Finance Act 1994 (c. 9)

(The document as of February, 2008)

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(b) whether any enquiry is or might have been made of the person referred to in sub-paragraph (1) above or of an authorised person or of some other person.

(5) The Commissioners shall only be liable to pay interest under this paragraph on a claim made in writing for that purpose.

(6) No claim shall be made under this paragraph after the expiry of six years from the date on which the claimant discovered the error or could with reasonable diligence have discovered it.

(7) Any reference in this paragraph to receiving a payment from the Commissioners includes a reference to the discharge, by way of set-off, of their liability to make it.

10 (1) Where a person ("the appellant") who appeals to a tribunal under section 16 of this Act against an assessment of duty has paid, or given cash security for, the whole or any part of the duty, sub-paragraph (2) below shall apply if the tribunal find that the whole or any part of the amount paid or secured is not due.

(2) The Commissioners shall pay interest to the appellant, at such rate as the tribunal may determine, on--

(a) so much of the duty paid as is found not to be due or,

(b) so much of the cash security as relates to duty found not to be due,

for the period beginning with the payment of duty or, as the case may be, giving of the cash security and ending with its repayment.

(3) In this paragraph "cash security" means such adequate security as enables the Commissioners to place the amount in question on deposit.

Interest: specified rate

11 (1) In paragraphs 7 and 9 above, "the specified rate" means such rate as may be specified in an order.

(2) An order specifying rates of interest--

(a) may specify different rates for different purposes,

(b) shall apply to interest for periods beginning on or after the date when the order is expressed to come into force, whether or not interest runs from before that date.

Evidence by certificate

12 (1) A certificate of the Commissioners--

(a) that a person was or was not, on any date specified in the certificate, registered or liable to be registered under section 33 of this Act,

(b) that the name of any person was or was not, on any date so specified, shown as the fiscal representative of any person in the register kept under that section,

(d) that any return required to be made under regulations made by virtue of section 38 of this Act had not, on any date so specified, been made, or

(e) that any duty shown as due in such a return, or in an assessment under section 12 of this Act, had not, on any date so specified, been paid,

shall be sufficient evidence of that fact until the contrary is proved.

(2) A photograph of any document furnished to the Commissioners for the purposes of Chapter IV of Part I of this Act and certified by them to be such a photograph shall be admissible in any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, to the same extent as the document itself.

(3) Any document purporting to be a certificate under sub-paragraph (1) or (2) above shall be taken to be such a certificate until the contrary is proved.

Preferential debt

13 (1) In Schedule 6 to the [1986 c. 45.] Insolvency Act 1986 (categories of preferential debts) in Category 2 (debts due to Customs and Excise) after paragraph 5B there shall be inserted--

" 5C Any amount which is due by way of air passenger duty from the debtor at the relevant date and which became due within the period of six months next before that date. "

(2) In Schedule 3 to the [1985 c. 66.] Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 (list of preferred debts) at the end of paragraph 2 (debts due to Customs and Excise) there shall be added--

" (6) Any amount which is due by way of air passenger duty from the debtor at the relevant date and which became due within the period of six months next before that date. "

(3) In Schedule 4 to the [S.I. 1989/2405 (N.I. 19)] Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (categories of preferential debts) in Category 2 (debts due to Customs and Excise) after paragraph 5B there shall be inserted--

" 5C Any amount which is due by way of air passenger duty from the debtor at the relevant date and which became due within the period of six months next before that date. "

Section 64.

SCHEDULE 7 Insurance premium tax

Part I Information

Records

1 (1) Regulations may require registrable persons to keep records.

(2) Regulations under sub-paragraph (1) above may be framed by reference to such records as may be specified in any notice published by the Commissioners in pursuance of the regulations and not withdrawn by a further notice.

(3) Regulations may require any records kept in pursuance of the regulations to be preserved for such period not exceeding six years as may be specified in the regulations.

(4) Any duty under regulations to preserve records may be discharged by the preservation of the information contained in them by such means as the Commissioners may approve; and where that information is so preserved a copy of any document forming part of the records shall (subject to the following provisions of this paragraph) be admissible in evidence in any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, to the same extent as the records themselves.

(5) The Commissioners may, as a condition of approving under sub-paragraph (4) above any means of preserving information contained in any records, impose such reasonable requirements as appear to them necessary for securing that the information will be as readily available to them as if the records themselves had been preserved.

(6) A statement contained in a document produced by a computer shall not by virtue of sub-paragraph (4) above be admissible in evidence--

(a) in civil proceedings in England and Wales, except in accordance with sections 5 and 6 of the [1968 c. 64.] Civil Evidence Act 1968;

(b) in criminal proceedings in England and Wales, except in accordance with sections 69 and 70 of the [1984 c. 60.] Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and Part II of the [1988 c. 33.] Criminal Justice Act 1988;

(c) in civil proceedings in Scotland, except in accordance with sections 5 and 6 of the [1988 c. 32.] Civil Evidence (Scotland) Act 1988;

(d) in criminal proceedings in Scotland, except in accordance with Schedule 3 to the [1993 c. 9.] Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993;

(e) in civil proceedings in Northern Ireland, except in accordance with sections 2 and 3 of the [1971 c. 36 (N.I.).] Civil Evidence Act (Northern Ireland) 1971;

(f) in criminal proceedings in Northern Ireland, except in accordance with Article 68 of the [S.I.1989/1341 (N.I.12).] Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 and Part II of the [S.I.1988/1847 (N.I.17).] Criminal Justice (Evidence, Etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 1988.

Other provisions

2 (1) Every person who is concerned (in whatever capacity) in a taxable business shall furnish to the Commissioners such information relating to taxable insurance contracts entered into in the course of the business as the Commissioners may reasonably require.

(2) Every person who makes arrangements for other persons to enter into any taxable insurance contract shall furnish to the Commissioners such information relating to that contract as the Commissioners may reasonably require.

(3) Every person who--

(a) is concerned in a business that is not a taxable business, and

(b) has been involved in the entry into any taxable insurance contract providing cover for any matter associated with the business,

shall furnish to the Commissioners such information relating to that contract as the Commissioners may reasonably require.

(4) The information mentioned in sub-paragraph (1), (2) or (3) above shall be furnished within such time and in such form as the Commissioners may reasonably require.

3 (1) Every person who is concerned (in whatever capacity) in a taxable business shall upon demand made by an authorised person produce or cause to be produced for inspection by that person any documents relating to taxable insurance contracts entered into in the course of the business.

(2) Every person who makes arrangements for other persons to enter into any taxable insurance contract shall upon demand made by an authorised person produce or cause to be produced for inspection by that person any documents relating to that contract.

(3) Every person who--

(a) is concerned in a business that is not a taxable business, and

(b) has been involved in the entry into any taxable insurance contract providing cover for any matter associated with the business,

shall upon demand made by an authorised person produce or cause to be produced for inspection by that person any documents relating to that contract.

(4) Where, by virtue of any of sub-paragraphs (1) to (3) above, an authorised person has power to require the production of any documents from any person, he shall have the like power to require production of the documents concerned from any other person who appears to the authorised person to be in possession of them; but where any such other person claims a lien on any document produced by him, the production shall be without prejudice to the lien.

(5) The documents mentioned in sub-paragraphs (1) to (4) above shall be produced--

(a) at the principal place of business of the person on whom the demand is made or at such other place as the authorised person may reasonably require, and

(b) at such time as the authorised person may reasonably require.

(6) An authorised person may take copies of, or make extracts from, any document produced under any of sub-paragraphs (1) to (4) above.

(7) If it appears to him to be necessary to do so, an authorised person may, at a reasonable time and for a reasonable period, remove any document produced under any of sub-paragraphs (1) to (4) above and shall, on request, provide a receipt for any document so removed; and where a lien is claimed on a document produced under sub-paragraph (4) above the removal of the document under this sub-paragraph shall not be regarded as breaking the lien.

(8) Where a document removed by an authorised person under sub-paragraph (7) above is reasonably required for the proper conduct of a business he shall, as soon as practicable, provide a copy of the document, free of charge, to the person by whom it was produced or caused to be produced.

(9) Where any documents removed under the powers conferred by this paragraph are lost or damaged the Commissioners shall be liable to compensate their owner for any expenses reasonably incurred by him in replacing or repairing the documents.

Part II Powers

Entry, arrest, etc.

4 (1) For the purpose of exercising any powers under this Part of this Act an authorised person may at any reasonable time enter premises used in connection with the carrying on of a business.

(2) In a case where--

(a) a justice of the peace is satisfied on information on oath that there is reasonable ground for suspecting that a fraud offence which appears to be of a serious nature is being, has been or is about to be committed on any premises or that evidence of the commission of such an offence is to be found there, or

(b) in Scotland a justice, within the meaning of section 462 of the [1975 c. 21.] Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975, is satisfied by evidence on oath as mentioned in paragraph (a) above,

he may issue a warrant in writing authorising any authorised person to enter those premises, if necessary by force, at any time within one month from the time of the issue of the warrant and search them.

(3) A person who enters the premises under the authority of the warrant may--

(a) take with him such other persons as appear to him to be necessary;

(b) seize and remove any documents or other things whatsoever found on the premises which he has reasonable cause to believe may be required as evidence for the purposes of proceedings in respect of a fraud offence which appears to him to be of a serious nature;

(c) search or cause to be searched any person found on the premises whom he has reasonable cause to believe to be in possession of any such documents or other things;

but no woman or girl shall be searched except by a woman.

(4) The powers conferred by a warrant under this paragraph shall not be exercisable--

(a) by more than such number of authorised persons as may be specified in the warrant,

(b) outside such times of day as may be so specified, or

(5) An authorised person seeking to exercise the powers conferred by a warrant under this paragraph or, if there is more than one such authorised person, that one of them who is in charge of the search shall provide a copy of the warrant endorsed with his name as follows--

(a) if the occupier of the premises concerned is present at the time the search is to begin, the copy shall be supplied to the occupier;

(b) if at that time the occupier is not present but a person who appears to the authorised person to be in charge of the premises is present, the copy shall be supplied to that person;

(c) if neither paragraph (a) nor paragraph (b) above applies, the copy shall be left in a prominent place on the premises.

(6) Where an authorised person has reasonable grounds for suspecting that a fraud offence has been committed he may arrest anyone whom he has reasonable grounds for suspecting to be guilty of the offence.

(7) In this paragraph "a fraud offence" means an offence under any provision of paragraph 9(1) to (5) below.

Removal of documents etc.

5 (1) An authorised person who removes anything in the exercise of a power conferred by or under paragraph 4 above shall, if so requested by a person showing himself--

(a) to be the occupier of premises from which it was removed, or

(b) to have had custody or control of it immediately before the removal,

provide that person with a record of what he removed.

(2) The authorised person shall provide the record within a reasonable time from the making of the request for it.

(3) Subject to sub-paragraph (7) below, if a request for permission to be allowed access to anything which--

(a) has been removed by an authorised person, and

(b) is retained by the Commissioners for the purposes of investigating an offence,

is made to the officer in overall charge of the investigation by a person who had custody or control of the thing immediately before it was so removed or by someone acting on behalf of such a person, the officer shall allow the person who made the request access to it under the supervision of an authorised person.

(4) Subject to sub-paragraph (7) below, if a request for a photograph or copy of any such thing is made to the officer in overall charge of the investigation by a person who had custody or control of the thing immediately before it was so removed, or by someone acting on behalf of such a person, the officer shall--

(a) allow the person who made the request access to it under the supervision of an authorised person for the purpose of photographing it or copying it, or

(b) photograph or copy it, or cause it to be photographed or copied.

(5) Subject to sub-paragraph (7) below, where anything is photographed or copied under sub-paragraph (4)(b) above the officer shall supply the photograph or copy, or cause it to be supplied, to the person who made the request.

(6) The photograph or copy shall be supplied within a reasonable time from the making of the request.

(7) There is no duty under this paragraph to allow access to, or to supply a photograph or copy of, anything if the officer in overall charge of the investigation for the purposes of which it was removed has reasonable grounds for believing that to do so would prejudice--

(a) that investigation,

(b) the investigation of an offence other than the offence for the purposes of the investigation of which the thing was removed, or

(c) any criminal proceedings which may be brought as a result of the investigation of which he is in charge or any such investigation as is mentioned in paragraph (b) above.

(8) Any reference in this paragraph to the officer in overall charge of the investigation is a reference to the person whose name and address are endorsed on the warrant concerned as being the officer so in charge.

6 (1) Where, on an application made as mentioned in sub-paragraph (2) below, the appropriate judicial authority is satisfied that a person has failed to comply with a requirement imposed by paragraph 5 above, the authority may order that person to comply with the requirement within such time and in such manner as may be specified in the order.

(2) An application under sub-paragraph (1) above shall be made--

(a) in the case of a failure to comply with any of the requirements imposed by sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) of paragraph 5 above, by the occupier of the premises from which the thing in question was removed or by the person who had custody or control of it immediately before it was so removed, and

(b) in any other case, by the person who had such custody or control.

(3) In this paragraph "the appropriate judicial authority" means--

(a) in England and Wales, a magistrates' court;

(b) in Scotland, the sheriff;

(c) in Northern Ireland, a court of summary jurisdiction, as defined in Article 2(2)(a) of the [S.I. 1981/1675 (N.I.26).] Magistrates' Court (Northern Ireland) Order 1981.

(4) In England and Wales and Northern Ireland, an application for an order under this paragraph shall be made by way of complaint; and sections 21 and 42(2) of the [1954 c. 33 (N.I.).] Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 shall apply as if any reference in those provisions to any enactment included a reference to this paragraph.

Part III Recovery

Recovery of tax etc.

7 (1) Tax due from any person shall be recoverable as a debt due to the Crown.

(2) In the [1986 c. 45.] Insolvency Act 1986, in section 386(1) (preferential debts) the words "insurance premium tax," shall be inserted after "VAT," and in Schedule 6 (categories of preferential debts) the following paragraph shall be inserted after paragraph 3--

" 3A Any insurance premium tax which is referable to the period of 6 months next before the relevant date (which period is referred to below as "the 6-month period").

For the purposes of this paragraph--

(a) where the whole of the accounting period to which any insurance premium tax is attributable falls within the 6-month period, the whole amount of that tax is referable to that period; and

(b) in any other case the amount of any insurance premium tax which is referable to the 6-month period is the proportion of the tax which is equal to such proportion (if any) of the accounting period in question as falls within the 6-month period;

and references here to accounting periods shall be construed in accordance with Part III of the Finance Act 1994. "

(3) In the [1985 c. 66.] Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985, Schedule 3 (preferred debts) shall be amended as mentioned in sub-paragraphs (4) and (5) below.

(4) In paragraph 2 the following sub-paragraph shall be inserted after sub-paragraph (1)--

" (1A) Any insurance premium tax which is referable to the period of six months next before the relevant date. "

(5) The following shall be inserted after paragraph 8--

" Periods to which insurance premium tax referable

8A (1) For the purpose of paragraph 2(1A) of Part I of this Schedule--

(a) where the whole of the accounting period to which any insurance premium tax is attributable falls within the period of six months next before the relevant date ("the relevant period"), the whole amount of that tax shall be referable to the relevant period; and

(b) in any other case the amount of any insurance premium tax which shall be referable to the relevant period shall be the proportion of the tax which is equal to such proportion (if any) of the accounting period in question as falls within the relevant period.

(2) In sub-paragraph (1) above "accounting period" shall be construed in accordance with Part III of the Finance Act 1994. "

(6) In the [S.I. 1989/2405 (N.I. 19).] Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989, in Article 346(1) (preferential debts) the words "insurance premium tax" shall be inserted after "VAT" and in Schedule 4 (categories of preferential debts) the following paragraph shall be inserted after paragraph 3--

" 3A Any insurance premium tax which is referable to the period of 6 months next before the relevant date (which period is referred to below as "the 6-month period").

For the purposes of this paragraph--

(a) where the whole of the accounting period to which any insurance premium tax is attributable falls within the 6-month period, the whole amount of that tax is referable to that period; and

and references here to accounting periods shall be construed in accordance with Part III of the Finance Act 1994. "

(7) Regulations may make provision in respect of England and Wales and Northern Ireland--

(a) for authorising distress to be levied on the goods and chattels of any person refusing or neglecting to pay any tax due from him or any amount recoverable as if it were tax due from him;

(b) for the disposal of any goods or chattels on which distress is levied in pursuance of the regulations;

(c) for the imposition and recovery of costs, charges, expenses and fees in connection with anything done under the regulations.

(8) Regulations may make provision in respect of Scotland--

(a) for obtaining a summary warrant for the poinding, sale and disposal of proceeds of sale, in accordance with Schedule 5 to the [1987 c. 18.] Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987, of the moveable property of any person refusing or neglecting to pay any tax due from him or any amount recoverable as if it were tax due from him;

(b) for the imposition and recovery of expenses, charges and fees in connection with anything done under the regulations.

Recovery of overpaid tax

8 (1) Where a person has paid an amount to the Commissioners by way of tax which was not tax due to them, they shall be liable to repay the amount to him.

(2) The Commissioners shall only be liable to repay an amount under this paragraph on a claim being made for the purpose.

(3) It shall be a defence, in relation to a claim under this paragraph, that repayment of an amount would unjustly enrich the claimant.

(4) No amount may be claimed under this paragraph after the expiry of six years from the date on which it was paid, except where sub-paragraph (5) below applies.

(5) Where an amount has been paid to the Commissioners by reason of a mistake, a claim for the repayment of the amount under this paragraph may be made at any time before the expiry of six years from the date on which the claimant discovered the mistake or could with reasonable diligence have discovered it.

(6) A claim under this paragraph shall be made in such form and manner and shall be supported by such documentary evidence as may be prescribed by regulations.

(7) Except as provided by this paragraph, the Commissioners shall not be liable to repay an amount paid to them by way of tax by virtue of the fact that it was not tax due to them.

Part IV Penalties

Criminal offences

9 (1) A person is guilty of an offence if--

(a) being a registrable person, he is knowingly concerned in, or in the taking of steps with a view to, the fraudulent evasion of tax by him or another registrable person, or

(b) not being a registrable person, he is knowingly concerned in, or in the taking of steps with a view to, the fraudulent evasion of tax by a registrable person.

(2) Any reference in sub-paragraph (1) above to the evasion of tax includes a reference to the obtaining of a payment under regulations under section 55(3)(c) or (d) or (f) of this Act.

(3) A person is guilty of an offence if with the requisite intent--

(a) he produces, furnishes or sends, or causes to be produced, furnished or sent, for the purposes of this Part of this Act any document which is false in a material particular, or

(b) he otherwise makes use for those purposes of such a document;

and the requisite intent is intent to deceive or to secure that a machine will respond to the document as if it were a true document.

(4) A person is guilty of an offence if in furnishing any information for the purposes of this Part of this Act he makes a statement which he knows to be false in a material particular or recklessly makes a statement which is false in a material particular.

(5) A person is guilty of an offence by virtue of this sub-paragraph if his conduct during any specified period must have involved the commission by him of one or more offences under the preceding provisions of this paragraph; and the preceding provisions of this sub-paragraph apply whether or not the particulars of that offence or those offences are known.

(6) A person is guilty of an offence if--

(a) he enters into a taxable insurance contract, or

(b) he makes arrangements for other persons to enter into a taxable insurance contract,

with reason to believe that tax in respect of the contract will be evaded.

(7) A person is guilty of an offence if he enters into taxable insurance contracts without giving security (or further security) he has been required to give under paragraph 24 below.

Criminal penalties

10 (1) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph 9(1) above shall be liable--

(a) on summary conviction, to a penalty of the statutory maximum or of three times the amount of the tax, whichever is the greater, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both;

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a penalty of any amount or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years or to both.

(2) The reference in sub-paragraph (1) above to the amount of the tax shall be construed, in relation to tax itself or a payment falling within paragraph 9(2) above, as a reference to the aggregate of--

(a) the amount (if any) falsely claimed by way of credit, and

(b) the amount (if any) by which the gross amount of tax was falsely understated.

(3) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph 9(3) or (4) above shall be liable--

(a) on summary conviction, to a penalty of the statutory maximum or, where sub-paragraph (4) below applies, to the alternative penalty there specified if it is greater, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both;

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a penalty of any amount or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years or to both.

(4) In a case where--

(a) the document referred to in paragraph 9(3) above is a return required under this Part of this Act, or

(b) the information referred to in paragraph 9(4) above is contained in or otherwise relevant to such a return,

the alternative penalty is a penalty equal to three times the aggregate of the amount (if any) falsely claimed by way of credit and the amount (if any) by which the gross amount of tax was understated.

(5) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph 9(5) above shall be liable--

(a) on summary conviction, to a penalty of the statutory maximum or (if greater) three times the amount of any tax that was or was intended to be evaded by his conduct, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both;

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a penalty of any amount or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years or to both;

and paragraph 9(2) and sub-paragraph (2) above shall apply for the purposes of this sub-paragraph as they apply respectively for the purposes of paragraph 9(1) and sub-paragraph (1) above.

(6) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph 9(6) above shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 5 on the standard scale or three times the amount of the tax, whichever is the greater.

(7) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph 9(7) above shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 5 on the standard scale.

(8) In this paragraph--

(a) "credit" means credit for which provision is made by regulations under section 55 of this Act;

(b) "the gross amount of tax" means the total amount of tax due before taking into account any deduction for which provision is made by regulations under section 55(3) of this Act.

Criminal proceedings etc.

11 Sections 145 to 155 of the [1979 c. 2.] Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (proceedings for offences, mitigation of penalties and certain other matters) shall apply in relation to offences under paragraph 9 above and penalties imposed under paragraph 10 above as they apply in relation to offences and penalties under the customs and excise Acts as defined in that Act.

Civil penalties

12 (1) In a case where--

(a) for the purpose of evading tax, a registrable person does any act or omits to take any action, and

(b) his conduct involves dishonesty (whether or not it is such as to give rise to criminal liability),

he shall be liable to a penalty equal to the amount of tax evaded, or (as the case may be) sought to be evaded, by his conduct; but this is subject to sub-paragraph (7) below.

(2) The reference in sub-paragraph (1)(a) above to evading tax includes a reference to obtaining a payment under regulations under section 55(3)(c) or (d) or (f) of this Act in circumstances where the person concerned is not entitled to the sum.

(3) The reference in sub-paragraph (1) above to the amount of tax evaded or sought to be evaded is a reference to the aggregate of--

(a) the amount (if any) falsely claimed by way of credit, and

(b) the amount (if any) by which the gross amount of tax was falsely understated.

(4) In this paragraph--

(a) "credit" means credit for which provision is made by regulations under section 55 of this Act;

(b) "the gross amount of tax" means the total amount of tax due before taking into account any deduction for which provision is made by regulations under section 55(3) of this Act.

(5) Statements made or documents produced by or on behalf of a person shall not be inadmissible in any such proceedings as are mentioned in sub-paragraph (6) below by reason only that it has been drawn to his attention--

(a) that, in relation to tax, the Commissioners may assess an amount due by way of a civil penalty instead of instituting criminal proceedings and, though no undertaking can be given as to whether the Commissioners will make such an assessment in the case of any person, it is their practice to be influenced by the fact that a person has made a full confession of any dishonest conduct to which he has been a party and has given full facilities for investigation, and

(b) that the Commissioners or, on appeal, an appeal tribunal have power under paragraph 13 below to reduce a penalty under this paragraph,

and that he was or may have been induced thereby to make the statements or produce the documents.

(6) The proceedings referred to in sub-paragraph (5) above are--

(a) any criminal proceedings against the person concerned in respect of any offence in connection with or in relation to tax, and

(b) any proceedings against him for the recovery of any sum due from him in connection with or in relation to tax.

(7) Where, by reason of conduct falling within sub-paragraph (1) above, a person is convicted of an offence (whether under this Part of this Act or otherwise) that conduct shall not also give rise to liability to a penalty under this paragraph.

13 (1) Where a person is liable to a penalty under paragraph 12 above the Commissioners or, on appeal, an appeal tribunal may reduce the penalty to such amount (including nil) as they think proper.

(2) In the case of a penalty reduced by the Commissioners under sub-paragraph (1) above an appeal tribunal, on an appeal relating to the penalty, may cancel the whole or any part of the reduction made by the Commissioners.

(3) None of the matters specified in sub-paragraph (4) below shall be matters which the Commissioners or any appeal tribunal shall be entitled to take into account in exercising their powers under this paragraph.

(4) Those matters are--

(a) the insufficiency of the funds available to any person for paying any tax due or for paying the amount of the penalty;

(b) the fact that there has, in the case in question or in that case taken with any other cases, been no or no significant loss of tax.

14 (1) A person who fails to comply with section 53(2) of this Act shall be liable to a penalty equal to 5 per cent. of the relevant tax or, if it is greater or the circumstances are such that there is no relevant tax, to a penalty of £250; but this is subject to sub-paragraphs (3) and (4) below.

(2) In sub-paragraph (1) above "relevant tax" means the tax (if any) for which the person concerned is liable for the period which--

(a) begins on the date with effect from which he is, in accordance with section 53 of this Act, required to be registered, and

(b) ends on the date on which the Commissioners received notification of his liability to be registered.

(3) Conduct falling within sub-paragraph (1) above shall not give rise to liability to a penalty under this paragraph if the person concerned satisfies the Commissioners or, on appeal, an appeal tribunal that there is a reasonable excuse for his conduct.

(4) Where, by reason of conduct falling within sub-paragraph (1) above--

(a) a person is convicted of an offence (whether under this Part of this Act or otherwise), or

(b) a person is assessed to a penalty under paragraph 12 above,

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