Finance Act 2003

Direction by Commissioners to postpone payment U.K.

39 (1) If the appellant has grounds for believing that he is overcharged to tax by the decision appealed against, he may by notice in writing apply to the Commissioners for a direction that payment of an amount of tax shall be postponed pending the determination of the appeal. U.K.

(2) The notice must—

(a) be given to the relevant officer of the Board within 30 days after the specified date, and

(b) state the amount by which the appellant believes himself to be overcharged to tax, and his grounds for that belief.

(3) An application may be made more than 30 days after the specified date if there is a change in the circumstances of the case as a result of which the appellant has grounds for believing that he is overcharged to tax by the decision appealed against.

(4) If, after any determination on such an application of the amount of tax the payment of which should be postponed, there is a change in the circumstances of the case as a result of which either party has grounds for believing that the amount so determined has become excessive or, as the case may be, insufficient, he may, by notice in writing given to the other party at any time before the determination of the appeal, apply to the Commissioners for a further determination of that amount.

(5) An application under this paragraph shall be heard and determined by the Commissioners in the same way as an appeal.

The fact that any such application has been heard and determined by any Commissioners does not preclude them from hearing and determining the appeal or any further application under this paragraph.

(6) The amount of tax of which payment is to be postponed pending the determination of the appeal is the amount (if any) by which it appears to the Commissioners, having regard to the representations made and any evidence adduced, that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the appellant is overcharged.

(7) Where an application is made under this paragraph, the date on which any tax of which payment is not postponed is due and payable shall be determined as if the tax were charged by an amendment or assessment of which notice was issued on the date on which the application was determined and against which there was no appeal.

(8) On the determination of the appeal—

(a) the date on which any tax payable in accordance with that determination is due and payable shall, so far as it is tax the payment of which had been postponed, or which would not have been charged by the amendment or assessment if there had been no appeal, be determined as if the tax were charged by an amendment or assessment—

(i) of which notice was issued on the date on which the Inland Revenue issues to the appellant a notice of the total amount payable in accordance with the determination, and

(ii) against which there had been no appeal, and

(b) any tax overpaid shall be repaid.