Finance Act 1997

51 Enforcement by distress

(1) The Commissioners may by regulations make provision—

(a) for authorising distress to be levied on the goods and chattels of any person refusing or neglecting to pay—

(i) any amount of relevant tax due from him, or

(ii) any amount recoverable as if it were relevant tax due from him;

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

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

(2) The provision that may be contained in regulations under this section shall include, in particular—

(a) provision for the levying of distress, by any person authorised to do so under the regulations, on goods or chattels located at any place whatever (including on a public highway); and

(b) provision authorising distress to be levied at any such time of the day or night, and on any such day of the week, as may be specified or described in the regulations.

(3) Regulations under this section may—

(a) make different provision for different cases, and

(b) contain any such incidental, supplemental, consequential or transitional provision as the Commissioners think fit;

and the transitional provision that may be contained in regulations under this section shall include transitional provision in connection with the coming into force of the repeal by this Act of any other power by regulations to make provision for or in connection with the levying of distress.

(4) The power to make regulations under this section shall be exercisable by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the House of Commons.

(5) The following are relevant taxes for the purposes of this section, that is to say—

(a) any duty of customs or excise, other than vehicle excise duty;

(b) value added tax;

(c) insurance premium tax;

(d) landfill tax;

(e) any agricultural levy of the European Community.

(6) In this section “the Commissioners” means the Commissioners of Customs and Excise.

(7) Regulations made under this section shall not have effect in Scotland.