Finance Act 1989

144 Restrictions on powers under TMA ss.20 and 20A. U.K.

(1) Section 20B of the M1 Taxes Management Act 1970(restrictions on powers under sections 20 and 20A) shall be amended asfollows.

(2) In subsection (1), after the word “question” there shall be insertedthe words “, or to furnish the particulars in question”.

(3) After that subsection there shall be inserted—

“(1A) Subject to subsection (1B) below, where a notice is given to any personunder section 20(3) the inspector shall give a copy of the notice to thetaxpayer to whom it relates.

(1B) If, on an application by the inspector, a General or Special Commissionerso directs, a copy of a notice under section 20(3) need not be given to thetaxpayer to whom it relates; but such a direction shall not be given unlessthe Commissioner is satisfied that the inspector has reasonable grounds forsuspecting the taxpayer of fraud.”

(4) In subsection (2), after the words “deliver documents”, in the firstplace where they occur, there shall be inserted the words “or furnishparticulars”.

(5) In subsection (5), for the words from “if” to “or company” thereshall be substituted the words “does not oblige a person”.

(6) In subsection (7), the words from “to a person” to “daughter”shall be omitted.

(7) For subsection (9) there shall be substituted—

“(9) Subject to subsections (11) and (12) below, a notice under section 20(3)or (8A)—

(a) does not oblige a person who has been appointed as an auditor for thepurposes of any enactment to deliver or make available documents which are hisproperty and were created by him or on his behalf for or in connection withthe performance of his functions under that enactment, and

(b) does not oblige a tax adviser to deliver or make available documents whichare his property and consist of relevant communications.

(10) In subsections (9) above “relevant communications” meanscommunications between the tax adviser and —

(a) a person in relation to whose tax affairs he has been appointed, or

(b) any other tax adviser of such a person,

the purpose of which is the giving or obtaining of advice about any ofthose tax affairs; and in subsection (9) above and this subsection “tax adviser” means a person appointed to give advice aboutthe tax affairs of another person (whether appointed directly by that otherperson or by another tax adviser of his).

(11) Subject to subsection (13) below, subsection (9) above shall not haveeffect in relation to any document which contains information explaining anyinformation, return, accounts or other document which the person to whom thenotice is given has, as tax accountant, assisted any client of his inpreparing for, or delivering to, the inspector or the Board.

(12) Subject to subsection (13) below, in the case of a notice under section20(8A) subsection (9) above shall not have effect in relation to any documentwhich contains information giving the identity or address of any taxpayer towhom the notice relates or of any person who has acted on behalf of any suchperson.

(13) Subsection (9) above is not disapplied by subsection (11) or (12) abovein the case of any document if—

(a) the information within subsection (11) or (12) is contained in some otherdocument, and

(b) either—

(i) that other document, or a copy of it, has been delivered to the inspectoror the Board, or

(ii) that other document has been inspected by an officer of the Board.

(14) Where subsection (9) above is disapplied by subsection (11) or (12) abovein the case of a document, the person to whom the notice is given either shalldeliver the document to the inspector or make it available for inspection byan officer of the Board or shall—

(a) deliver to the inspector (or, where subsection (3) above applies, theBoard) a copy (which is photographic or otherwise by way of facsimile) of anyparts of the document which contain the information within subsection (11) or(12), and

(b) if so required by the inspector (or, as the case may be, the Board), makeavailable for inspection by a named officer of the Board such parts of thedocument as contain that information;

and failure to comply with any requirement under paragraph (b) aboveshall constitute a failure to comply with the notice.”

(8) This section shall apply with respect to notices given on or after the dayon which this Act is passed.

Marginal Citations

M1 1970c. 9.