The Transfer of Tribunal Functions and Revenue and Customs Appeals Order 2009

Finance Act 1994 U.K.

202.  After section 15 insert—

“15A    Offer of review of relevant decision

(1) If HMRC notify a person (P) of a relevant decision by HMRC, HMRC must at the same time, by notice to P, offer P a review of the decision.

(2) This section does not apply to the notification of the conclusions of a review.

15B    Right to require review

(1) Any person (other than P) who has the right of appeal under section 16 against a relevant decision may require HMRC to review that decision.

(2) The other person may not notify HMRC requiring a review of the decision if either of the following conditions is met.

(3) Condition A is that—

(a) the relevant decision falls within section 14(1)(b) (decision linked to decision under section 152(b) of the Management Act about things forfeited or seized), and

(b) under section 15, HMRC are reviewing, or have reviewed, the decision under section 152(b) of the Management Act to which the relevant decision is linked.

(4) Condition B is that P or the other person has brought an appeal under section 16 with respect to the relevant decision.

(5) A notification that such a person requires a review must be made within 30 days of that person becoming aware of the decision.

15C    Review by HMRC

(1) HMRC must review a decision if—

(a) they have offered a review of the decision under section 15A, and

(b) P notifies HMRC of acceptance of the offer within 30 days beginning with the date of the document containing the notification of the offer of the review.

(2) P may not notify HMRC of acceptance of the offer of review if either of the following conditions is met.

(3) Condition A is that—

(a) the relevant decision falls within section 14(1)(b) (decision linked to decision under section 152(b) of the Management Act about things forfeited or seized), and

(b) under section 15, HMRC are reviewing, or have reviewed, the decision under section 152(b) of the Management Act to which the relevant decision is linked.

(4) Condition B is that P has brought an appeal under section 16 with respect to the relevant decision.

(5) HMRC must review a decision if a person other than P notifies them under section 15B.

(6) HMRC shall not review a decision if P, or another person, has appealed to the appeal tribunal under section 16 in respect of the decision.

15D    Extensions of time

(1) If under section 15A, HMRC have offered P a review of a decision, HMRC may within the relevant period notify P that the relevant period is extended.

(2) If under section 15B another person may require HMRC to review a matter, HMRC may within the relevant period notify the other person that the relevant period is extended.

(3) If notice is given the relevant period is extended to the end of 30 days from—

(a) the date of the notice, or

(b) any other date set out in the notice or a further notice.

(4) In this section “relevant period” means—

(a) the period of 30 days referred to in—

(i) section 15C(1)(b) (in a case falling within subsection (1)), or

(ii) section 15B(5) (in a case falling within subsection (2)), or

(b) if notice has been given under subsection (1) or (2), that period as extended (or as most recently extended) in accordance with subsection (3).

15E    Review out of time

(1) This section applies if—

(a) HMRC have offered a review of a decision under section 15A and P does not accept the offer within the time allowed under section 15C(1) or 15D(1); or

(b) a person who requires a review under section 15B does not notify HMRC within the time allowed under that section or section 15D(3).

(2) HMRC must review the decision if—

(a) after the time allowed, P, or the other person, notifies HMRC in writing requesting a review out of time,

(b) HMRC are satisfied that P, or the other person, had a reasonable excuse for not accepting the offer or requiring review within the time allowed, and

(c) HMRC are satisfied that P, or the other person, made the request without unreasonable delay after the excuse had ceased to apply.

(3) HMRC shall not be required to review a decision under this section if Condition A is met (see sections 15B(3) and 15C(3)).

(4) HMRC shall not review a decision if P, or another person, has appealed to the appeal tribunal under section 16 in respect of the decision.

15F    Nature of review etc

(1) This section applies if HMRC are required to undertake a review under section 15C or 15E.

(2) The nature and extent of the review are to be such as appear appropriate to HMRC in the circumstances.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2) HMRC must, in particular, have regard to steps taken before the beginning of the review—

(a) by HMRC in making the decision, and

(b) by any person who is seeking to resolve disagreement about the decision.

(4) The review must take account of any representations made by P, or the other person, at a stage which gives HMRC a reasonable opportunity to consider them.

(5) The review may conclude that the decision is to be—

(a) upheld,

(b) varied, or

(c) cancelled.

(6) HMRC must give P, or the other person, notice of the conclusions of the review and their reasoning within—

(a) the period of 45 days beginning with the relevant date, or

(b) such other period as HMRC and P, or the other person, may agree.

(7) In subsection (6) “relevant date” means—

(a) the date HMRC received P’s notification accepting the offer of a review (in a case falling within section 15A),

(b) the date HMRC received notification from another person requiring review (in a case falling within section 15B), or

(c) the date on which HMRC decided to undertake the review (in a case falling within section 15E).

(8) Where HMRC are required to undertake a review but do not give notice of the conclusions within the time period specified in subsection (6), the review is to be treated as having concluded that the decision is upheld.

(9) If subsection (8) applies, HMRC must notify P or the other person of the conclusion which the review is treated as having reached.”.

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 1 para. 202 in force at 1.4.2009, see art. 1(2)