Part I Customs and Excise, Value Added Tax and Car Tax

Chapter I Customs and Excise

Abolition of fiscal frontiers etc.

1 Powers to fix excise duty point.

(1)

Subject to the following provisions of this section, the Commissioners may by regulations make provision, in relation to any duties of excise on goods, for fixing the time when the requirement to pay any duty with which goods become chargeable is to take effect (“the excise duty point”).

(2)

Where regulations under this section fix an excise duty point for any goods, the rate of duty for the time being in force at that point shall be the rate used for determining the amount of duty to be paid in pursuance of the requirement that takes effect at that point.

(3)

Regulations under this section may provide for the excise duty point for any goods to be such of the following times as may be prescribed in relation to the circumstances of the case, that is to say—

(a)

the time when the goods become chargeable with the duty in question;

(b)

the time when there is a contravention of any prescribed requirements relating to any suspension arrangements applying to the goods;

(c)

the time when the duty on the goods ceases, in the prescribed manner, to be suspended in accordance with any such arrangements;

(d)

the time when there is a contravention of any prescribed condition subject to which any relief has been conferred in relation to the goods;

(e)

such time after the time which, in accordance with regulations made by virtue of any of the preceding paragraphs, would otherwise be the excise duty point for those goods as may be prescribed;

and regulations made by virtue of any of paragraphs (b) to (e) above may define a time by reference to whether or not at that time the Commissioners have been satisfied as to any matter.

(4)

Where regulations under this section prescribe an excise duty point for any goods, such regulations may also make provision—

(a)

specifying the person or persons on whom the liability to pay duty on the goods is to fall at the excise duty point (being the person or persons having the prescribed connection with the goods at that point or at such other time, falling no earlier than when the goods become chargeable with the duty, as may be prescribed); and

(b)

where more than one person is to be liable to pay the duty, specifying whether the liability is to be both joint and several.

(5)

Schedule 1 to this Act (which contains minor and consequential amendments and savings for purposes connected with the other provision made by this section) shall have effect.

(6)

The power of the Commissioners to make regulations under this section shall be exercisable by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament and shall include power—

(a)

to make different provision for different cases, including different provision for different duties and different goods; and

(b)

to make such incidental, supplemental, consequential and transitional provision as the Commissioners think necessary or expedient.

(7)

In this section—

“the Commissioners” means the Commissioners of Customs and Excise;

“contravention” includes a failure to comply;

“customs and excise Acts” and “goods” have the same meanings as in the M1Customs and Excise Management Act 1979; and

“prescribed” means prescribed by regulations under this section;

and references in this section to suspension arrangements are references to any provision made by or under the customs and excise Acts for enabling goods to be held or moved without payment of duty or any provision made by or under those Acts in connection with any provision enabling goods to be so held or moved.

(8)

This section and Schedule 1 to this Act shall come into force on such day as the Commissioners may by order made by statutory instrument appoint, and different days may be appointed under this subsection for different provisions and for different purposes.