Oil Taxation Act 1975

[F1 9 (1) If, within the period of three years commencing with the date on which notice of a decision of the Board under paragraph 3 above was given to the responsible person for an oil field, it appears to the Board that the relevant amount was incorrectly stated in the notice, the Board may before the expiry of that period serve on the responsible Person a notice stating what appears to the Board to be the correct amount (referred to below as “the notice of variation”). U.K.

[F2 (1A) In any case falling within sub-paragraph (1B) below, sub-paragraph (1) above shall have effect—

(a) with the substitution for the words “within the period of three years commencing with” of the words “at any time after”; and

(b) with the omission of the words “before the expiry of that period”.

(1B) The cases referred to in sub-paragraph (1A) above are those where—

(a) the incorrect statement of the relevant amount in the notice of the decision mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) above was an over-statement of that amount; and

(b) that over-statement was, in whole or in part, referable to an error in a statement or declaration made in connection with the claim; and

(c) at least one of the conditions in sub-paragraph (1C) below is fulfilled with respect to that error.

(1C) The conditions referred to in sub-paragraph (1B)(c) above are—

(a) that the error was attributable, in whole or in part, to the fraudulent or negligent conduct of the responsible person or a person acting on his behalf;

(b) that paragraph (a) above does not apply but, on the error coming to the notice of the person by whom the statement or declaration was made or a person acting on his behalf, the error was not remedied without unreasonable delay; and

(c) that paragraph (a) above does not apply but, on the error coming to the notice of any person who subsequently becomes the responsible person, the error was not remedied without unreasonable delay.]

(2) In this paragraph “the relevant amount”, in relation to a notice of a decision on a claim under paragraph 3 above, means any one or more of the following—

(a) the amount of expenditure allowed on the claim;

(b) the amount of that expenditure allowed as qualifying for supplement under section 2(9)(b)(ii) of this Act;

(c) where different percentages were stated in that notice to apply to different parts of that expenditure for the purpose of calculating the supplement, each of those parts of that expenditure.

[F3 (2A) In any case where—

(a) the relevant amount which was incorrectly stated is a part of any expenditure falling within paragraph (c) of sub-paragraph (2) above (in this sub-paragraph referred to as a “paragraph (c) amount”), and

(b) under sub-paragraph (1B)(a) above the question arises whether the incorrect statement was an over-statement,

that question shall be determined by comparing the total amount which, in accordance with the notice of decision containing the incorrect statement, was brought into account under section 2(9)(b)(ii) of this Act with the total amount which would have been so brought into account if the paragraph (c) amounts stated in that notice had been correct]

(3) The responsible person may, by notice in writing given to the Board not more than thirty days after the notice of variation was served on him, appeal to the Special Commissioners against the notice of variation.

(4) A notice of appeal under sub-paragraph (3) shall state the grounds on which the appeal is brought.

(5) An appeal under this paragraph may at any time be abandoned by notice in writing given to the Board by the responsible person.

(6) A notice of variation may be withdrawn at any time before it becomes effective.

(7) In any case where—

(a) the responsible person gives notice of appeal against a notice of variation, and

(b) before the appeal is determined by the Special Commissioners, the Board and the responsible person agree as to what the relevant amount ought to be,

the notice of variation shall have effect subject to such modifications as may be necessary to give effect to that agreement; and thereupon the appeal shall be treated as having been abandoned.

(8) On an appeal against a notice of variation the Special Commissioners may vary the notice, quash the notice or dismiss the appeal; and the notice may be varied whether or not the variation is to the advantage of all or any of the participators in the oil field in question.

(9) Where a notice of variation relating to a decision on a claim becomes effective, the relevant amount shall be taken for the purposes of this Part of this Act as having been reduced or increased, as the case may require, on the date on which notice of the decision was given, by such amount as may be necessary to give effect to that notice, and the Board may make such computations under section 2 of this Act and such assessments or determinations or such amendments of assessments or determinations as may be necessary in consequence of that reduction or increase.

(10) A notice of variation becomes effective for the purposes of this paragraph either—

(a) on the expiry of the period during which notice of appeal against the notice of variation may be given to the Special Commissioners under sub-paragraph (3) above without such notice of appeal being given; or

(b) where such notice of appeal is given, when the notice of variation can no longer be varied or quashed by the Special Commissioners or by the order of any court.

[F4 (11) In a case falling within sub-paragraph (1B) above, this paragraph has effect in relation to notices of decisions of the Board under paragraph 3 above whenever given; and, in any other case, this paragraph has effect in relation to such notices given after 15th March 1983.]]

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 5 para. 9 added by Finance Act 1983 (c. 49), s. 40(1)

F2 Sch. 5 para. 9(1A)–(1C) inserted by Finance Act 1990 (c. 29, SIF 63:1), s. 122(2)

F3 Sch. 5 para. 9(2A) inserted by Finance Act 1990 (c. 29, SIF 63:1), s. 122(3)

F4 Sch. 5 para. 11 substituted by Finance Act 1990 (c. 29, SIF 63:1), s. 122(4)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 See Oil Taxation Act 1983 (c. 56), s. 14 in relation to the re-opening of decisions for claim periods ending on or after 30 June 1982

C2 Sch. 5 para. 9 modified (3.5.1994) by 1994 c. 9, ss. 231, 232(8)(a), 234, Sch. 22 paras. 9(4), 10, 11