Finance Act 1989

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

(1) Section 20B of the [1970 c. 9.] Taxes Management Act 1970 (restrictions on powers under sections 20 and 20A) shall be amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1), after the word “question” there shall be inserted the 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 person under section 20(3) the inspector shall give a copy of the notice to the taxpayer to whom it relates.

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

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

(5) In subsection (5), for the words from “if” to “or company” there shall 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 the purposes of any enactment to deliver or make available documents which are his property and were created by him or on his behalf for or in connection with the performance of his functions under that enactment, and

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

(10) In subsection (9) above “relevant communications” means communications 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 of those tax affairs; and in subsection (9) above and this subsection “tax adviser” means a person appointed to give advice about the tax affairs of another person (whether appointed directly by that other person or by another tax adviser of his).

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

(12) Subject to subsection (13) below, in the case of a notice under section 20(8A) subsection (9) above shall not have effect in relation to any document which contains information giving the identity or address of any taxpayer to whom the notice relates or of any person who has acted on behalf of any such person.

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

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

(b) either—

(i) that other document, or a copy of it, has been delivered to the inspector or 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) above in the case of a document, the person to whom the notice is given either shall deliver the document to the inspector or make it available for inspection by an officer of the Board or shall—

(a) deliver to the inspector (or, where subsection (3) above applies, the Board) a copy (which is photographic or otherwise by way of facsimile) of any parts 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), make available for inspection by a named officer of the Board such parts of the document as contain that information;

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

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