Taxes Management Act 1970

Relief for excessive assessments U.K.

32 Double assessment. U.K.

(1) If on a claim made to the Board it appears to their satisfaction that a person has been assessed to tax more than once for the same cause and for the same chargeable period F1 ... , they shall direct the whole, or such part of any assessment as appears to be an overcharge, to be vacated, and thereupon the same shall be vacated accordingly.

(2) An appeal on a claim under this section shall lie to any of the bodies of Commissioners having jurisdiction to hear an appeal against the assessment, or the later of the assessments, to which the claim relates.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words relating to development land tax added by Development Land Tax Act 1976 (c. 24) Sch.8 para.4; Development Land Tax Act 1976 repealed by Finance Act 1985 s.98(6), Sch.27 Part X.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 32 modified (with application in accordance with Sch. 21 para. 3(1) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 1995 (c. 4), Sch. 21 para. 3(2)

C2 See Finance Act 1981, s. 134, Sch. 17 para.18 for the application of this provision to the special tax on banking deposits.

33 Error or mistake. U.K.

(1) If any person who has paid tax charged under an assessment [F2 (whether under section 9 or 11AA of this Act or otherwise)] alleges that the assessment was excessive by reason of some error or mistake in a return, he may by notice in writing at any time not later than

[F3 (a) in the case of an assessment to income tax or capital gains tax, five years after the 31st January next following the year of assessment to which the return relates; and

(b) in the case of an assessment to corporation tax, six years after the end of the accounting period to which the return relates,]

make a claim to the Board for relief .

(2) On receiving the claim the Board shall inquire into the matter and shall, subject to the provisions of this section, give by way of repayment such relief F4 ... in respect of the error or mistake as is reasonable and just:

F5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F6 (2A) No relief shall be given under this section in respect of—

(a) an error or mistake as to the basis on which the liability of the claimant ought to have been computed where the return was in fact made on the basis or in accordance with the practice generally prevailing at the time when it was made; or

(b) an error or mistake in a claim which is included in the return.]

(3) In determining the claim the Board shall have regard to all the relevant circumstances of the case, and in particular shall consider whether the granting of relief would result in the exclusion from charge to tax of any part of the profits of the claimant, and for this purpose the Board may take into consideration the liability of the claimant and assessments made on him in respect of chargeable periods other than that to which the claim relates.

(4) If any appeal is brought from the decision of the Board on the claim the Special Commissioners shall hear and determine the appeal in accordance with the principles to be followed by the Board in determining claims under this section; and neither the appellant nor the Board shall be entitled to [F7 appeal under section 56A of this Act against the determination of the Special Commissioners except] on a point of law arising in connection with the computation of profits.

F8 (4A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) In this section“profits”—

(a) in relation to income tax, means income,

(b) in relation to capital gains tax, means chargeable gains,

(c) in relation to corporation tax, means profits as computed for the purposes of that tax.

F8 (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in s. 33(1) inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 199(2)(3) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 1994 (c. 9), Sch. 19 para. 8(1)(a); S.I. 1998/3173, art. 2

F3 Words in s. 33(1) substituted (with effect in accordance with s. 199(2)(3) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 1994 (c. 9), Sch. 19 para. 8(1)(b); S.I. 1998/3173, art. 2

F4 Words omitted repealed for 1973—74 et seq. by Finance Act 1971 ss. 37, 38, Sch. 14 Part II.

F5 Proviso to s. 33(2) repealed (with effect in accordance with s. 199(2)(3) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 1994 (c. 9), Sch. 19 para. 8(2), Sch. 26 Pt. 5(23); S.I. 1998/3173, art. 2

F6 S. 33(2A) inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 199(2)(3) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 1994 (c. 9), Sch. 19 para. 8(2); S.I. 1998/3173, art. 2

F7 Words in s. 33(4) substituted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(1) of the amending S.I.) by The General and Special Commissioners (Amendment of Enactments) Regulations 1994 (S.I. 1994/1813), Sch. 1 para. 2

F8 A development land tax provision added by Development Land Tax Act 1976 (c. 24) Sch. 8 para. 5; Development Land Tax Act 1976 repealed by Finance Act 1985 s. 98(6), Sch. 27 Pt. X.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C3 S. 33 restricted (3.5.1994) by Finance Act 1994 (c. 9), s. 118(7)

C4 S. 33(1) modified (19.4.1991) for the assessment year 1988-1989 by S.I. 1991/851, regs. 1, 9, Sch. 2

C5 S. 33(1) modified (28.3.1992) for the year of assessment 1989 - 90 by S.I. 1992/511, reg. 9, Sch.2

C6 S. 33(1) applied (with modifications) (23.3.1993 with effect for the year of assessment 1990-91 only) by S.I. 1993/415, regs. 1(1), 9, Sch. 2

C7 S. 33(1) modified (with effect for the year of assessment 1991-92 in accordance with reg. 1(1) of the amending S.I.) by The Lloyds Underwriters (Tax) (1991-92) Regulations 1994 (S.I. 1994/728), reg. 9, Sch. 2

C8 S. 33(1) modified (with effect in accordance with regs. 14(2), 15(2) of the amending S.I.) by The Lloyds Underwriters (Tax) (1992-93 to 1996-97) Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995/352), regs. 1(1), 14(1), 15(1), Sch.

C9 See—Finance Act 1981 s. 134, Sch. 17 para. 18 for the application of this provision to the special tax on banking deposits. S.I. 1989 No. 421, Schedule for modification in relation to Lloyd's underwriters for 1986-87. S.I. 1990 no. 627, reg. 3(2), Schedule for modification in relation to Lloyd's underwriters for 1987-88.

C10 For modification in relation to petroleum revenue tax and supplementary petroleum duty see Oil Taxation Act 1975 s. 1, Sch. 2 para. 1(1).

C11 See Finance Act 1981 s. 134 and Sch. 17 para. 18 for the application of this provision to the special tax on banking deposits.

[F9 33A Error or mistake in partnership statement. U.K.

(1) This section applies where, in the case of a trade, profession or business carried on by two or more persons in partnership, those persons allege that the tax charged by self-assessments of theirs under section 9 or 11AA of this Act was excessive by reason of some error or mistake in a partnership statement.

(2) One of those persons (the representative partner) may, not later than five years after the filing date, by notice in writing make a claim to the Board for relief.

(3) On receiving the claim the Board shall inquire into the matter and shall, subject to subsection (5) below, so amend the partnership statement so as to give such relief in respect of the error or mistake as is reasonable or just.

(4) Where a partnership statement is amended under subsection (3) above, the Board shall by notice to each of the relevant partners so amend their self-assessments under section 9 or 11AA of this Act as to give effect to the amendment of the partnership statement.

(5) No relief shall be given under this section in respect of an error or mistake as to the basis on which the liability of the partners ought to have been computed where the partnership statement was in fact made on the basis or in accordance with the practice generally prevailing at the time when it was made.

(6) In determining the claim the Board—

(a) shall have regard to all the relevant circumstances of the case, and

(b) in particular shall consider whether the granting of relief would result in the exclusion from charge to tax of any part of the profits of any of the partners;

and for the purposes of this subsection the Board may take into consideration the liability of the partners and their self-assessments in respect of chargeable periods other than that to which the claim relates.

(7) If any appeal is brought from the decision of the Board on the claim, the Special Commissioners shall hear and determine the appeal in accordance with the principles to be followed by the Board in determining claims under this section.

[F10 (8) Subject to subsection (8A) below, the determination of the Special Commissioners of an appeal under subsection (6) above shall be final and conclusive (notwithstanding any provision having effect by virtue of section 56B of this Act).

(8A) Subsection (8) above does not apply in relation to a point of law arising in connection with the computation of profits.]

(9) In this section—

• “filing date” has the same meaning as in section 12AC of this Act;

• “profits” has the same meaning as in section 33 of this Act;

• “relevant partner” means a person who was a partner at any time during the period in respect of which the partnership statement was made.

(10) Any reference in this section to the representative partner includes, unless the context otherwise requires, a reference to any successor of his.]

Textual Amendments

F9 S. 33A inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 199(2)(3) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 1994 (c. 9), Sch. 19 para. 9; S.I. 1998/3173, art. 2

F10 S. 33A(8)(8A) substituted for s. 33A(8) (with effect in accordance with Sch. 22 para. 12 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 1996 (c. 8), Sch. 22 para. 5