order modify section 152(2) to (8) to provide for certain decisions in relation to the giving of information notices or in relation to any requirement in such notices—

(a) to be appealable for the purposes of section 233(1)(h),

(b) to be appealable for the purposes of that paragraph on certain grounds or in certain circumstances only,

(c) to not be appealable.

Commencement Information

I119 S. 153 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

154 Disposal of reviews and appeals in relation to information notices S

(1) This section applies where a person gives notice of review or notice of appeal in relation to a decision relating to an information notice or a requirement in it.

(2) Where the conclusions of the review under section 238 uphold or vary the information notice or requirement, the person to whom the information notice was given must comply with the notice or requirement within such period as is reasonably specified by a designated officer.

(3) But subsection (2) does not apply where section 240(2) applies (conclusions of review not to have effect of settlement agreement if mediation entered into or notice of appeal given).

(4) Where the tribunal, under section 244 (disposal of appeals), upholds or varies the information notice or requirement, the person to whom the information notice was given must comply with the notice or requirement—

(a) within the period specified by the tribunal, or

(b) if the tribunal does not specify a period, within such period as is reasonably specified by a designated officer following the tribunal's decision.

(5) A decision of the tribunal on an appeal to which this section applies is final.

Commencement Information

I120 S. 154 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

CHAPTER 7 S Offences relating to information notices

155 Offence of concealing etc. documents following information notice S

(1) A person commits an offence if—

(a) the person is required to produce a document by an information notice the giving of which was approved by the tribunal, and

(b) the person conceals, destroys or otherwise disposes of (or arranges for the concealment, destruction or disposal of) that document.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the person acts after the document has been produced to a designated officer in accordance with the information notice, unless a designated officer has notified the person that the document must continue to be available for inspection (and has not withdrawn the notification).

(3) Subsection (1) does not apply, in a case to which section 133 applies, if the person acts after the expiry of the period of 6 months beginning with the day on which a copy of the document was so produced unless, before the expiry of that period, a designated officer made a request for the original document under section 133(2)(b).

(4) A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum,

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or a fine (or both).

Commencement Information

I121 S. 155 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

156 Offence of concealing etc. documents following information notification S

(1) A person commits an offence if the person conceals, destroys or otherwise disposes of (or arranges for the concealment, destruction or disposal of) a document after the person has been notified by a designated officer that—

(a) the document is to be, or is likely to be, the subject of an information notice addressed to that person, and

(b) a designated officer either intends, under section 125, or is required, under section 127 or 130, to seek the approval of the tribunal to the giving of the notice in respect of the document.

(2) A person does not commit an offence under this section if the person acts after—

(a) at least 6 months has expired since the person was (or was last) so informed, or

(b) an information notice has been given to the person requiring the document to be produced.

(3) A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum,

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or a fine (or both).

Commencement Information

I122 S. 156 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

PART 8 S Penalties

CHAPTER 1 S Penalties: introductory

Overview S

157 Penalties: overview S

This Part is arranged as follows—

• Chapter 2 sets out penalties relating to failure to make tax returns or to pay tax,

• Chapter 3 sets out penalties relating to inaccuracies,

• Chapter 4 sets out penalties relating to investigations, and

• Chapter 5 sets out other administrative penalties.

Commencement Information

I123 S. 157 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Double jeopardy S

158 Double jeopardy S

A person is not liable to a penalty under this Act in respect of anything in respect of which the person has been convicted of an offence.

Commencement Information

I124 S. 158 in force at 16.2.2015 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2015/18, art. 2, sch. 1

CHAPTER 2 S Penalties for failure to make returns or pay tax

Penalties for failure to make returns S

159 Penalty for failure to make returns S

(1) A penalty is payable by a person (“P”) where P fails to make a tax return specified in the table below on or before the filing date (see section 82).

	Tax to which return relates	Return
1.	Land and buildings transaction tax	(a) Return under section 29, 31, 33 or 34 of the LBTT(S) Act 2013. (b) Return under paragraph 10, 11, 20, 22 or 30 of Schedule 19 to the LBTT(S) Act 2013.
2.	Scottish landfill tax	Return under regulations made under section 25 of the LT(S) Act 2014.

(2) If P's failure falls within more than one provision of this section or of sections 160 to 167, P is liable to a penalty under each of those provisions.

(3) But where P is liable for a penalty under more than one provision of this section or of sections 160 to 167 which is determined by reference to a liability to tax, the aggregate of the amounts of those penalties must not exceed 100% of the liability to tax.

(4) In sections 160 to 167 “penalty date”, in relation to a return, means the day after the filing date.

(5) Sections 160 to 163 apply in the case of a return falling within item 1 of the table.

(6) Sections 164 to 167 apply in the case of a return falling within item 2 of the table.

Commencement Information

I125 S. 159 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Amounts of penalties for failure to make returns: LBTT S

160 Land and buildings transaction tax: first penalty for failure to make return S

(1) This section applies in the case of a failure to make a return falling within item 1 of the table in section 159.

(2) P is liable to a penalty under this section of £100.

Commencement Information

I126 S. 160 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

161 Land and buildings transaction tax: 3 month penalty for failure to make return S

(1) P is liable to a penalty under this section if (and only if)—

(a) P's failure continues after the end of the period of 3 months beginning with the penalty date,

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

F4 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2) The penalty under this section is £10 for each day that the failure continues during the period of 90 days beginning with the [F5 day after the end of the period mentioned in subsection (1)(a)].

F6 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F3 S. 161(1)(b) repealed (11.3.2020) by The Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Act 2014 Amendment Regulations 2020 (S.S.I. 2020/73), regs. 1(1), 2(a) (with reg. 1(2))

F4 S. 161(1)(c) repealed (11.3.2020) by The Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Act 2014 Amendment Regulations 2020 (S.S.I. 2020/73), regs. 1(1), 2(a) (with reg. 1(2))

F5 Words in s. 161(2) substituted (11.3.2020) by The Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Act 2014 Amendment Regulations 2020 (S.S.I. 2020/73), regs. 1(1), 2(b) (with reg. 1(2))

F6 S. 161(3) repealed (11.3.2020) by The Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Act 2014 Amendment Regulations 2020 (S.S.I. 2020/73), regs. 1(1), 2(c) (with reg. 1(2))

Commencement Information

I127 S. 161 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

162 Land and buildings transaction tax: 6 month penalty for failure to make return S

(1) P is liable to a penalty under this section if (and only if) P's failure continues after the end of the period of 6 months beginning with the penalty date.

(2) The penalty under this section is the greater of—

(a) 5% of any liability to tax which would have been shown in the return in question, and

(b) £300.

Commencement Information

I128 S. 162 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

163 Land and buildings transaction tax: 12 month penalty for failure to make return S

(1) P is liable to a penalty under this section if (and only if) P's failure continues after the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the penalty date.

(2) Where, by failing to make the return, P deliberately withholds information which would enable or assist Revenue Scotland to assess P's liability to tax, the penalty under this section is the greater of—

(a) 100% of any liability to tax which would have been shown in the return in question, and

(b) £300.

(3) In any case not falling within subsection (2), the penalty under this section is the greater of—

(a) 5% of any liability to tax which would have been shown in the return in question, and

(b) £300.

Commencement Information

I129 S. 163 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Amounts of penalties for failure to make returns: Scottish landfill tax S

164 Scottish landfill tax: first penalty for failure to make return S

(1) This section applies in the case of a failure to make a return falling within item 2 of the table in section 159.

(2) P is liable to a penalty under this section of £100.

(3) In addition, a penalty period begins to run on the penalty date for the return.

(4) The penalty period ends with the day 12 months after the filing date for the return, unless it is extended under section 165(2)(c).

Commencement Information

I130 S. 164 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

165 Scottish landfill tax: multiple failures to make return S

(1) This section applies if—

(a) a penalty period has begun under section 164 because P has failed to make a return (“return A”), and

(b) before the end of the period, P fails to make another return (“return B”) falling within the same item in the table as return A.

(2) In such a case—

(a) section 164(2) and (3) do not apply to the failure to make return B,

(b) P is liable to a penalty under this section for that failure, and

(c) the penalty period that has begun is extended so that it ends with the day 12 months after the filing date for return B.

(3) The amount of the penalty under this section is determined by reference to the number of returns that P has failed to make during the penalty period.

(4) If the failure to make return B is P's first failure to make a return during the penalty period, P is liable, at the time of the failure, to a penalty of £200.

(5) If the failure to make return B is P's second failure to make a return during the penalty period, P is liable, at the time of the failure, to a penalty of £300.

(6) If the failure to make return B is P's third or subsequent failure to make a return during the penalty period, P is liable, at the time of the failure, to a penalty of £400.

(7) For the purposes of this section, in accordance with subsection (1)(b), the references in subsections (3) to (6) to a return are references to a return falling within the same item in the table as returns A and B.

(8) A penalty period may be extended more than once under subsection (2)(c).

Commencement Information

I131 S. 165 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

166 Scottish landfill tax: 6 month penalty for failure to make return S

(1) P is liable to a penalty under this section if (and only if) P's failure continues after the end of the period of 6 months beginning with the penalty date.

(2) The penalty under this section is the greater of—

(a) 5% of any liability to tax which would have been shown in the return in question, and

(b) £300.

Commencement Information

I132 S. 166 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

167 Scottish landfill tax: 12 month penalty for failure to make return S

(1) P is liable to a penalty under this section if (and only if) P's failure continues after the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the penalty date.

(2) Where, by failing to make the return, P deliberately withholds information which would enable or assist Revenue Scotland to assess P's liability to tax, the penalty under this section is the greater of—

(a) 100% of any liability to tax which would have been shown in the return in question, and

(b) £300.

(3) In any case not falling within subsection (2), the penalty under this section is the greater of—

(a) 5% of any liability to tax which would have been shown in the return in question, and

(b) £300.

Commencement Information

I133 S. 167 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Penalties for failure to pay tax S

168 Penalty for failure to pay tax S

(1) A penalty is payable by a person (“P”) where P fails to pay an amount of tax mentioned in column 3 of the following table on or before the date mentioned in column 4 of the table.

	Tax to which payment relates	Amount of tax payable	Date after which penalty incurred
1.	Land and buildings transaction tax	(a) Amount payable under section 40 of the LBTT(S) Act 2013. (b) Additional amount payable as a result of an adjustment under section 66 of this Act. (c) Additional amount payable as a result of an amendment under section 83 of this Act. (d) Additional amount payable as a result of an amendment under section 87 of this Act. (e) Additional amount payable as a result of an amendment under section 93 of this Act. (f) Amount assessed under section 95 of this Act in the absence of a return. (g) Amount payable as a result of an assessment under section 98 of this Act.	(a), (d) and (f) The date falling 30 days after the date by which the amount must be paid. (b), (c), (e) and (g) The date by which the amount must be paid.
2.	Scottish landfill tax	(a) Amount payable under regulations made under section 25 of the LT(S) Act 2014. (b) Additional amount payable as a result of an adjustment under section 66 of this Act. (c) Additional amount payable as a result of an amendment under section 83 of this Act. (d) Additional amount payable as a result of an amendment under section 87 of this Act. (e) Additional amount payable as a result of an amendment under section 93 of this Act. (f) Amount assessed under section 95 of this Act in the absence of a return. (g) Amount payable as a result of an assessment under section 98 of this Act.	(a), (b), (c), (e) and (g) The date by which the amount must be paid. (d) and (f) The date falling 30 days after the date by which the amount must be paid.

(2) If P's failure falls within more than one provision of this section or of sections 169 to 173, P is liable to a penalty under each of those provisions.

(3) In sections 169 to 173 “penalty date”, in relation to an amount of tax, means the day after the date mentioned in or for the purposes of column 4 of the table in relation to that amount.

(4) Section 169 applies in the case of a payment falling within item 1 of the table.

(5) Sections 170 to 173 apply in the case of a payment falling within item 2 of the table.

Commencement Information

I134 S. 168 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Amounts of penalties for failure to pay tax: LBTT S

169 Land and buildings transaction tax: amounts of penalties for failure to pay tax S

(1) This section applies in the case of a payment of tax falling within item 1 of the table in section 168.

(2) P is liable to a penalty of 5% of the unpaid tax.

(3) If any amount of the tax is unpaid after the end of the period of 5 months beginning with the penalty date, P is liable to a penalty of 5% of that amount.

(4) If any amount of the tax is unpaid after the end of the period of 11 months beginning with the penalty date, P is liable to a penalty of 5% of that amount.

Commencement Information

I135 S. 169 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Amounts of penalties for failure to pay tax: Scottish landfill tax S

170 Scottish landfill tax: first penalty for failure to pay tax S

(1) This section applies in the case of a payment of tax falling within item 2 of the table in section 168.

(2) P is liable to a penalty of 1% of the unpaid tax.

(3) In addition, a penalty period begins to run on the penalty date for the payment of tax.

(4) The penalty period ends with the day 12 months after the date specified in or for the purposes of column 4 of the table in section 168 for the payment, unless it is extended under section 171(2)(c).

Commencement Information

I136 S. 170 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

171 Scottish landfill tax: penalties for multiple failures to pay tax S

(1) This section applies if—

(a) a penalty period has begun under section 170 because P has failed to make a payment (“payment A”), and

(b) before the end of the period, P fails to make another payment (“payment B”) falling within the same item in the table in section 168 as payment A.

(2) In such a case—

(a) section 170(2) and (3) do not apply to the failure to make payment B,

(b) P is liable to a penalty under this section for that failure, and

(c) the penalty period that has begun is extended so that it ends with the day 12 months after the date specified in or for the purposes of column 4 for payment B.

(3) The amount of the penalty under this section is determined by reference to the number of defaults that P has made during the penalty period.

(4) If the default is P's first default during the penalty period, P is liable, at the time of the default, to a penalty of 2% of the amount of the default.

(5) If the default is P's second default during the penalty period, P is liable, at the time of the default, to a penalty of 3% of the amount of the default.

(6) If the default is P's third or subsequent default during the penalty period, P is liable, at the time of the default, to a penalty of 4% of the amount of the default.

(7) For the purposes of this section—

(a) P makes a default when P fails to pay an amount of tax in full on or before the date on which it becomes due and payable,

(b) in accordance with subsection (1)(b), the references in subsections (3) to (6) to a default are references to a default in relation to the tax to which payments A and B relate,

(c) a default counts for the purposes of those subsections if (but only if) the period to which the payment relates is less than 6 months,

(d) the amount of a default is the amount which P fails to pay.

(8) A penalty period may be extended more than once under subsection (2)(c).

Commencement Information

I137 S. 171 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

172 Scottish landfill tax: 6 month penalty for failure to pay tax S

If any amount of tax is unpaid after the end of the period of 6 months beginning with the penalty date, P is liable to a penalty of 5% of that amount.

Commencement Information

I138 S. 172 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

173 Scottish landfill tax: 12 month penalty for failure to pay tax S

If any amount of tax is unpaid after the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the penalty date, P is liable to a penalty of 5% of that amount.

Commencement Information

I139 S. 173 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Penalties under Chapter 2: general S

174 Interaction of penalties under Chapter 2 with other penalties S

Where P is liable to a penalty under this Chapter which is determined by reference to a liability to tax, the amount of that penalty is to be reduced by the amount of any other penalty incurred by P (other than a penalty under this Chapter or section 209), if the amount of the penalty is determined by reference to the same liability to tax.

Commencement Information

I140 S. 174 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

175 Reduction in penalty under sections 159 to 167 for disclosure S

(1) Revenue Scotland may reduce a penalty under sections 159 to 167 where P discloses information which has been withheld by a failure to make a return (“relevant information”).

(2) P discloses relevant information by—

(a) telling Revenue Scotland about it,

(b) giving Revenue Scotland reasonable help in quantifying any tax unpaid by reason of its having been withheld, and

(c) allowing Revenue Scotland access to records for the purpose of checking how much tax is so unpaid.

(3) Reductions under this section may reflect—

(a) whether the disclosure was prompted or unprompted, and

(b) the quality of the disclosure.

(4) Disclosure of relevant information—

(a) is “unprompted” if made at a time when P has no reason to believe that Revenue Scotland has discovered or is about to discover the relevant information, and

(b) otherwise, is “prompted”.

(5) In relation to disclosure, “quality” includes timing, nature and extent.

Commencement Information

I141 S. 175 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

176 Suspension of penalty under sections 168 to 173 during currency of agreement for deferred payment S

(1) This section applies if—

(a) P fails to pay an amount of tax when it becomes due and payable,

(b) P makes a request to Revenue Scotland that payment of the amount of tax be deferred, and

(c) Revenue Scotland agrees that payment of that amount may be deferred for a period (“the deferral period”).

(2) If P would (ignoring this subsection) become liable, between the date on which P makes the request and the end of the deferral period, to a penalty under sections 168 to 173 for failing to pay that amount, P is not liable to that penalty.

(3) But if—

(a) P breaks the agreement, and

(b) Revenue Scotland serves on P a notice specifying any penalty to which P would become liable (ignoring subsection (2)),

P becomes liable to that penalty at the date of the notice.

(4) P breaks an agreement if—

(a) P fails to pay the amount of tax in question when the deferral period ends, or

(b) the deferral is subject to P complying with a condition (including a condition that part of the amount be paid during the deferral period) and P fails to comply with it.

(5) If the agreement mentioned in subsection (1)(c) is varied at any time by a further agreement between P and Revenue Scotland, this section applies from that time to the agreement as varied.

Commencement Information

I142 S. 176 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

177 Special reduction in penalty under Chapter 2 S

(1) Revenue Scotland may reduce a penalty under this Chapter if it thinks it right to do so because of special circumstances.

(2) In subsection (1) “special circumstances” does not include—

(a) ability to pay, or

(b) the fact that a potential loss of revenue from one taxpayer is balanced by a potential over-payment by another.

(3) In subsection (1) the reference to reducing a penalty includes a reference to—

(a) remitting a penalty entirely,

(b) suspending a penalty, and

(c) agreeing a compromise in relation to proceedings for a penalty.

(4) In this section references to a penalty include references to any interest in relation to the penalty.

(5) The powers in this section also apply after a decision of a tribunal or a court in relation to the penalty.

Commencement Information

I143 S. 177 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

178 Reasonable excuse for failure to make return or pay tax S

(1) If P satisfies Revenue Scotland or (on appeal) the tribunal that there is a reasonable excuse for a failure to make a return, liability to a penalty under sections 159 to 167 does not arise in relation to that failure.

(2) If P satisfies Revenue Scotland or (on appeal) the tribunal that there is a reasonable excuse for a failure to make a payment, liability to a penalty under sections 168 to 173 does not arise in relation to that failure.

(3) For the purposes of subsections (1) and (2)—

(a) an insufficiency of funds is not a reasonable excuse unless attributable to events outside P's control,

(b) where P relies on any other person to do anything, that is not a reasonable excuse unless P took reasonable care to avoid the failure, and

(c) where P had a reasonable excuse for the failure but the excuse has ceased, P is to be treated as having continued to have the excuse if the failure is remedied without unreasonable delay after the excuse ceased.

Commencement Information

I144 S. 178 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

179 Assessment of penalties under Chapter 2 S

(1) Where P becomes liable to a penalty under this Chapter, Revenue Scotland must—

(a) assess the penalty,

(b) notify the person, and

(c) state in the notice the period, or the transaction, in respect of which the penalty is assessed.

(2) A penalty under this Chapter must be paid before the end of the period of 30 days beginning with the day on which notification of the penalty is issued.

(3) An assessment of a penalty under this Chapter—

(a) is to be treated for enforcement purposes as an assessment to tax, and

(b) may be combined with an assessment to tax.

(4) In relation to penalties under sections 159 to 167—

(a) a supplementary assessment may be made in respect of a penalty if an earlier assessment operated by reference to an underestimate of the liability to tax which would have been shown in a return,

(b) a replacement assessment may be made in respect of a penalty if an earlier assessment operated by reference to an overestimate of the liability to tax which would have been shown in a return.

(5) In relation to penalties under sections 168 to 173—

(a) a supplementary assessment may be made in respect of a penalty if an earlier assessment operated by reference to an underestimate of an amount of tax which was owing,

(b) if an assessment in respect of a penalty is based on an amount of tax owing that is found by Revenue Scotland to be excessive, Revenue Scotland may by notice to P amend the assessment so that it is based on the correct amount.

(6) An amendment made under subsection (5)(b)—

(a) does not affect when the penalty must be paid,

(b) may be made after the last day on which the assessment in question could have been made under section 180.

Commencement Information

I145 S. 179 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

180 Time limit for assessment of penalties under Chapter 2 S

(1) An assessment of a penalty under this Chapter in respect of any amount must be made on or before the later of date A and (where it applies) date B.

(2) Date A is the last day of the period of 2 years beginning with—

(a) in the case of failure to make a return, the filing date, or

(b) in the case of failure to pay tax, the last date on which payment may be made without paying a penalty.

(3) Date B is the last day of the period of 12 months beginning with—

(a) in the case of failure to make a return—

(i) the end of the appeal period for the assessment of the liability to tax which would have been shown in the return, or

(ii) if there is no such assessment, the date on which that liability is ascertained or it is ascertained that the liability is nil, or

(b) in the case of failure to pay tax—

(i) the end of the appeal period for the assessment of the amount of tax in respect of which the penalty is assessed, or

(ii) if there is no such assessment, the date on which that amount of tax is ascertained.

(4) In subsection (3)(a)(i) and (b)(i) “appeal period” means the period during which—

(a) an appeal could be brought, or

(b) an appeal that has been brought has not been determined or withdrawn.

Commencement Information

I146 S. 180 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

181 Power to change penalty provisions in Chapter 2 S

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision (or further provision) about penalties under this Chapter.

(2) Provision under subsection (1) includes provision—

(a) about the circumstances in which a penalty is payable,

(b) about the amounts of penalties,

(c) about the procedure for issuing penalties,

(d) about appealing penalties,

(e) about enforcing penalties.

(3) Regulations under subsection (1) may not create criminal offences.

(4) Regulations under subsection (1) may modify any enactment (including this Act).

(5) Regulations under subsection (1) do not apply to a failure which began before the date on which the regulations come into force.

Commencement Information

I147 S. 181 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

CHAPTER 3 S Penalties relating to inaccuracies

Penalties for inaccuracies in taxpayer documents S

182 Penalty for inaccuracy in taxpayer document S

(1) A penalty is payable by a person (“P”) where—

(a) P gives Revenue Scotland a document of a kind mentioned in the table below, and

(b) conditions A and B below are met.

(2) Condition A is that the document contains an inaccuracy which amounts to, or leads to—

(a) an understatement of a liability to tax,

(b) a false or inflated statement of a loss, exemption or relief, or

(c) a false or inflated claim for relief or to repayment of tax.

(3) Condition B is that the inaccuracy was—

(a) deliberate on P's part (“a deliberate inaccuracy”), or

(b) careless on P's part (“a careless inaccuracy”).

(4) An inaccuracy is careless if it is due to a failure by P to take reasonable care.

(5) An inaccuracy in a document given by P to Revenue Scotland, which was neither deliberate nor careless on P's part when the document was given, is to be treated as careless if P—

(a) discovered the inaccuracy at some later time, and

(b) did not take reasonable steps to inform Revenue Scotland.

(6) Where a document contains more than one inaccuracy, a penalty is payable for each inaccuracy.

	Tax	Document
1.	Land and buildings transaction tax	(a) Return under section 29, 31, 33 or 34 of the LBTT(S) Act 2013. (b) Return under paragraph 10, 11, 20, 22 or 30 of Schedule 19 to the LBTT(S) Act 2013. (c) Application under section 41 of the LBTT(S) Act 2013. (d) Amended return under section 83 of this Act. (e) Claim under section 106, 107 or 108 of this Act.
2.	Scottish landfill tax	(a) Return under regulations made under section 25 of the LT(S) Act 2014. (b) Amended return under section 83 of this Act. (c) Claim under section 106, 107 or 108 of this Act.

(7) Section 183 applies in the case of a document falling within item 1 or 2 of the table.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C9 S. 182 modified by SSI 2015/3 reg. 39(2) (as inserted (1.4.2015) by The Scottish Landfill Tax (Administration) Amendment Regulations 2015 (S.S.I. 2015/152), regs. 1(2), 11)

Commencement Information

I148 S. 182 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

183 Amount of penalty for inaccuracy in taxpayer document S

(1) This section sets out the penalty payable under section 182.

(2) For a deliberate inaccuracy, the penalty is 100% of the potential lost revenue.

(3) For a careless inaccuracy, the penalty is 30% of the potential lost revenue.

(4) In this section and sections 185 and 186 “potential lost revenue” has the meaning given in sections 187 to 190.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C10 S. 183 applied by SSI 2015/3 reg. 39(2) (as inserted (1.4.2015) by The Scottish Landfill Tax (Administration) Amendment Regulations 2015 (S.S.I. 2015/152), regs. 1(2), 11)

Commencement Information

I149 S. 183 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

184 Suspension of penalty for careless inaccuracy under section 182 S

(1) Revenue Scotland may suspend all or part of a penalty for a careless inaccuracy under section 182 by notice to P.

(2) A notice must specify—

(a) what part of the penalty is to be suspended,

(b) a period of suspension not exceeding 2 years, and

(c) conditions of suspension to be complied with by P.

(3) Revenue Scotland may suspend all or part of a penalty only if compliance with a condition of suspension would help P to avoid becoming liable to further penalties under section 182 for careless inaccuracy.

(4) A condition of suspension may specify—

(a) action to be taken,

(b) a period within which it may be taken.

(5) On the expiry of the period of suspension—

(a) if P satisfies Revenue Scotland that the conditions of suspension have been complied with, the suspended penalty or part is cancelled, and

(b) otherwise, the suspended penalty or part becomes payable.

(6) If, during the period of suspension of all or part of a penalty under section 182, P becomes liable for another penalty under that section, the suspended penalty or part becomes payable.

Commencement Information

I150 S. 184 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Penalty for inaccuracy attributable to another person S

185 Penalty for inaccuracy in taxpayer document attributable to another person S

(1) A penalty is payable by a person (“T”) where—

(a) another person (“P”) gives Revenue Scotland a document of a kind mentioned in the table in section 182,

(b) the document contains a relevant inaccuracy, and

(c) the inaccuracy was attributable—

(i) to T deliberately supplying false information to P (whether directly or indirectly), or

(ii) to T deliberately withholding information from P,

with the intention of the document containing the inaccuracy.

(2) A “relevant inaccuracy” is an inaccuracy which amounts to, or leads to—

(a) an understatement of a liability to tax,

(b) a false or inflated statement of a loss, exemption or relief, or

(c) a false or inflated claim for relief or to repayment of tax.

(3) A penalty is payable by T under this section in respect of an inaccuracy whether or not P is liable to a penalty under section 182 in respect of the same inaccuracy.

(4) The penalty payable under this section is 100% of the potential lost revenue.

Commencement Information

I151 S. 185 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Penalty for failure to notify under-assessment S

186 Penalty for failure to notify under-assessment S

(1) A penalty is payable by a person (“P”) where—

(a) a Revenue Scotland assessment understates P's liability to a devolved tax, and

(b) P has failed to take reasonable steps to notify Revenue Scotland, within the period of 30 days beginning with the date of the assessment, that it is an under-assessment.

(2) In deciding what steps (if any) were reasonable, Revenue Scotland must consider—

(a) whether P knew, or should have known, about the under-assessment, and

(b) what steps it would have been reasonable to take to notify Revenue Scotland.

(3) The penalty payable under this section is 30% of the potential lost revenue.

(4) In this section—

(a) “Revenue Scotland assessment” includes “Revenue Scotland determination”, and

(b) accordingly, references to an under-assessment include an under-determination.

Commencement Information

I152 S. 186 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Penalties under Chapter 3: general S

187 Potential lost revenue: normal rule S

(1) The “potential lost revenue” in respect of—

(a) an inaccuracy in a document (including an inaccuracy attributable to a supply of false information or withholding of information), or

(b) a failure to notify an under-assessment,

is the additional amount due and payable in respect of tax as a result of correcting the inaccuracy or under-assessment.

(2) The reference in subsection (1) to the additional amount due and payable includes a reference to—

(a) an amount payable to Revenue Scotland having been erroneously paid by way of repayment of tax, and

(b) an amount which would have been repayable by Revenue Scotland had the inaccuracy or assessment not been corrected.

Commencement Information

I153 S. 187 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

188 Potential lost revenue: multiple errors S

(1) Where P is liable to a penalty under section 182 in respect of more than one inaccuracy, and the calculation of potential lost revenue under section 187 in respect of each inaccuracy depends on the order in which they are corrected, careless inaccuracies are to be taken to be corrected before deliberate inaccuracies.

(2) In calculating potential lost revenue where P is liable to a penalty under section 182 in respect of one or more understatements in one or more documents relating to a tax period, account is to be taken of any overstatement in any document given by P which relates to the same tax period.

(3) In subsection (2)—

(a) “understatement” means an inaccuracy that meets condition A in section 182, and

(b) “overstatement” means an inaccuracy that does not meet that condition.

(4) For the purpose of subsection (2) overstatements are to be set against understatements in the following order—

(a) understatements in respect of which P is not liable to a penalty,

(b) careless understatements,

(c) deliberate understatements.

(5) In calculating for the purposes of a penalty under section 182 potential lost revenue in respect of a document given by or on behalf of P, no account is to be taken of the fact that a potential loss of revenue from P is or may be balanced by a potential over-payment by another person (except to the extent than an enactment requires or permits a person's tax liability to be adjusted by reference to P's).

Commencement Information

I154 S. 188 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

189 Potential lost revenue: losses S

(1) Where an inaccuracy has the result that a loss is wrongly recorded for purposes of a devolved tax and the loss has been wholly used to reduce the amount due and payable in respect of tax, the potential lost revenue is calculated in accordance with section 187.

(2) Where an inaccuracy has the result that a loss is wrongly recorded for purposes of a devolved tax and the loss has not been wholly used to reduce the amount due and payable in respect of tax, the potential lost revenue is—

(a) the potential lost revenue calculated in accordance with section 187 in respect of any part of the loss that has been used to reduce the amount due and payable in respect of tax, plus

(b) 10% of any part that has not.

(3) Subsections (1) and (2) apply both—

(a) to a case where no loss would have been recorded but for the inaccuracy, and

(b) to a case where a loss of a different amount would have been recorded (but in that case subsections (1) and (2) apply only to the difference between the amount recorded and the true amount).

(4) The potential lost revenue in respect of a loss is nil where, because of the nature of the loss or P's circumstances, there is no reasonable prospect of the loss being used to support a claim to reduce a tax liability (of any person).

Commencement Information

I155 S. 189 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

190 Potential lost revenue: delayed tax S

(1) Where an inaccuracy resulted in an amount of tax being declared later than it should have been (“the delayed tax”), the potential lost revenue is—

(a) 5% of the delayed tax for each year of the delay, or

(b) a percentage of the delayed tax, for each separate period of delay of less than a year, equating to 5% per year.

(2) This section does not apply to a case to which section 189 applies.

Commencement Information

I156 S. 190 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

191 Special reduction in penalty under this Chapter S

(1) Revenue Scotland may reduce a penalty under this Chapter if it thinks it right to do so because of special circumstances.

(2) In subsection (1) “special circumstances” does not include—

(a) ability to pay, or

(b) the fact that a potential loss of revenue from one taxpayer is balanced by a potential over-payment by another.

(3) In subsection (1) the reference to reducing a penalty includes a reference to—

(a) remitting a penalty entirely,

(b) suspending a penalty, and

(c) agreeing a compromise in relation to proceedings for a penalty.

(4) In this section references to a penalty include references to any interest in relation to the penalty.

(5) The powers in this section also apply after a decision of a tribunal or a court in relation to the penalty.

Commencement Information

I157 S. 191 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

192 Reduction in penalty under this Chapter for disclosure S

(1) Revenue Scotland may reduce a penalty under this Chapter where a person makes a qualifying disclosure.

(2) A “qualifying disclosure” means disclosure of—

(a) an inaccuracy,

(b) a supply of false information or withholding of information, or

(c) a failure to disclose an under-assessment.

(3) A person makes a qualifying disclosure by—

(a) telling Revenue Scotland about it,

(b) giving Revenue Scotland reasonable help in quantifying the inaccuracy, the inaccuracy attributable to the supply of false information or withholding of information, or the under-assessment, and

(c) allowing Revenue Scotland access to records for the purpose of ensuring that the inaccuracy, the inaccuracy attributable to the supply of false information or withholding of information, or the under-assessment is fully corrected.

(4) Reductions under this section may reflect—

(a) whether the disclosure was prompted or unprompted, and

(b) the quality of the disclosure.

(5) Disclosure of relevant information—

(a) is “unprompted” if made at a time when the person making it has no reason to believe that Revenue Scotland has discovered or is about to discover the inaccuracy, the supply of false information or withholding of information, or the under-assessment, and

(b) otherwise, is “prompted”.

(6) In relation to disclosure, “quality” includes timing, nature and extent.

Commencement Information

I158 S. 192 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

193 Assessment of penalties under this Chapter S

(1) Where a person becomes liable to a penalty under this Chapter, Revenue Scotland must—

(a) assess the penalty,

(b) notify the person, and

(c) state in the notice the period in respect of which the penalty is assessed.

(2) A penalty under this Chapter must be paid before the end of the period of 30 days beginning with the day on which notification of the penalty is issued.

(3) An assessment of a penalty under this Chapter—

(a) is to be treated for enforcement purposes as an assessment to tax, and

(b) may be combined with an assessment to tax.

(4) An assessment of a penalty under section 182 or 185 must be made before the end of the period of 12 months beginning with—

(a) the end of the appeal period for the decision correcting the inaccuracy, or

(b) if there is no assessment to the tax concerned within paragraph (a), the date on which the inaccuracy is corrected.

(5) An assessment of a penalty under section 186 must be made before the end of the period of 12 months beginning with—

(a) the end of the appeal period for the assessment of tax which corrected the understatement, or

(b) if there is no assessment within paragraph (a), the date on which the understatement is corrected.

(6) In subsections (4) and (5) “appeal period” means the period during which—

(a) an appeal could be brought, or

(b) an appeal that has been brought has not been determined or withdrawn.

(7) Subject to subsections (4) and (5), a supplementary assessment may be made in respect of a penalty if an earlier assessment operated by reference to an underestimate of potential lost revenue.

Commencement Information

I159 S. 193 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

194 Power to change penalty provisions in Chapter 3 S

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision (or further provision) about penalties under this Chapter.

(2) Provision under subsection (1) includes provision—

(a) about the circumstances in which a penalty is payable,

(b) about the amounts of penalties,

(c) about the procedure for issuing penalties,

(d) about appealing penalties,

(e) about enforcing penalties.

(3) Regulations under subsection (1) may not create criminal offences.

(4) Regulations under subsection (1) may modify any enactment (including this Act).

(5) Regulations under subsection (1) do not apply to—

(a) a failure which began before the date on which the regulations come into force, and

(b) an inaccuracy in any information or document provided to Revenue Scotland before that date.

Commencement Information

I160 S. 194 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

CHAPTER 4 S Penalties relating to investigations

Penalties for failure to comply or obstruction S

195 Penalties for failure to comply or obstruction S

(1) This section applies to a person who—

(a) fails to comply with an information notice, or

(b) deliberately obstructs a designated officer or a person authorised by the officer in the course of an inspection or in the exercise of a power that has been approved by the tribunal under section 147.

(2) The person is liable to a penalty of £300.

(3) The reference to a person who fails to comply with an information notice includes a person who conceals, destroys or otherwise disposes of (or arranges for the concealment, destruction or disposal of) a document in breach of section 198 or 199.

Commencement Information

I161 S. 195 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

196 Daily default penalties for failure to comply or obstruction S

(1) This section applies if the failure or obstruction mentioned in section 195(1) continues after the date on which a penalty is imposed under that section in respect of the failure or obstruction.

(2) The person is liable to a further penalty or penalties not exceeding £60 for each subsequent day on which the failure or obstruction continues.

Commencement Information

I162 S. 196 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Penalties for inaccurate information or documents S

197 Penalties for inaccurate information or documents S

(1) This section applies if—

(a) in complying with an information notice, a person provides inaccurate information or produces a document that contains an inaccuracy, and

(b) condition A, B or C is met.

(2) Condition A is that the inaccuracy is careless or deliberate.

(3) An inaccuracy is careless if it is due to a failure by the person to take reasonable care.

(4) Condition B is that the person knows of the inaccuracy at the time the information is provided or the document produced but does not inform Revenue Scotland at that time.

(5) Condition C is that the person—

(a) discovers the inaccuracy some time later, and

(b) fails to take reasonable steps to inform Revenue Scotland.

(6) The person is liable to a penalty not exceeding £3,000.

(7) Where the information or document contains more than one inaccuracy, a penalty is payable for each inaccuracy.

Commencement Information

I163 S. 197 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Penalties for concealing, destroying etc. documents S

198 Concealing, destroying etc. documents following information notice S

(1) A person must not conceal, destroy or otherwise dispose of (or arrange for the concealment, destruction or disposal of) a document that is the subject of an information notice addressed to the person, unless subsection (2) or (3) applies.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the person acts after the document has been produced to a designated officer in accordance with the information notice, unless a designated officer has notified the person that the document must continue to be available for inspection (and has not withdrawn the notification).

(3) Subsection (1) does not apply, in a case to which section 133 applies, if the person acts after the expiry of the period of 6 months beginning with the day on which a copy of the document was produced in accordance with that section unless, before the expiry of that period, a designated officer made a request for the original document under section 133(2)(b).

Commencement Information

I164 S. 198 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

199 Concealing, destroying etc. documents following information notification S

(1) A person must not conceal, destroy or otherwise dispose of (or arrange for the concealment, destruction or disposal of) a document if a designated officer has notified the person that the document is to be, or is likely to be, the subject of an information notice addressed to that person, unless subsection (2) applies.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the person acts after—

(a) at least 6 months has expired since the person was (or was last) so notified, or

(b) an information notice has been given to the person requiring the document to be produced.

Commencement Information

I165 S. 199 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Penalties: failure to comply with time limit S

200 Failure to comply with time limit S

A failure by a person to do anything required to be done within a limited period of time does not give rise to liability to a penalty under section 195 or 196 if the person did it within such further time (if any) as a designated officer may have allowed.

Commencement Information

I166 S. 200 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Penalties under Chapter 4: general S

201 Reasonable excuse for failure to comply or obstruction S

(1) Liability to a penalty under section 195 or 196 does not arise if the person satisfies Revenue Scotland or (on appeal) the tribunal that there is a reasonable excuse for the failure or the obstruction of a designated officer or of a person authorised by the officer.

(2) For the purposes of this section—

(a) an insufficiency of funds is not a reasonable excuse unless attributable to events outside the person's control,

(b) where the person relies on another person to do anything, that is not a reasonable excuse unless the first person took reasonable care to avoid the failure or obstruction, and

(c) where the person had a reasonable excuse for the failure or obstruction but the excuse has ceased, the person is to be treated as having continued to have the excuse if the failure is remedied, or the obstruction stops, without unreasonable delay after the excuse ceased.

Commencement Information

I167 S. 201 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

202 Assessment of penalties under sections 195, 196 and 197 S

(1) Where a person becomes liable for a penalty under section 195, 196 or 197 Revenue Scotland must—

(a) assess the penalty, and

(b) notify the person.

(2) An assessment of a penalty under section 195 or 196 must be made within the period of 12 months beginning with the date on which the person became liable to the penalty, subject to subsection (3).

(3) In a case involving an information notice against which a person may appeal, an assessment of a penalty under section 195 or 196 must be made within the period of 12 months beginning with the latest of the following—

(a) the date on which the person became liable to the penalty,

(b) the end of the period in which notice of an appeal against the information notice could have been given, and

(c) if notice of such an appeal is given, the date on which the appeal is determined or withdrawn.

(4) An assessment of a penalty under section 197 must be made—

(a) within the period of 12 months beginning with the date on which the inaccuracy first came to the attention of a designated officer, and

(b) within the period of 6 years beginning with the date on which the person became liable to the penalty.

Commencement Information

I168 S. 202 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

203 Enforcement of penalties under sections 195, 196 and 197 S

(1) A penalty under section 195, 196 or 197 must be paid—

(a) before the end of the period of 30 days beginning with the date on which the notification under section 202 was issued,

(b) if a notice of review against the penalty is given, before the end of the period of 30 days beginning with the date on which the review is concluded,

(c) if, following review, mediation is entered into, before the end of the period of 30 days beginning with the date either Revenue Scotland or the person who gave the notice of review gave notice of withdrawal from mediation, or

(d) if a notice of an appeal against the penalty is given, before the end of the period of 30 days beginning with the date on which the appeal is determined or withdrawn.

(2) A penalty under section 195, 196 or 197 is to be treated for enforcement purposes as an assessment to tax.

Commencement Information

I169 S. 203 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

204 Increased daily default penalty S

(1) This section applies if—

(a) a penalty under section 196 is assessed under section 202 in respect of a person's failure to comply with a notice under section 127,

(b) the failure continues for more than 30 days beginning with the date on which notification of that assessment was issued, and

(c) the person has been told that an application may be made under this section for an increased daily penalty to be imposed.

(2) If this section applies, a designated officer may make an application to the tribunal for an increased daily penalty to be imposed on the person.

(3) If the tribunal decides that an increased daily penalty should be imposed, then for each applicable day on which the failure continues—

(a) the person is not liable to a penalty under section 196 for the failure, and

(b) the person is liable instead to a penalty under this section of an amount determined by the tribunal.

(4) The tribunal may not determine an amount exceeding £1,000 for each applicable day.

(5) In determining the amount the tribunal must have regard to—

(a) the likely cost to the person of complying with the notice,

(b) any benefits to the person of not complying with it, and

(c) any benefits to anyone else resulting from the person's non-compliance.

(6) If a person becomes liable to a penalty under this section, Revenue Scotland must notify the person.

(7) The notification must specify the day from which the increased penalty is to apply.

(8) That day and any subsequent day is an “applicable day” for the purposes of subsection (3).

Commencement Information

I170 S. 204 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

205 Enforcement of increased daily default penalty S

(1) A penalty under section 204 must be paid before the end of the period of 30 days beginning with the date on which the notification of the penalty is issued.

(2) A penalty under section 204 is to be treated for enforcement purposes as an assessment to tax.

Commencement Information

I171 S. 205 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

206 Tax-related penalty S

(1) This section applies where—

(a) a person becomes liable to a penalty under section 195,

(b) the failure or obstruction continues after a penalty is imposed under that section,

(c) a designated officer has reason to believe that, as a result of the failure or obstruction, the amount of tax that the person has paid, or is likely to pay, is significantly less than it would otherwise have been,

(d) before the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the relevant date, a designated officer makes an application to the Upper Tribunal for an additional penalty to be imposed on the person, and

(e) the Upper Tribunal decides that it is appropriate for an additional penalty to be imposed.

(2) The person is liable to a penalty of an amount decided by the Upper Tribunal.

(3) In deciding the amount of the penalty, the Upper Tribunal must have regard to the amount of tax which has not been, or is not likely to be, paid by the person.

(4) Where a person becomes liable to a penalty under this section, Revenue Scotland must notify the person.

(5) Any penalty under this section is in addition to the penalty or penalties under section 195 or 196.

(6) In subsection (1)(d) the “relevant date” means—

(a) in a case involving an information notice against which a person may appeal, the latest of—

(i) the date on which the person became liable to the penalty under section 195,

(ii) the end of the period in which notice of an appeal against the information notice could have been given, and

(iii) if notice of such an appeal is given, the date on which the appeal is determined or withdrawn, and

(b) in any other case, the date on which the person became liable to the penalty under section 195.

Commencement Information

I172 S. 206 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

207 Enforcement of tax-related penalty S

(1) A penalty under section 206 must be paid before the end of the period of 30 days beginning with the date on which the notification of the penalty is issued.

(2) A penalty under section 206 is to be treated for enforcement purposes as an assessment to tax.

Commencement Information

I173 S. 207 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

208 Power to change penalty provisions in Chapter 4 S

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision (or further provision) about penalties under this Chapter (other than penalties under section 206).

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) may include provision—

(a) about the circumstances in which a penalty is payable,

(b) about the amounts of penalties,

(c) about the procedure for issuing penalties,

(d) about appealing penalties,

(e) about enforcing penalties.

(3) Regulations under subsection (1) may also include provision for the purposes of sections 151(6) and (7) and 231(2) and (3).

(4) Regulations under subsection (1) may not create criminal offences.

(5) Regulations under subsection (1) may modify any enactment (including this Act).

(6) Regulations under subsection (1) do not apply to a failure or obstruction which began before the date on which the regulations come into force.

Commencement Information

I174 S. 208 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

CHAPTER 5 S Other administrative penalties

Penalties for failure to register for tax etc. S

209 Penalty for failure to register for tax etc. S

(1) A penalty is payable by a person (“P”) where—

(a) P fails to comply with a requirement imposed by or under section 22 or 23 of the LT(S) Act 2014 (“a relevant requirement”), and

(b) the failure was—

(i) deliberate on P's part (“a deliberate failure”), or

(ii) careless on P's part (“a careless failure”).

(2) A failure is careless if it is due to a failure by P to take reasonable care.

(3) A failure by P to comply with a relevant requirement, which was neither deliberate nor careless on P's part at an earlier time, is to be treated as careless if P—

(a) discovered the failure at some later time, and

(b) did not take reasonable steps to inform Revenue Scotland.

(4) Section 210 sets out the penalty under this section.

Commencement Information

I175 S. 209 in force at 16.2.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/18, art. 2, sch. 1

210 Amount of penalty for failure to register for tax etc. S

(1) This section sets out the penalty payable under section 209.

(2) For a deliberate failure, the penalty is 100% of the potential lost revenue.

(3) For a careless failure, the penalty is 30% of the potential lost revenue.

(4) In the case of a relevant requirement relating to Scottish landfill tax, the potential lost revenue is the amount of the tax (if any) for which P is liable for the period—

(a) beginning on the date with effect from which P is required in accordance with that requirement to be registered, and

(b) ending on the date on which Revenue Scotland received notification of, or otherwise became fully aware of, P's liability to be registered.

(5) In calculating potential lost revenue in respect of a failure to comply with a relevant requirement on the part of P no account is to be taken of the fact that a potential loss of revenue from P is or may be balanced by a potential over-payment by another person.

Commencement Information

I176 S. 210 in force at 16.2.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/18, art. 2, sch. 1

Penalties under Chapter 5: general S

211 Interaction of penalties under section 209 with other penalties S

The amount of a penalty for which P is liable under section 209 is to be reduced by the amount of any other penalty incurred by P (other than a penalty under Chapter 2), if the amount of the penalty is determined by reference to the same liability to tax.

Commencement Information

I177 S. 211 in force at 16.2.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/18, art. 2, sch. 1

212 Reduction in penalty under section 209 for disclosure S

(1) Revenue Scotland may reduce a penalty under section 209 where P discloses a failure to comply with a relevant requirement (“a relevant failure”).

(2) P discloses a relevant failure by—

(a) telling Revenue Scotland about it,

(b) giving Revenue Scotland reasonable help in quantifying any tax unpaid by reason of it, and

(c) allowing Revenue Scotland access to records for the purpose of checking how much tax is so unpaid.

(3) Reductions under this section may reflect—

(a) whether the disclosure was prompted or unprompted, and

(b) the quality of the disclosure.

(4) Disclosure of a relevant failure—

(a) is “unprompted” if made at a time when P has no reason to believe that Revenue Scotland has discovered or is about to discover the failure, and

(b) otherwise, is “prompted”.

(5) In relation to disclosure, “quality” includes timing, nature and extent.

Commencement Information

I178 S. 212 in force at 16.2.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/18, art. 2, sch. 1

213 Special reduction in penalty under section 209 S

(1) Revenue Scotland may reduce a penalty under section 209 if it thinks it right to do so because of special circumstances.

(2) In subsection (1) “special circumstances” does not include—

(a) ability to pay, or

(b) the fact that a potential loss of revenue from one taxpayer is balanced by a potential over-payment by another.

(3) In subsection (1) the reference to reducing a penalty includes a reference to—

(a) remitting a penalty entirely,

(b) suspending a penalty, and

(c) agreeing a compromise in relation to proceedings for a penalty.

(4) In this section references to a penalty include references to any interest in relation to the penalty.

(5) The powers in this section also apply after a decision of a tribunal or a court in relation to the penalty.

Commencement Information

I179 S. 213(1)-(4) in force at 16.2.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/18, art. 2, sch. 1

I180 S. 213(5) in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

214 Reasonable excuse for failure to register for tax etc. S

(1) If P satisfies Revenue Scotland or (on appeal) the tribunal that there is a reasonable excuse for a failure to comply with a relevant requirement, liability to a penalty under section 209 does not arise in relation to that failure.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)—

(a) an insufficiency of funds is not a reasonable excuse unless attributable to events outside P's control,

(b) where P relies on any other person to do anything, that is not a reasonable excuse unless P took reasonable care to avoid the failure, and

(c) where P had a reasonable excuse for the failure but the excuse has ceased, P is to be treated as having continued to have the excuse if the failure is remedied without unreasonable delay after the excuse ceased.

Commencement Information

I181 S. 214 in force at 16.2.2015 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2015/18, art. 2, sch. 1

I182 S. 214 in force at 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

215 Assessment of penalties under section 209 S

(1) Where P becomes liable to a penalty under section 209, Revenue Scotland must—

(a) assess the penalty,

(b) notify P, and

(c) state in the notice the period in respect of which the penalty is assessed.

(2) A penalty under section 209 must be paid before the end of the period of 30 days beginning with the day on which the notification of the penalty is issued.

(3) An assessment of a penalty under section 209—

(a) is to be treated for enforcement purposes as an assessment to tax, and

(b) may be combined with an assessment to tax.

(4) An assessment of a penalty under section 209 must be made within the period of 12 months beginning with—

(a) the end of the appeal period for the assessment of tax unpaid by reason of the failure to comply with the relevant requirement in respect of which the penalty is assessed, or

(b) if there is no such assessment, the date on which the amount of tax unpaid by reason of the failure is ascertained.

(5) In subsection (4) “appeal period” means the period during which—

(a) an appeal could be brought, or

(b) an appeal that has been brought has not been determined or withdrawn.

(6) Subject to subsection (4), a supplementary assessment may be made in respect of a penalty if an earlier assessment operated by reference to an underestimate of potential lost revenue.

Commencement Information

I183 S. 215 in force at 16.2.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/18, art. 2, sch. 1

216 Power to change penalty provisions in Chapter 5 S

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision (or further provision) about penalties under this Chapter.

(2) Provision under subsection (1) includes provision—

(a) about the circumstances in which a penalty is payable,

(b) about the amounts of penalties,

(c) about the procedure for issuing penalties,

(d) about appealing penalties,

(e) about enforcing penalties.

(3) Regulations under subsection (1) may not create criminal offences.

(4) Regulations under subsection (1) may modify any enactment (including this Act).

(5) Regulations under subsection (1) do not apply to a failure which began before the date on which the regulations come into force.

Commencement Information

I184 S. 216 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

PART 9 S Interest on payments due to or by Revenue Scotland

217 Interest on unpaid tax S

(1) Interest is payable on the amount of any unpaid tax from the relevant date until the tax is paid.

(2) For the purposes of this section the “relevant date” is the date for payment of the tax which is specified by the Scottish Ministers in regulations.

(3) If an amount is lodged with Revenue Scotland in respect of the tax payable on a transaction, the amount on which interest is payable is reduced by that amount.

(4) Interest under this section is calculated at the rate specified in provision made under section 220.

Commencement Information

I185 S. 217 in force at 7.11.2014 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2014/278, art. 2, sch.

I186 S. 217 in force at 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

218 Interest on penalties S

(1) Interest is payable on the amount of any unpaid penalty from the date on which the penalty is due to be paid until it is paid.

(2) Interest under this section is calculated at the rate specified in provision made under section 220.

Commencement Information

I187 S. 218 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

219 Interest on repayment of tax overpaid etc. S

(1) A repayment by Revenue Scotland to which this section applies must be made with interest for the period between the relevant date and the date when the repayment is issued.

(2) This section applies to—

(a) any repayment of tax,

(b) any repayment of a penalty, and

(c) any repayment of interest (whether on tax or penalty).

(3) In the cases mentioned in subsection (2) the “relevant date” is the date on which the payment of the tax, penalty or interest was made.

(4) This section also applies to a repayment by Revenue Scotland of an amount lodged with it in respect of the tax payable in respect of a transaction.

(5) In the case mentioned in subsection (4) the “relevant date” is the date on which the amount was lodged with Revenue Scotland.

(6) Interest under this section is calculated at the rate specified in provision made under section 220.

Commencement Information

I188 S. 219 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

220 Rates of interest S

(1) The rate of interest that applies for the purposes of sections 217, 218 and 219 is the rate specified by the Scottish Ministers in regulations.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) may—

(a) provide for different rates for different devolved taxes or different penalties,

(b) provide for circumstances in which alteration of a rate of interest is or is not to take place,

(c) provide that alterations of rates are to have effect for periods beginning on or after a day determined in accordance with the regulations in relation to interest running from before that day as well as from or from after that day.

Commencement Information

I189 S. 220 in force at 7.11.2014 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2014/278, art. 2, sch.

I190 S. 220 in force at 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

PART 10 S Enforcement of payment of tax

CHAPTER 1 S Enforcement: general

Issue of tax demands and receipts S

221 Issue of tax demands and receipts S

(1) Where tax is due and payable, Revenue Scotland may demand the sum charged from the person liable to pay it.

(2) On payment of the tax, Revenue Scotland must give a receipt.

Commencement Information

I191 S. 221 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Fees for payment S

222 Fees for payment S

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations provide that, where a person makes a payment to Revenue Scotland or a person authorised by Revenue Scotland using a method of payment specified in the regulations, the person must also pay a fee specified in, or determined in accordance with, the regulations.

(2) A method of payment may only be specified in regulations under this section if Revenue Scotland expects that it, or the person authorised by it, will be required to pay a fee or charge (however described) in connection with amounts paid using that method of payment.

(3) The fee provided for in regulations under this section must not exceed what is reasonable having regard to the costs incurred by Revenue Scotland, or a person authorised by it, in paying the fee or charge mentioned in subsection (2).

(4) Regulations under this section—

(a) may make provision about the time and manner in which the fee must be paid,

(b) may make provision generally or only for specified purposes.

Commencement Information

I192 S. 222 in force at 7.11.2014 by S.S.I. 2014/278, art. 2, sch.

Certification of matters by Revenue Scotland S

223 Certification of matters by Revenue Scotland S

(1) A certificate of Revenue Scotland—

(a) that a return required to be made to Revenue Scotland under this Act or any other enactment has not been made,

(b) that a relevant sum has not been paid,

(c) that a notification required to be made to Revenue Scotland under this Act or any other enactment has not been made,

is sufficient evidence of that fact until the contrary is proved.

(2) In subsection (1) “relevant sum” means a sum payable to Revenue Scotland by or under this Act or any other enactment or under a contract settlement or a settlement agreement.

(3) A copy of any document provided to Revenue Scotland for the purposes of this Act or any other enactment and certified by it to be such a copy is admissible in any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, to the same extent as the document itself.

(4) Any document purporting to be such a certificate is to be treated as if it were such a certificate until the contrary is proved.

Commencement Information

I193 S. 223 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Court proceedings S

224 Court proceedings S

Tax due and payable may be sued for and recovered from the person liable to pay it as a debt due to the Crown by proceedings—

(a) in the sheriff court, or

(b) in the Court of Session (sitting as the Court of Exchequer).

Commencement Information

I194 S. 224 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Summary warrant S

225 Summary warrant S

(1) This section applies if a person does not pay an amount that is payable by that person to Revenue Scotland by or under this Act or any other enactment or under a contract settlement or a settlement agreement.

(2) A designated officer may apply to the sheriff for a summary warrant.

(3) An application under subsection (2) must be accompanied by a certificate which—

(a) complies with subsection (4), and

(b) is signed by the officer.

(4) A certificate complies with this subsection if—

(a) it states that—

(i) none of the persons specified in the application has paid the sum payable by that person,

(ii) the officer has demanded payment from each such person of the sum payable by that person, and

(iii) the period of 14 days beginning with the day on which the demand is made has expired without payment being made, and

(b) it specifies the sum payable by each person specified in the application.

(5) The sheriff must, on an application by a designated officer under subsection (2), grant a summary warrant in (or as nearly as may be in) the form prescribed by Act of Sederunt.

(6) A summary warrant granted under subsection (5) authorises the recovery of the sum payable by—

(a) attachment,

(b) money attachment,

(c) earnings arrestment,

(d) arrestment and action of furthcoming or sale.

(7) Subject to subsection (8) and without prejudice to section 39(1) of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) (expenses of attachment)—

(a) the sheriff officer's fees, and

(b) any outlays reasonably incurred by that officer,

in connection with the execution of a summary warrant are to be chargeable against the person in relation to whom the summary warrant was granted.

(8) No fees are to be chargeable by the sheriff officer against the person in relation to whom the summary warrant was granted for collecting, and accounting to Revenue Scotland for, sums paid to that officer by that person in respect of the sum payable.

Commencement Information

I195 S. 225 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Recovery of penalties and interest S

226 Recovery of penalties and interest S

The provisions of this Chapter have effect in relation to the recovery of any unpaid amount by way of—

(a) penalty, or

(b) interest (whether on unpaid tax or penalty),

as though that amount were an amount of unpaid tax.

Commencement Information

I196 S. 226 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

CHAPTER 2 S Enforcement: powers to obtain contact details for debtors

227 Requirement for contact details for debtor S

(1) This Chapter applies where—

(a) a sum is payable by a person (“the debtor”) to Revenue Scotland by or under this Act or any other enactment or under a contract settlement or a settlement agreement,

(b) a designated officer reasonably requires contact details for the debtor for the purpose of collecting that sum,

(c) the officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a person (“the third party”) has any such details, and

(d) the condition in subsection (2) is met.

(2) The condition is that—

(a) the third party is a company or a local authority, or

(b) the officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the third party obtained the details in the course of carrying on a business.

(3) This Chapter does not apply if—

(a) the third party is a charity and obtained the details in the course of providing services free of charge, or

(b) the third party is not a charity but obtained the details in the course of providing services on behalf of a charity that are free of charge to the recipient of the service.

(4) In this Chapter—

• “business” includes—

  (a)

  a profession, and

  (b)

  a property business (within the meaning of section 263(6) of the Income Tax (Trading and Other Income) Act 2005 (c.5)),

• “contact details”, in relation to a person, means the person's address and any other information about how the person may be contacted.

Commencement Information

I197 S. 227 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

228 Power to obtain details S

(1) A designated officer may by notice require the third party to provide the contact details.

(2) The notice must name the debtor.

(3) If a notice is given under subsection (1), the third party must provide the details—

(a) within such period, and

(b) at such time, by such means and in such form (if any),

as is reasonably specified or described in the notice.

Commencement Information

I198 S. 228 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

229 Reviews and appeals against notices or requirements S

(1) This section applies where a third party seeks, under Part 11, to have a decision in relation to the giving of a notice under section 228 or in relation to any requirement in such a notice reviewed or appealed.

(2) A third party may give notice of review or notice of appeal in relation to a decision to give a notice, or in relation to a requirement in such a notice, only on the ground that it would be unduly onerous to comply with the notice or the requirement in it.

Commencement Information

I199 S. 229 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

230 Power to modify section 229 S

The Scottish Ministers may by order modify section 229(2) to provide for certain decisions in relation to the giving of notices under section 228 or in relation to any requirement in such notices—

(a) to be appealable for the purposes of section 233(1)(i),

(b) to be appealable for the purposes of that paragraph on certain grounds or in certain circumstances only,

(c) to not be appealable.

Commencement Information

I200 S. 230 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

231 Penalty S

(1) This section applies if the third party fails to comply with the notice.

(2) The third party is liable to a penalty of £300.

(3) Sections 201 to 203 (assessment and enforcement of penalties) apply in relation to a penalty under this section as they apply in relation to a penalty under section 195 (and references in those provisions to an information notice include a notice under this Chapter).

Commencement Information

I201 S. 231 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

PART 11 S Reviews and appeals

CHAPTER 1 S Introductory

Overview S

232 Overview S

This Part makes provision about the review and appeal of certain decisions of Revenue Scotland including—

(a) which decisions are, and which are not, reviewable and appealable,

(b) the taxpayer's right to have decisions reviewed and the nature and conduct of those reviews,

(c) the option of mediation following a review that doesn't settle the matter in question,

(d) the taxpayer's right to appeal decisions to the tribunal, whether following review or otherwise, and

(e) settling tax disputes by agreement and other supplementary matters.

Commencement Information

I202 S. 232 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Appealable decisions S

233 Appealable decisions S

(1) The following decisions of Revenue Scotland are appealable decisions—

(a) a decision under section 66 to make adjustments to counteract a tax advantage,

(b) a decision in relation to the registration of any person in relation to any taxable activity,

(c) a decision which affects whether a person is chargeable to tax,

(d) a decision which affects the amount of tax to which a person is chargeable,

(e) a decision which affects the amount of tax a person is required to pay,

(f) a decision which affects the date by which any amount by way of tax, penalty or interest must be paid,

(g) a decision in relation to a penalty under the following provisions—

(i) section 76,

(ii) section 112,

(iii) section 151,

(iv) Part 8,

(v) section 231,

(vi) paragraph 5 of schedule 3,

(h) subject to subsection (2), a decision in relation to the giving of an information notice or in relation to the use of any of the other investigatory powers in Part 7,

(i) subject to subsection (3), a decision in relation to the giving of a notice under section 228.

(2) See section 152 for decisions in relation to the giving of information notices that are not appealable or are appealable only on certain grounds and in certain circumstances.

(3) See section 229 for the grounds on which decisions in relation to the giving of notices under section 228 are appealable.

(4) The following decisions of Revenue Scotland are not appealable decisions—

(a) the giving of a notice under section 68,

(b) the making of a Revenue Scotland determination,

(c) a decision to give a notice of enquiry under section 85 or paragraph 13 of schedule 3.

(5) The decisions mentioned in subsection (1) are appealable whether they are decisions under this Act or any other enactment.

(6) The Scottish Ministers may by order modify subsection (1) or (4) to—

(a) add a decision to either subsection,

(b) vary the description of a decision,

(c) remove a decision from either subsection.

Commencement Information

I203 S. 233 in force at 16.2.2015 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2015/18, art. 2, sch. 1

I204 S. 233 in force at 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

CHAPTER 2 S Reviews

Review of appealable decisions S

234 Right to request review S

(1) A person aggrieved by an appealable decision (the “appellant”) may request Revenue Scotland to review the decision.

(2) An appellant may not request review if subsection (3), (4) or (5) applies.

(3) This subsection applies where—

(a) the decision which the appellant seeks to review is a decision of Revenue Scotland to amend a self-assessment under section 87 while an enquiry is in progress, and

(b) the enquiry has not been completed.

(4) This subsection applies where—

(a) the appellant has given notice of appeal in relation to the same matter in question, or

(b) the tribunal has determined the matter in question under section 244.

(5) This subsection applies where the appellant has entered into a settlement agreement with Revenue Scotland in relation to the same matter in question and has not withdrawn from the agreement under section 246(4).

(6) This section does not prevent the matter in question from being dealt with in accordance with section 246(1) and (2) (settling matters in question by agreement).

Commencement Information

I205 S. 234(1)-(3) (4)(a) (5) (6) in force at 16.2.2015 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2015/18, art. 2, sch. 1

I206 S. 234(1)-(3) (4)(a) (5) (6) in force at 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

I207 S. 234(4)(b) in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

235 Notice of review S

(1) Notice of review under section 234 must be given—

(a) within 30 days after the specified date,

(b) to Revenue Scotland.

(2) In subsection (1) “specified date” means—

(a) the date on which the appellant was notified of the appealable decision,

(b) in a case to which section 234(3) applies—

(i) the date the appellant was given notice that the enquiry was completed, or

(ii) no such notice having been given, the date the enquiry is completed by virtue of section 93(1)(b), or

(c) where the appellant and Revenue Scotland entered into a settlement agreement but the appellant withdrew from the agreement, the date of that withdrawal.

(3) The notice of review must specify the grounds of review.

Commencement Information

I208 S. 235 in force at 16.2.2015 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2015/18, art. 2, sch. 1

I209 S. 235 in force at 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

236 Late notice of review S

(1) This section applies in a case where—

(a) notice of review may be given to Revenue Scotland under this Part, but

(b) no notice is given before the relevant time limit.

(2) Notice may be given after the relevant time limit if—

(a) Revenue Scotland agrees, or

(b) where Revenue Scotland does not agree, the tribunal gives permission.

(3) Revenue Scotland must agree to notice being given after the relevant time limit if the appellant has requested that Revenue Scotland does so and Revenue Scotland is satisfied—

(a) that there was reasonable excuse for not giving the notice before the relevant time limit, and

(b) that the request has been made without unreasonable delay.

(4) If a request of the kind referred to in subsection (3) is made, Revenue Scotland must notify the appellant whether or not Revenue Scotland agrees to the request.

(5) In this section “relevant time limit”, in relation to notice of review, means the time before which the notice is to be given (but for this section).

Commencement Information

I210 S. 236 in force at 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

I211 S. 236(1) (2)(a) (3)-(5) in force at 16.2.2015 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2015/18, art. 2, sch. 1

237 Duty of Revenue Scotland to carry out review S

(1) If the appellant gives Revenue Scotland notice of review, Revenue Scotland must—

(a) notify the appellant of Revenue Scotland's view of the matter in question within the relevant period, and

(b) review the matter in question in accordance with section 238.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if—

(a) the appellant has already given notice of review under section 235 in relation to the same matter in question, or

(b) Revenue Scotland has concluded a review of the matter in question.

(3) In this section “relevant period” means—

(a) the period of 30 days beginning with the day on which Revenue Scotland receives the notice of review, or

(b) such longer period as is reasonable.

Commencement Information

I212 S. 237 in force at 16.2.2015 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2015/18, art. 2, sch. 1

I213 S. 237 in force at 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

238 Nature of review etc. S

(1) This section applies if Revenue Scotland is required by section 237 to review the matter in question.

(2) The nature and extent of the review are to be such as appear appropriate to Revenue Scotland in the circumstances.

(3) For the purpose of subsection (2), Revenue Scotland must, in particular, have regard to steps taken before the beginning of the review—

(a) by Revenue Scotland in deciding the matter in question, and

(b) by any person in seeking to resolve disagreement about the matter in question.

(4) The review must take account of any representations made by the appellant at a stage which gives Revenue Scotland a reasonable opportunity to consider them.

(5) The review may conclude that Revenue Scotland's view of the matter in question is to be—

(a) upheld,

(b) varied, or

(c) cancelled.

Commencement Information

I214 S. 238 in force at 16.2.2015 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2015/18, art. 2, sch. 1

I215 S. 238 in force at 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

239 Notification of conclusions of review S

(1) Revenue Scotland must notify the appellant of the conclusions of the review and its reasoning within—

(a) the period of 45 days beginning with the relevant day, or

(b) such other period as may be agreed.

(2) In subsection (1) “relevant day” means the day when Revenue Scotland notified the appellant of Revenue Scotland's view of the matter in question.

(3) Where Revenue Scotland is required to undertake a review but does not give notice of the conclusions within the period specified in subsection (1), the review is treated as having concluded that Revenue Scotland's view of the matter in question (see section 237(1)) is upheld.

(4) If subsection (3) applies, Revenue Scotland must notify the appellant of the conclusions which the review is treated as having reached.

Commencement Information

I216 S. 239 in force at 16.2.2015 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2015/18, art. 2, sch. 1

I217 S. 239 in force at 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

240 Effect of conclusions of review S

(1) If Revenue Scotland gives notice of the conclusions of a review (see section 239)—

(a) the conclusions are to be treated as if they were contained in a settlement agreement (see section 246(2)), but

(b) section 246(4) (withdrawal from agreement) does not apply in relation to that notional agreement.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to the matter in question if, or to the extent that—

(a) the appellant and Revenue Scotland enter into mediation and conclude that mediation by entering into a settlement agreement, or

(b) the appellant gives notice of appeal under section 242.

Commencement Information

I218 S. 240 in force at 16.2.2015 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2015/18, art. 2, sch. 1

I219 S. 240 in force at 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

CHAPTER 3 S Appeals

241 Right of appeal S

(1) An appellant may appeal to the tribunal against an appealable decision.

(2) An appellant may not give notice of appeal under section 242 if subsection (3), (4) or (5) applies.

(3) This subsection applies where—

(a) the decision which the appellant seeks to appeal is a decision of Revenue Scotland to amend a self-assessment under section 87 while an enquiry is in progress, and

(b) the enquiry has not been completed.

(4) This subsection applies where—

(a) the appellant has given notice of review in relation to the same matter in question, and

(b) the review has not been concluded or treated as concluded.

(5) This subsection applies where the appellant has entered into a settlement agreement with Revenue Scotland in relation to the same matter in question and has not withdrawn from the agreement under section 246(4).

(6) This section does not prevent the matter in question from being dealt with in accordance with section 246(1) and (2) (settling matters in question by agreement).

Commencement Information

I220 S. 241 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

242 Notice of appeal S

(1) Notice of appeal must be given—

(a) within 30 days of the specified date,

(b) to the tribunal.

(2) In subsection (1) “specified date” means—

(a) in a case to which section 241(3) applies—

(i) the date the appellant was given notice that the enquiry was completed, or

(ii) no such notice having been given, the date the enquiry is completed by virtue of section 93(1)(b),

(b) where the appellant does not request a review under section 234, the date on which the appellant was notified of the appealable decision,

(c) where the appellant requests such a review, the date on which the conclusions of review are notified to the appellant under section 239,

(d) where, following a review under section 237, the appellant and Revenue Scotland entered into mediation, the date either Revenue Scotland or the appellant gave notice of withdrawal from mediation,

(e) where the appellant and Revenue Scotland entered into a settlement agreement but the appellant withdrew from the agreement, the date of that withdrawal.

(3) The notice of appeal must specify the grounds of appeal.

Commencement Information

I221 S. 242 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

243 Late notice of appeal S

(1) This section applies in a case where—

(a) notice of appeal may be given to the tribunal under this Part, but

(b) no notice is given before the relevant time limit.

(2) Notice may be given after the relevant time limit if—

(a) Revenue Scotland agrees, or

(b) where Revenue Scotland does not agree, the tribunal gives permission.

(3) Revenue Scotland must agree to notice being given after the relevant time limit if the appellant has requested that Revenue Scotland does so and Revenue Scotland is satisfied—

(a) that there was reasonable excuse for not giving the notice before the relevant time limit, and

(b) that the request has been made without unreasonable delay.

(4) If a request of the kind referred to in subsection (3) is made, Revenue Scotland must notify the appellant whether or not Revenue Scotland agrees to the request.

(5) A decision of the tribunal under subsection (2)(b) is final.

(6) In this section “relevant time limit”, in relation to notice of appeal, means the time before which the notice is to be given (but for this section).

Commencement Information

I222 S. 243 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

244 Disposal of appeal S

(1) This section applies if notice of appeal is given under section 242.

(2) The tribunal is to determine the matter in question and may conclude that Revenue Scotland's view of the matter in question is to be—

(a) upheld,

(b) varied, or

(c) cancelled.

Commencement Information

I223 S. 244 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

CHAPTER 4 S Supplementary

245 Reviews and appeals not to postpone recovery of tax S

(1) Where there is a review or appeal under this Part, any tax charged or penalty or interest imposed remains due and payable as if there had been no review or appeal.

(2) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision for the postponement of any such tax, penalty or interest pending reviews or appeals, including provision—

(a) for applications by appellants to Revenue Scotland for postponement of amounts of tax, penalty and interest,

(b) for the effect of any determination by Revenue Scotland on such applications,

(c) for agreements between appellants and Revenue Scotland as to postponement of amounts of tax, penalty and interest,

(d) for applications to the tribunal for such postponement,

(e) for appeals in relation to such determinations by Revenue Scotland and decisions by the tribunal on such applications.

(3) Regulations under subsection (2) may modify any enactment (including this Act).

(4) Subsection (1) is subject to sections 79(1) and 203(1) and to paragraph 8(1) of schedule 3.

Commencement Information

I224 S. 245 in force at 7.11.2014 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2014/278, art. 2, sch.

I225 S. 245 in force at 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

246 Settling matters in question by agreement S

(1) In relation to a review, mediation or an appeal under this Part, “settlement agreement” means an agreement between the taxpayer and Revenue Scotland that is—

(a) entered into—

(i) before the review is concluded,

(ii) as the conclusion of the mediation, or

(iii) before the appeal is determined, and

(b) to the effect that the decision reviewed, taken to mediation or appealed should be upheld without variation, varied in a particular manner or cancelled.

(2) Where a settlement agreement is entered into in relation to a review, mediation or an appeal, the consequences are to be the same (for all purposes) as if, at the time the agreement was entered into, the tribunal had determined an appeal in relation to the matter in question and had upheld the decision without variation, varied it in that manner or cancelled it, as the case may be.

(3) But a settlement agreement is not to be treated as a decision of the tribunal for the purposes of section 34 or 36.

(4) Subsection (2) does not apply if, within 30 days from the date when the settlement agreement was entered into, the appellant gives notice to Revenue Scotland that the appellant wishes to withdraw from the agreement.

(5) Where a settlement agreement is not in writing—

(a) subsection (2) does not apply unless the fact that an agreement was entered into, and the terms agreed, are confirmed by notice in writing given by Revenue Scotland to the appellant or by the appellant to Revenue Scotland, and

(b) the references in subsections (2) and (4) to the time when the agreement was entered into are to be read as references to the time when the notice of confirmation was given.

(6) References in this section to an agreement being entered into with an appellant, and to the giving of notice by or to the appellant, include references to an agreement being entered into, or notice being given by or to, a person acting on behalf of the appellant in relation to the review, mediation or appeal.

Commencement Information

I226 S. 246 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

247 Application of this Part to joint buyers S

(1) This section applies where, in relation to land and buildings transaction tax, there are two or more buyers who are or will be jointly entitled to the interest acquired by the land transaction.

(2) In a case where some (but not all) of the buyers give notice of review under section 235—

(a) notification of the review must be given by Revenue Scotland to each of the other buyers whose identity is known to it,

(b) any of the other buyers may be a party to the review if they notify Revenue Scotland,

(c) the agreement of all the buyers is required if the review is to be settled by agreement,

(d) if the review is not settled, notice of Revenue Scotland's conclusions must be given to each of the other buyers whose identity is known to Revenue Scotland, and

(e) section 240 (effect of conclusions of review) applies in relation to all of the buyers.

(3) In a case where the buyers and Revenue Scotland agree to enter into mediation—

(a) notification of the agreement must be given by Revenue Scotland to each of the buyers whose identity is known to it,

(b) any of the buyers may be a party to the mediation if they notify Revenue Scotland, and

(c) the agreement of all the buyers is required if the mediation is to be settled by agreement.

(4) In the case of an appeal relating to the transaction—

(a) the appeal may be brought by any of the buyers,

(b) notice of the appeal must be given by the buyers bringing the appeal to each of the other buyers,

(c) the agreement of all the buyers is required if the appeal is to be settled by agreement,

(d) if the appeal is not settled, any of the buyers are entitled to be parties to the appeal, and

(e) the tribunal's decision on the appeal binds all of the buyers.

(5) This section has effect subject to—

(a) the provisions of schedule 17 to the LBTT(S) Act 2013 (relating to partnerships), and

(b) the provisions of schedule 18 to that Act (relating to trustees).

Commencement Information

I227 S. 247 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

248 Application of this Part to trustees S

(1) This section applies where, in relation to land and buildings transaction tax, the buyers in the land transaction are a trust.

(2) In a case where some (but not all) of the trustees give notice of review under section 235—

(a) notification of the review must be given by Revenue Scotland to each of the other relevant trustees whose identity is known to it,

(b) any of the other relevant trustees may be a party to the review if they notify Revenue Scotland,

(c) the agreement of all the relevant trustees is required if the review is to be settled by agreement,

(d) if the review is not settled, notice of Revenue Scotland's conclusions must be given to each of the relevant trustees whose identity is known to Revenue Scotland, and

(e) section 240 (effect of conclusions of review) applies in relation to all of the relevant trustees.

(3) In a case where the trust and Revenue Scotland agree to enter into mediation—

(a) notification of the agreement must be given by Revenue Scotland to each of the relevant trustees whose identity is known to it,

(b) any of the relevant trustees may be a party to the mediation if they notify Revenue Scotland, and

(c) the agreement of all the relevant trustees is required if the mediation is to be settled by agreement.

(4) In the case of an appeal relating to the transaction—

(a) the appeal may be brought by any of the relevant trustees,

(b) notice of the appeal must be given by the trustee or trustees bringing the appeal to each of the other relevant trustees,

(c) the agreement of all the relevant trustees is required if the appeal is to be settled by agreement,

(d) if the appeal is not settled, any of the relevant trustees are entitled to be parties to the appeal, and

(e) the tribunal's decision on the appeal binds all of the relevant trustees.

(5) In this section “relevant trustees” has the meaning given by paragraph 16 of schedule 18 to the LBTT(S) Act 2013.

(6) This section has effect subject to the provisions of schedule 18 to the LBTT(S) Act 2013 (relating to trustees).

Commencement Information

I228 S. 248 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

249 References to the “tribunal” S

In this Part “the tribunal” means—

(a) the First-tier Tribunal [F7 for Scotland] ,

(b) where determined by or under [F8 Scottish Tribunal Rules] , the Upper Tribunal [F9 for Scotland] .

Textual Amendments

F7 Words in s. 249(a) inserted (24.4.2017) by The Tribunals (Scotland) Act 2014 (Ancillary Provisions) Regulations 2017 (S.S.I. 2017/108), regs. 1, 2(2)(a)

F8 Words in s. 249(b) substituted (24.4.2017) by The Tribunals (Scotland) Act 2014 (Ancillary Provisions) Regulations 2017 (S.S.I. 2017/108), regs. 1, 2(2)(b)(i)

F9 Words in s. 249(b) inserted (24.4.2017) by The Tribunals (Scotland) Act 2014 (Ancillary Provisions) Regulations 2017 (S.S.I. 2017/108), regs. 1, 2(2)(b)(ii)

Commencement Information

I229 S. 249 in force at 7.11.2014 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2014/278, art. 2, sch.

I230 S. 249 in force at 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

250 Interpretation S

(1) In this Part “matter in question” means the matter to which a review, mediation or appeal relates.

(2) In this Part a reference to the appellant includes a person acting on behalf of the appellant except in relation to—

(a) notification of Revenue Scotland's view under section 237(1), and

(b) notification of the conclusions of a review under section 239.

(3) But if a notification falling within paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (2) is given to the appellant, a copy of the notification may also be given to a person acting on behalf of the appellant.

Commencement Information

I231 S. 250 in force at 16.2.2015 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2015/18, art. 2, sch. 1

I232 S. 250 in force at 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

PART 12 S Final provisions

Communications from taxpayers to Revenue Scotland S

251 Communications from taxpayers to Revenue Scotland S

(1) Any notice, application or other thing that a person is required or permitted by provision made in or under this Act to give to Revenue Scotland must comply with the requirements set out in subsection (2).

(2) The requirements are that the thing—

(a) must be in the form specified by Revenue Scotland,

(b) must contain the information specified by Revenue Scotland, and

(c) must be given in the manner specified by Revenue Scotland.

(3) Subsections (1) and (2) are subject to any different provision made in or under this Act.

Commencement Information

I233 S. 251 in force at 1.1.2015 by S.S.I. 2014/370, art. 2, sch.

Interpretation S

252 General interpretation S

In this Act—

• “the LBTT(S) Act 2013” means the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (Scotland) Act 2013 (asp 11),

• “the LT(S) Act 2014” means the Landfill Tax (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 2),

• “designated officer” means a member of staff of Revenue Scotland or other person who is, or a category of members of staff or other persons who are, designated by Revenue Scotland for the purposes of this Act,

• “information notice” has the meaning given by section 131(1),

• “notice of appeal” means a notice under section 242,

• “notice of review” means a notice under section 235,

• “Revenue Scotland determination” means a determination under section 95,

• “tribunal” has the meaning given by section 249.

Commencement Information

I234 S. 252 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

253 Index of defined expressions S

Schedule 5 contains an index of expressions defined or otherwise explained in this Act.

Commencement Information

I235 S. 253 in force at 1.4.2015 by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Subordinate legislation S

254 Subordinate legislation S

(1) Orders and regulations under this Act are subject to the negative procedure.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to—

(a) orders and regulations for which provision is made in subsection (3) or (4),

(b) orders under section 260(2).

(3) Orders and regulations under the following provisions are subject to the affirmative procedure—

(a) section 31(1),

(b) section 32,

(c) section 49(1),

(d) section 50(1),

(e) section 80(1),

(f) section 81(2),

(g) section 111(1),

(h) section 153,

(i) section 181(1),

(j) section 194(1),

(k) section 208(1),

(l) section 216(1),

(m) section 220(1),

(n) section 230,

(o) section 233(6),

(p) section 245(2),

(q) paragraph 9(1) of schedule 3.

(4) Orders under section 255(1) which contain provision which adds to, replaces or omits any part of the text of an Act are also subject to the affirmative procedure.

(5) Orders and regulations under this Act may—

(a) make different provision for different purposes (including for different devolved taxes),

(b) contain incidental, supplementary, consequential, transitional, transitory or saving provision.

(6) Subsection (5)(b) does not apply to orders under section 255(1).

Ancillary provision S

255 Ancillary provision S

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by order make such incidental, supplementary, consequential, transitional, transitory or saving provision as they consider appropriate for the purposes of, in connection with, or for giving full effect to, this Act or any provision of it.

(2) An order under subsection (1) may modify any enactment (including this Act).

Modification of enactments S

256 Minor and consequential modifications of enactments S

Schedule 4 makes minor and consequential amendments and repeals of enactments.

Commencement Information

I236 S. 256 in force at 7.11.2014 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2014/278, art. 2, sch.

I237 S. 256 in force at 1.1.2015 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2014/370, art. 2, sch.

I238 S. 256 in force at 1.4.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.S.I. 2015/110, art. 2(1)

Crown application S

257 Crown application: criminal offences S

(1) No contravention by the Crown of any provision of or made under this Act makes the Crown criminally liable.

(2) But the Court of Session may, on the application of the Lord Advocate, declare unlawful any act or omission of the Crown which constitutes such a contravention.

(3) Despite subsection (1), this Act applies to persons in the public service of the Crown as it applies to other persons.

258 Crown application: powers of entry S

(1) A power of entry conferred by or under this Act is exercisable in relation to Crown land only with the consent of the appropriate authority.

(2) The following table determines what is “Crown land” and who the “appropriate authority” is in relation to each kind of Crown land.

Crown land	Appropriate authority
Land an interest in which belongs to Her Majesty in right of the Crown and which forms part of the Crown estate	The Crown Estate Commissioners
Other land an interest in which belongs to Her Majesty in right of the Crown	The office-holder in the Scottish Administration or the Government department having the management of the land [F10 or the relevant person”, and]
Land an interest in which belongs to an office-holder in the Scottish Administration	The relevant office-holder in the Scottish Administration
Land an interest in which belongs to a Government department	The relevant Government department
Land an interest in which is held in trust for Her Majesty for the purposes of the Scottish Administration	The relevant office-holder in the Scottish Administration
Land an interest in which is held in trust for Her Majesty for the purposes of a Government department	The relevant Government department

(3) “Government department” means a department of the Government of the United Kingdom”.

[F11 (4) “Relevant person”, in relation to any land to which section 90B(5) of the Scotland Act 1998 applies, means the person who manages that land.]

Textual Amendments

F10 Words in s. 258(2) inserted (1.4.2017) by The Crown Estate Transfer Scheme 2017 (S.I. 2017/524), art. 1(2), Sch. 5 para. 48(a)

F11 S. 258(4) inserted (1.4.2017) by The Crown Estate Transfer Scheme 2017 (S.I. 2017/524), art. 1(2), Sch. 5 para. 48(b)

259 Crown application: Her Majesty S

Nothing in this Act affects Her Majesty in Her private capacity.

Commencement and short title S

260 Commencement S

(1) This section, sections 254, 255, 257, 258, 259 and 261 and paragraphs 9(12) and 10(14) of schedule 4 come into force on the day after Royal Assent.

(2) The other provisions of this Act come into force on such day as the Scottish Ministers may by order appoint.

(3) An order under subsection (2) may include transitional, transitory or saving provision.

261 Short title S

The short title of this Act is the Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Act 2014.