Entitlement to tax credit or element dependent on a bank account or other account having been notified to [F1the Commissioners] U.K.

14.[F2(1) Subject to paragraph (3), where—

(a)payment of a tax credit or element is postponed pursuant to the circumstances specified in regulation 11(2A), and

(b)before the relevant time determined in accordance with this regulation, no bank account or other account is notified to the Commissioners by the person to whom a tax credit or element would have been paid if payment of it had not been postponed,

that person shall cease to be entitled to the tax credit or element for the remainder of the period of the award beginning on the day from which the Commissioners decide to postpone payment.]

F3(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) Where there are exceptional circumstances which are expected to result in a person not being able to obtain a bank account or other account throughout the period of award, paragraph (1) shall not have effect in relation to that person’s entitlement to a tax credit or element for the period of award.

F4(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F5(4A) Subject to paragraphs (4C) and (4E), the relevant time is the earlier of—

(a)three months after the time when the Commissioners decide to postpone payment of a tax credit or element; or

(b)immediately after the end of the relevant tax year.

(4B) This paragraph applies where, before the time determined in accordance with paragraph (4A), the person entitled to payment of the tax credit or element—

(a)requests from the Commissioners authority to open an account for which such authority is required; and

(b)provides sufficient information from which the Commissioners can give that authority.

(4C) Subject to paragraph (4E), where paragraph (4B) applies, the relevant time is the later of—

(a)the time determined in accordance with paragraph (4A); and

(b)the expiry of the period of 3 weeks from the day on which the Commissioners give their authority following a request described in paragraph (4B)(a).

(4D) This paragraph applies where a person to whom a notice described in regulation 11(2A)(a) has been given has a reasonable excuse—

(a)for not being able to take all necessary steps to obtain a bank account or other account before a time determined in accordance with paragraphs (4A) or (4C), or

(b)for not being able to notify to the Commissioners the bank account or other account before a time determined in accordance with paragraphs (4A) or (4C).

(4E) Where paragraph (4D) applies, the relevant time is the later of—

(a)the time determined in accordance with paragraph (4A);

(b)where paragraph (4B) applies, the time determined in accordance with paragraph (4C); and

(c)the date by which the account can reasonably be expected to be notified to the Commissioners.]

(5) “Writing” includes writing produced by electronic communications that are approved by [F1the Commissioners].