Finance Act 2003

Time limit for assessment

31 (1) The general rule is that no assessment may be made more than six years after the effective date of the transaction to which it relates.

(2) In a case involving fraud or negligence on the part of—

(a) the purchaser, or

(b) a person acting on behalf of the purchaser, or

(c) a person who was a partner of the purchaser at the relevant time,

an assessment may be made up to 21 years after the effective date of the transaction to which it relates.

(3) An assessment under paragraph 29 (assessment to recover excessive repayment of tax) is not out of time—

(a) in a case where notice of enquiry is given into the land transaction return delivered by the person concerned, if it is made before the enquiry is completed;

(b) in any case, if it is made within one year after the repayment in question was made.

(4) Where the purchaser has died—

(a) any assessment on the personal representatives of the deceased must be made within three years after his death, and

(b) an assessment shall not be made by virtue of sub-paragraph (2) in respect of a transaction of which the effective date was more than six years before the death.

(5) Any objection to the making of an assessment on the ground that the time limit for making it has expired can only be made on an appeal against the assessment.