Information

I118Confidentiality

1

Revenue and Customs officials may not disclose information which is held by the Revenue and Customs in connection with a function of the Revenue and Customs.

2

But subsection (1) does not apply to a disclosure—

a

which—

i

is made for the purposes of a function of the Revenue and Customs, and

ii

does not contravene any restriction imposed by the Commissioners,

b

which is made in accordance with section 20 or 21,

c

which is made for the purposes of civil proceedings (whether or not within the United Kingdom) relating to a matter in respect of which the Revenue and Customs have functions,

d

which is made for the purposes of a criminal investigation or criminal proceedings (whether or not within the United Kingdom) relating to a matter in respect of which the Revenue and Customs have functions,

e

which is made in pursuance of an order of a court,

f

which is made to Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Constabulary, the Scottish inspectors or the Northern Ireland inspectors for the purpose of an inspection by virtue of section 27,

g

which is made to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, or a person acting on its behalf, for the purpose of the exercise of a function by virtue of section 28, or

h

which is made with the consent of each person to whom the information relates.

3

Subsection (1) is subject to any other enactment permitting disclosure.

4

In this section—

a

a reference to Revenue and Customs officials is a reference to any person who is or was—

i

a Commissioner,

ii

an officer of Revenue and Customs,

iii

a person acting on behalf of the Commissioners or an officer of Revenue and Customs, or

iv

a member of a committee established by the Commissioners,

b

a reference to the Revenue and Customs has the same meaning as in section 17,

c

a reference to a function of the Revenue and Customs is a reference to a function of—

i

the Commissioners, or

ii

an officer of Revenue and Customs,

d

a reference to the Scottish inspectors or the Northern Ireland inspectors has the same meaning as in section 27, and

e

a reference to an enactment does not include—

i

an Act of the Scottish Parliament or an instrument made under such an Act, or

ii

an Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly or an instrument made under such an Act.