Finance Act 2008

Part 1 U.K. Powers to obtain information and documents

Power to obtain information and documents from taxpayer U.K.

1 (1) An officer of Revenue and Customs may by notice in writing require a person (“the taxpayer”)— U.K.

(a) to provide information, or

(b) to produce a document,

if the information or document is reasonably required by the officer for the purpose of checking the taxpayer's tax position.

(2) In this Schedule, “taxpayer notice” means a notice under this paragraph.

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 36 para. 1 in force at 1.4.2009 by S.I. 2009/404, art. 2

Power to obtain information and documents from third party U.K.

2 (1) An officer of Revenue and Customs may by notice in writing require a person— U.K.

(a) to provide information, or

(b) to produce a document,

if 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”).

(2) A third party notice must name the taxpayer to whom it relates, unless the [F1 tribunal] has approved the giving of the notice and disapplied this requirement under paragraph 3.

(3) In this Schedule, “third party notice” means a notice under this paragraph.

Textual Amendments

F1 Word in Sch. 36 para. 2(2) substituted (1.4.2009) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions and Revenue and Customs Appeals Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/56), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 471(2)

Commencement Information

I2 Sch. 36 para. 2 in force at 1.4.2009 by S.I. 2009/404, art. 2

Approval etc of taxpayer notices and third party notices U.K.

3 (1) An officer of Revenue and Customs may not give a third party notice without— U.K.

(a) the agreement of the taxpayer, or

(b) the approval of the [F2 tribunal].

(2) An officer of Revenue and Customs may ask for the approval of the [F3 tribunal] to the giving of any taxpayer notice or third party notice (and for the effect of obtaining such approval see paragraphs 29, 30 and 53 (appeals against notices and offence)).

(3) The [F4 tribunal] may not approve the giving of a taxpayer notice or third party notice unless—

(a) an application for approval is made by, or with the agreement of, an authorised officer of Revenue and Customs,

(b) the [F5 tribunal] is satisfied that, in the circumstances, the officer giving the notice is justified in doing so,

(c) the person to whom the notice is addressed has been told that the information or documents referred to in the notice are required and given a reasonable opportunity to make representations to an officer of Revenue and Customs,

(d) the [F4 tribunal] has been given a summary of any representations made by that person, and

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

(4) Paragraphs (c) to (e) of sub-paragraph (3) do not apply to the extent that the [F6 tribunal] is satisfied that taking the action specified in those paragraphs might prejudice the assessment or collection of tax.

(5) Where the [F7 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 officer has reasonable grounds for believing that naming the taxpayer might seriously prejudice the assessment or collection of tax.

Textual Amendments

F2 Word in Sch. 36 para. 3(1)(b) substituted (1.4.2009) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions and Revenue and Customs Appeals Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/56), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 471(3)(a)

F3 Word in Sch. 36 para. 3(2) substituted (1.4.2009) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions and Revenue and Customs Appeals Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/56), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 471(3)(b)

F4 Word in Sch. 36 para. 3(3) substituted (1.4.2009) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions and Revenue and Customs Appeals Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/56), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 471(3)(c)(i)

F5 Word in Sch. 36 para. 3(3)(b) substituted (1.4.2009) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions and Revenue and Customs Appeals Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/56), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 471(3)(c)(ii)

F6 Word in Sch. 36 para. 3(4) substituted (1.4.2009) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions and Revenue and Customs Appeals Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/56), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 471(3)(d)

F7 Word in Sch. 36 para. 3(5) substituted (1.4.2009) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions and Revenue and Customs Appeals Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/56), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 471(3)(e)

Commencement Information

I3 Sch. 36 para. 3 in force at 1.4.2009 by S.I. 2009/404, art. 2

Copying third party notice to taxpayer U.K.

4 (1) An officer of Revenue and Customs who gives a third party notice must give a copy of the notice to the taxpayer to whom it relates, unless the [F8 tribunal] has disapplied this requirement. U.K.

(2) The [F9 tribunal] may not disapply that requirement unless—

(a) an application for approval is made by, or with the agreement of, an authorised officer of Revenue and Customs, and

(b) the [F10 tribunal] is satisfied that the officer has reasonable grounds for believing that giving a copy of the notice to the taxpayer might prejudice the assessment or collection of tax.

Textual Amendments

F8 Word in Sch. 36 para. 4(1) substituted (1.4.2009) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions and Revenue and Customs Appeals Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/56), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 471(4)(a)

F9 Word in Sch. 36 para. 4(2) substituted (1.4.2009) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions and Revenue and Customs Appeals Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/56), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 471(4)(b)(i)

F10 Word in Sch. 36 para. 4(2)(b) substituted (1.4.2009) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions and Revenue and Customs Appeals Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/56), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 471(4)(b)(ii)

Commencement Information

I4 Sch. 36 para. 4 in force at 1.4.2009 by S.I. 2009/404, art. 2

Power to obtain information and documents about persons whose identity is not known U.K.

5 (1) An authorised officer of Revenue and Customs may by notice in writing require a person— U.K.

(a) to provide information, or

(b) to produce a document,

if the condition in sub-paragraph (2) is met.

(2) That condition is that the information or document is reasonably required by the officer for the purpose of checking the UK tax position of—

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

(b) a class of persons whose individual identities are not known to the officer.

(3) An officer of Revenue and Customs may not give a notice under this paragraph without the approval of the [F11 tribunal].

(4) The [F12 tribunal] may not give its approval for the purpose of this paragraph unless it is satisfied that—

(a) the notice would meet the condition in sub-paragraph (2),

(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 Taxes Acts, VATA 1994 or any other enactment relating to value added tax charged in accordance with that Act,

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

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

(5) In this paragraph “UK tax” means any tax other than relevant foreign tax and value added tax charged in accordance with the law of another member State.

Textual Amendments

F11 Word in Sch. 36 para. 5(3) substituted (1.4.2009) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions and Revenue and Customs Appeals Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/56), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 471(2)

F12 Word in Sch. 36 para. 5(4) substituted (1.4.2009) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions and Revenue and Customs Appeals Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/56), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 471(2)

Commencement Information

I5 Sch. 36 para. 5 in force at 1.4.2009 by S.I. 2009/404, art. 2

Notices U.K.

6 (1) In this Schedule, “information notice” means a notice under paragraph 1, 2 or 5. U.K.

(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 [F13 tribunal], it must state that it is given with that approval.

Textual Amendments

F13 Word in Sch. 36 para. 6(3) substituted (1.4.2009) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions and Revenue and Customs Appeals Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/56), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 471(2)

Commencement Information

I6 Sch. 36 para. 6 in force at 1.4.2009 by S.I. 2009/404, art. 2

Complying with notices U.K.

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

(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 for inspection—

(a) at a place agreed to by that person and an officer of Revenue and Customs, or

(b) at such place as an officer of Revenue and Customs may reasonably specify.

(3) An officer of Revenue and Customs must not specify 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

I7 Sch. 36 para. 7 in force at 1.4.2009 by S.I. 2009/404, art. 2

Producing copies of documents U.K.

8 (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 Commissioners. U.K.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply where—

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

(b) an officer of Revenue and Customs subsequently makes a request in writing to the person for the original document.

(3) Where an officer of Revenue and Customs requests a document under sub-paragraph (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 officer.

Commencement Information

I8 Sch. 36 para. 8 in force at 1.4.2009 by S.I. 2009/404, art. 2

Restrictions and special cases U.K.

9 U.K. This Part of this Schedule has effect subject to Parts 4 and 6 of this Schedule.

Commencement Information

I9 Sch. 36 para. 9 in force at 1.4.2009 by S.I. 2009/404, art. 2