20Repayment supplement in respect of certain delayed payments
(1)In any case where—
(a)a person is entitled to a payment under section 14(5) of the principal Act in respect of a prescribed accounting period, and
(b)the return for that period which is required in accordance with regulations under the principal Act is received by the Commissioners not later than one month after the last day on which, in accordance with those regulations, it is required to be furnished, and
(c)a written instruction directing the making of the payment due under the said section 14(5) is not issued by the Commissioners within the period of thirty days beginning on the day following the end of that prescribed accounting period or, if it is later, on the date of the receipt by the Commissioners of the return referred to in paragraph (b) above, and
(d)the amount shown on that return as due by way of payment under the said section 14(5) is not more than £100 in excess of the payment which was in fact due,
the amount which, apart from this section, would be due by way of that payment shall be increased by the addition of a supplement equal to 5 per cent, of that amount or £30, whichever is the greater.
(2)Regulations may provide that, in computing the period of thirty days referred to in subsection (1)(c) above, there shall be left out of account periods determined in accordance with the regulations and referable to—
(a)the raising and answering of any reasonable inquiry relating to the return referred to in subsection (1)(b) above,
(b)the correction by the Commissioners of any errors or omissions in that return,
(c)any such continuing failure to submit returns or pay tax as is referred to in section 14(7) of the principal Act, and
(d)compliance with any such condition as is referred to in paragraph 5(1) of Schedule 7 to that Act (production of documents or giving of security as a condition of payment).
(3)Except for the purpose of determining the amount of the supplement, a supplement paid to any person under subsection (1) above shall be treated as an amount due to him by way of credit under section 14(5) of the principal Act.
(4)This section shall have effect with respect to any prescribed accounting period ending on or after such day as the Treasury may by order made by statutory instrument appoint.
(5)If the Treasury by order made by statutory instrument so direct, any period specified in the order shall be disregarded for the purpose of calculating the period of thirty days referred to in subsection (1)(c) above.