SCHEDULE 24Penalties for errors
Part 2Amount of penalty
Standard amount
F14
(1)
This paragraph sets out the penalty payable under paragraph 1.
(2)
If the inaccuracy is in category 1, the penalty is—
(a)
for careless action, 30% of the potential lost revenue,
(b)
for deliberate but not concealed action, 70% of the potential lost revenue, and
(c)
for deliberate and concealed action, 100% of the potential lost revenue.
(3)
If the inaccuracy is in category 2, the penalty is—
(a)
for careless action, 45% of the potential lost revenue,
(b)
for deliberate but not concealed action, 105% of the potential lost revenue, and
(c)
for deliberate and concealed action, 150% of the potential lost revenue.
(4)
If the inaccuracy is in category 3, the penalty is—
(a)
for careless action, 60% of the potential lost revenue,
(b)
for deliberate but not concealed action, 140% of the potential lost revenue, and
(c)
for deliberate and concealed action, 200% of the potential lost revenue.
(5)
Paragraph 4A explains the 3 categories of inaccuracy.
4A
(1)
An inaccuracy is in category 1 if—
(a)
it involves a domestic matter, or
(b)
it involves an offshore matter and—
(i)
the territory in question is a category 1 territory, or
(ii)
the tax at stake is a tax other than income tax or capital gains tax.
(2)
An inaccuracy is in category 2 if—
(a)
it involves an offshore matter,
(b)
the territory in question is a category 2 territory, and
(c)
the tax at stake is income tax or capital gains tax.
(3)
An inaccuracy is in category 3 if—
(a)
it involves an offshore matter,
(b)
the territory in question is a category 3 territory, and
(c)
the tax at stake is income tax or capital gains tax.
(4)
An inaccuracy “involves an offshore matter” if it results in a potential loss of revenue that is charged on or by reference to—
(a)
income arising from a source in a territory outside the UK,
(b)
assets situated or held in a territory outside the UK,
(c)
activities carried on wholly or mainly in a territory outside the UK, or
(d)
anything having effect as if it were income, assets or activities of a kind described above.
(5)
An inaccuracy “involves a domestic matter” if it results in a potential loss of revenue that is charged on or by reference to anything not mentioned in sub-paragraph (4)(a) to (d).
(6)
If a single inaccuracy is in more than one category (each referred to as a “relevant category”)—
(a)
it is to be treated for the purposes of this Schedule as if it were separate inaccuracies, one in each relevant category according to the matters that it involves, and
(b)
the potential lost revenue is to be calculated separately in respect of each separate inaccuracy.
(7)
“Category 1 territory”, “category 2 territory” and “category 3 territory” are defined in paragraph 21A.
(8)
“Assets” has the meaning given in section 21(1) of TCGA 1992, but also includes sterling.
4B
The penalty payable under paragraph 1A is 100% of the potential lost revenue.
4C
The penalty payable under paragraph 2 is 30% of the potential lost revenue.
4D
Paragraphs 5 to 8 define “potential lost revenue”.
Potential lost revenue: normal rule
5
(1)
“The potential lost revenue” in respect of an inaccuracy in a document F2(including an inaccuracy attributable to a supply of false information or withholding of information) or a failure to notify an under-assessment is the additional amount due or payable in respect of tax as a result of correcting the inaccuracy or assessment.
(2)
The reference in sub-paragraph (1) to the additional amount due or payable includes a reference to—
(a)
an amount payable to HMRC having been erroneously paid by way of repayment of tax, and
(b)
an amount which would have been repayable by HMRC had the inaccuracy or assessment not been corrected.
(3)
In sub-paragraph (1) “tax” includes national insurance contributions.
(4)
The following shall be ignored in calculating potential lost revenue under this paragraph—
(a)
group relief, and
F3(b)
(but this sub-paragraph does not prevent a penalty being charged in respect of an inaccurate claim for relief).
Potential lost revenue: multiple errors
6
(1)
Where P is liable to a penalty F6under paragraph 1 in respect of more than one inaccuracy, and the calculation of potential lost revenue under paragraph 5 in respect of each inaccuracy depends on the order in which they are corrected—
(a)
careless inaccuracies shall be taken to be corrected before deliberate inaccuracies, and
(b)
deliberate but not concealed inaccuracies shall be taken to be corrected before deliberate and concealed inaccuracies.
(2)
In calculating potential lost revenue where P is liable to a penalty F7under paragraph 1 in respect of one or more understatements in one or more documents relating to a tax period, account shall be taken of any overstatement in any document given by P which relates to the same tax period.
(3)
In sub-paragraph (2)—
(a)
“understatement” means an inaccuracy that satisfies Condition 1 of paragraph 1, and
(b)
“overstatement” means an inaccuracy that does not satisfy that condition.
(4)
For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2) overstatements shall be set against understatements in the following order—
(a)
understatements in respect of which P is not liable to a penalty,
(b)
careless understatements,
(c)
deliberate but not concealed understatements, and
(d)
deliberate and concealed understatements.
(5)
In calculating F8for the purposes of a penalty under paragraph 1 potential lost revenue in respect of a document given by or on behalf of P no account shall be taken of the fact that a potential loss of revenue from P is or may be balanced by a potential over-payment by another person (except to the extent that an enactment requires or permits a person's tax liability to be adjusted by reference to P's).
Potential lost revenue: losses
7
(1)
Where an inaccuracy has the result that a loss is wrongly recorded for purposes of direct tax and the loss has been wholly used to reduce the amount due or payable in respect of tax, the potential lost revenue is calculated in accordance with paragraph 5.
(2)
Where an inaccuracy has the result that a loss is wrongly recorded for purposes of direct tax and the loss has not been wholly used to reduce the amount due or payable in respect of tax, the potential lost revenue is—
(a)
the potential lost revenue calculated in accordance with paragraph 5 in respect of any part of the loss that has been used to reduce the amount due or payable in respect of tax, plus
(b)
10% of any part that has not.
(3)
Sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) apply both—
(a)
to a case where no loss would have been recorded but for the inaccuracy, and
(b)
to a case where a loss of a different amount would have been recorded (but in that case sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) apply only to the difference between the amount recorded and the true amount).
(4)
Where an inaccuracy has the effect of creating or increasing an aggregate loss recorded for a group of companies—
(a)
the potential lost revenue shall be calculated in accordance with this paragraph, and
(b)
in applying paragraph 5 in accordance with sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) above, group relief may be taken into account (despite paragraph 5(4)(a)).
(5)
The potential lost revenue in respect of a loss is nil where, because of the nature of the loss or P's circumstances, there is no reasonable prospect of the loss being used to support a claim to reduce a tax liability (of any person).
Potential lost revenue: delayed tax
8
(1)
Where an inaccuracy resulted in an amount of tax being declared later than it should have been (“the delayed tax”), the potential lost revenue is—
(a)
5% of the delayed tax for each year of the delay, or
(b)
a percentage of the delayed tax, for each separate period of delay of less than a year, equating to 5% per year.
(2)
This paragraph does not apply to a case to which paragraph 7 applies.
Reductions for disclosure
9
F9A1
Paragraph 10 provides for reductions in penalties under paragraphs 1, 1A and 2 where a person discloses an inaccuracy, a supply of false information or withholding of information, or a failure to disclose an under-assessment.
(1)
A person discloses an inaccuracyF10, a supply of false information or withholding of information, or a failure to disclose an under-assessment by—
(a)
telling HMRC about it,
(b)
(2)
Disclosure—
(a)
is “unprompted” if made at a time when the person making it has no reason to believe that HMRC have discovered or are about to discover the inaccuracyF15, the supply of false information or withholding of information, or the under-assessment, and
(b)
otherwise, is “prompted”.
(3)
In relation to disclosure “quality” includes timing, nature and extent.
F1610
(1)
If a person who would otherwise be liable to a penalty of a percentage shown in column 1 of the Table (a “standard percentage”) has made a disclosure, HMRC must reduce the standard percentage to one that reflects the quality of the disclosure.
(2)
But the standard percentage may not be reduced to a percentage that is below the minimum shown for it—
(a)
in the case of a prompted disclosure, in column 2 of the Table, and
(b)
in the case of an unprompted disclosure, in column 3 of the Table.
Standard % | Minimum % for prompted disclosure | Minimum % for unprompted disclosure |
|---|---|---|
30% | 15% | 0% |
45% | 22.5% | 0% |
60% | 30% | 0% |
70% | 35% | 20% |
105% | 52.5% | 30% |
140% | 70% | 40% |
100% | 50% | 30% |
150% | 75% | 45% |
200% | 100% | 60% |
Special reduction
11
(1)
If they think it right because of special circumstances, HMRC may reduce a penalty under paragraph 1F17, 1A or 2.
(2)
In sub-paragraph (1) “special circumstances” does not include—
(a)
ability to pay, or
(b)
the fact that a potential loss of revenue from one taxpayer is balanced by a potential over-payment by another.
(3)
In sub-paragraph (1) the reference to reducing a penalty includes a reference to—
(a)
staying a penalty, and
(b)
agreeing a compromise in relation to proceedings for a penalty.
Interaction with other penalties F18and late payment surcharges
12
(1)
The final entry in the Table in paragraph 1 excludes a document in respect of which a penalty is payable under section 98 of TMA 1970 (special returns).
(2)
The amount of a penalty for which P is liable under paragraph 1 or 2 in respect of a document relating to a tax period shall be reduced by the amount of any other penalty F19incurred by P, or any surcharge for late payment of tax imposed on P, if the amount of the penalty or surcharge is determined by reference to the same tax liability.
F20(2A)
In sub-paragraph (2) “any other penalty” does not include a penalty under Part 4 of FA 2014 (penalty where corrective action not taken after follower notice etc).
(3)
In the application of section 97A of TMA 1970 (multiple penalties) no account shall be taken of a penalty under paragraph 1 or 2.
F21(4)
Where penalties are imposed under paragraphs 1 and 1A in respect of the same inaccuracy, the aggregate of the amounts of the penalties must not exceed the relevant percentage of the potential lost revenue.
(5)
The relevant percentage is—
(a)
if the penalty imposed under paragraph 1 is for an inaccuracy in category 1, 100%,
(b)
if the penalty imposed under paragraph 1 is for an inaccuracy in category 2, 150%, and
(c)
if the penalty imposed under paragraph 1 is for an inaccuracy in category 3, 200%.