Legislation – Finance Act 2026

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Introduction

Part 1
Income tax, capital gains tax and corporate taxes

1 Income tax charge for tax year 2026-27

2 Main rates of income tax for tax year 2026-27

3 Default and savings rates of income tax for tax year 2026-27

4 Increase in dividend ordinary and upper rates

5 Savings rates of income tax for tax year 2027-28

6 New rates of income tax on property income

7 Property rates of income tax for tax year 2027-28

8 Scottish and Welsh property rates set by Scottish Parliament and Senedd

9 Freezing starting rate limit for savings for tax years 2026-27 to 2030-31

10 Basic rate limit and personal allowance for tax years 2028-29 to 2030-31

11 Charge and main rate for financial year 2027

12 Standard small profits rate and fraction for financial year 2027

13 Enterprise management incentives: thresholds and period for exercise

14 Enterprise investment scheme: increase in amounts and asset requirements

15 Venture capital trusts: rate of relief and amounts and asset requirements

16 CSOP schemes and EMI: PISCES shares

17 Employee car and van ownership schemes

18 Car or van made available on arm’s length terms

19 CO emissions figure for certain cars with an electric range figure

20 Employment income: miscellaneous exemptions

21 Disallowing deduction from earnings for additional household expenses

22 Payment for cancelled shifts etc.

23 Location of duties of employment where duties not performed

24 Umbrella companies

25 Loan charge settlement scheme

26 Loan charge settlement scheme: inheritance tax

27 Loan charge settlement scheme: supplementary

28 Main rate of writing-down allowances for expenditure on plant or machinery

29 First-year allowance for main rate expenditure on plant or machinery

30 Expenditure on zero-emission cars and electric vehicle charging points

31 Payments for surrender of expenditure credits

32 Transition from video games tax relief

33 Special credit for visual effects

34 R&D undertaken abroad: Chapter 2 relief only

35 Restriction of relief on disposals to employee-ownership trusts

36 Anti-avoidance: collective investment scheme reconstructions

37 Anti-avoidance: company reconstructions

38 Anti-avoidance: reconstructions involving transfer of business

39 Incorporation relief: requirement to claim

40 Non-residents: cell companies

41 Non-residents: double taxation relief relating to collective investment vehicles

42 Abolition of notional tax credit on distributions received by non-UK residents

43 Non-resident, and previously non-domiciled individuals

44 Trust protections etc: minor amendments and transitional protection

45 PAYE for treaty non-residents etc.

46 Unassessed transfer pricing profits

47 Transfer pricing reform

48 International controlled transactions

49 Permanent establishments

50 Pillar two

51 Controlled foreign companies: interest on reversal of state aid recovery

52 Offshore income gains

53 Offshore income gains: savings

54 Legacies to charities to be within scope of tax

55 Approved charitable investments: purpose test

56 Tainted charity donations: replacement of purpose test with outcome test

57 Winter fuel payment charge

58 Carried interest

59 Pensions: abolition of the lifetime allowance charge

60 Collective money purchase schemes and Master Trust schemes

61 Corporate interest restriction: reporting companies

62 Corporate interest restriction: capital expenditure and tax-EBITDA calculation

63 Avoidance schemes involving certain non-derecognition liabilities

64 Energy (oil and gas) profits levy: decommissioning relief agreements

Part 2
Inheritance tax

65 Agricultural property relief and business property relief etc

66 Tax to be charged on certain pension interests

67 Liability for tax on pension interests

68 Withholding of benefits and payment of tax by pension scheme administrator

69 Connected amendments to IHTA 1984

70 Connected amendments to income tax rules

71 Commencement of

72 Rate bands etc for tax year 2030-31

73 Relevant property: disapplication of exemptions from exit charges

74 Relevant property: cap on charges for pre-30 October 2024 excluded property

75 Foreign diplomats etc: periods of UK residence to be disregarded

76 Minor corrections

77 Power to make provision about infected blood compensation payments

78 Scope of exemption for gifts to charities and registered clubs

79 Section 78: transitional protection for existing interests in possession

Part 3
Other existing taxes

80 Zero-rating of leases of vehicles to recipients of disability benefits

81 Insurance premium tax relief limited to adapted vehicles

82 Private hire vehicles or taxis

83 Certain charitable donations not to be treated as supplies of goods

84 Refunds of VAT to combined county authorities

85 UK listing relief

86 Rate of remote gaming duty

87 General betting duty on remote bets

88 Abolition of bingo duty

89 Rates of duty

90 Rates of duty effective from 6pm on 26 November 2025

91 Rates of duty effective from 1 October 2026

92 Vehicle excise duty for light passenger or light goods vehicles etc

93 Vehicle excise duty for rigid goods vehicles without trailers and tractive units

94 Vehicle excise duty for rigid goods vehicles with trailers

95 Vehicle excise duty for vehicles with exceptional loads etc

96 Vehicle excise duty for haulage vehicles other than showman’s vehicles

97 Vehicle excise duty: expensive car supplement

98 Rates of HGV road user levy

99 Rates of air passenger duty

100 Rates of climate change levy

101 Rates of landfill tax

102 Rate of aggregates levy

103 Aggregates levy: amendments relating to disapplication of levy to Scotland

104 Rate of plastic packaging tax

105 Chemical recycling: mass balance approach

106 Pre-consumer plastic

107 Sections 105 and 106: commencement

108 Rates of levy

109 Amendment of customs tariff power

110 Dumping and subsidisation investigations

111 Safeguarding investigations

112 Customs facilities at approved wharves and other places

113 Increases to rates of levy

114 Removal of time limit to claim relief under section 106(3) of FA 2013

Part 4
Vaping products duty

115 Excise duty: charge

116 Vaping products

117 Production of vaping products

118 Excise duty point and payment

119 Administration

120 Stamping of vaping products

121 Issue and management of duty stamps

122 Approved stamp holders

123 United Kingdom representatives

124 Forfeiture

125 Dealing in unstamped vaping products

126 Loss and misuse of duty stamps

127 Failure to comply with this Part etc

128 Forfeiture: civil penalties

129 Dealing in duty stamps

130 Dealing in unstamped vaping products

131 Sales ban following conviction for unlawful use of premises

132 Offences: penalties

133 Forfeiture: offences

134 Publication of information

135 Information sharing

136 Investigation and enforcement

137 Regulations: further provision

138 Regulations: procedure

139 Amendments of other enactments

140 Interpretation

141 Commencement and transitional provision

Part 5
Carbon border adjustment mechanism

142 Introduction to CBAM

143 Charge to CBAM

144 Importation

145 Goods processed under a special customs procedure

146 Person liable: the importer

147 Exemptions

148 Embodied emissions

149 Rate

150 Carbon price relief

151 Administration and enforcement

152 Criminal offences

153 Supplementary amendments

154 Emissions: meaning etc

155 Interpretation

156 Power to make provision for linked emissions trading schemes

157 Regulations and notices

158 Commencement and transitory provision

Part 6
Avoidance

Chapter 1 Prohibition of promotion of certain tax avoidance arrangements

Prohibition

159 Prohibition of promotion of certain tax avoidance arrangements

160 Meaning of promotion

161 Procedure

Sanctions

162 Civil penalties

163 Criminal offence

164 Criminal liability of responsible persons

General

165 Interpretation and commencement

Chapter 2 Promoter action notices

Promoter action notices

166 Certification of promoters

167 Promoter action notices

168 Preliminary notices

169 Disclosure of information by HMRC

170 Appeal against a decision to issue a promoter action notice

Sanctions

171 Civil penalties

172 Publication

173 Reporting to regulators etc

174 Extension of time periods

175 Reasonable excuse

General

176 Interpretation

Chapter 3 Anti-avoidance information notices

Key definitions

177 Connected persons

178 Anti-avoidance enactments

Notices by type

179 Information notices: connected persons

180 Information notices: third parties

181 Information notices: unidentified connected persons

182 Information notices: identification

183 Information notices: financial institutions

Content, requirements and withdrawal of notices

184 Content and requirements of notices

185 Restriction on disclosure of notices

186 Excepted information

187 Tribunal approval of notices

188 Withdrawal of notices

Criminal sanctions

189 Offence of failing to comply with a notice

190 Offence of concealing information

191 Criminal liability of responsible persons

192 Criminal liability of responsible persons: no prosecution of recipient

193 Imprisonment or a fine

Civil sanctions

194 Penalty for failing to comply with a notice

195 Penalty for concealing information

196 Penalty for inaccurate information

197 Penalty for disclosing a notice

198 Penalty based on monies received

199 Increased daily default penalty

Sanctions: general

200 Extension of time periods

201 Reasonable excuse

202 Double jeopardy

203 Assessment etc of penalties: application of Schedule 36 to FA 2008

Appeals

204 Appeals against notices

205 Appeals against penalties

Miscellaneous and interpretation

206 Interpretation

207 Application of provisions of TMA 1970

208 Repeals

Chapter 4 Miscellaneous

Legal professionals

209 Declaration in relation to privileged material

210 Penalties for an incorrect declaration

211 Penalties: procedure, appeals etc

212 Publication following an incorrect declaration

213 Time limits for publication

214 Amendments to existing legislation: removal of privilege exemption

215 Commencement

Disclosure of tax avoidance schemes: consequences for failure to comply

216 Penalties for non-disclosure of tax avoidance schemes

217 Removal of time limits on publication by HMRC

218 Consequential amendments

219 Commencement

Construction industry scheme: amendments

220 Construction industry scheme: amendments

221 Construction industry scheme regulations: amendments

222 Commencement

Part 7
Tax advisers

Chapter 1 Registration

Prohibition against unregistered tax advisers interacting with HMRC

223 Prohibition against unregistered tax advisers interacting with HMRC

224 Meaning of “tax adviser” and “client”

Application process

225 Application for registration

226 Meaning of “relevant individual” and “officer”

227 Registration conditions

228 Registration conditions: interpretation

229 Registration conditions: offences

230 Registration of tax advisers etc

Monitoring of registration conditions and suspension of registration

231 Monitoring of registration conditions

232 Suspension of registration

Compliance notice

233 Compliance notice

Financial penalties

234 Financial penalties for prohibited interaction with HMRC

235 Financial penalties for prohibited interaction with HMRC: liability of relevant individuals

Ineligibility orders

236 Tax advisers: ineligibility orders

237 Relevant individuals: ineligibility orders

Requirement for tax adviser to notify clients of suspension or ineligibility orders

238 Requirement for tax adviser to notify clients of suspension or ineligibility orders

Reasonable excuse

239 Reasonable excuse

Extension of period for making representations

240 Extension of period for making representations

Assessment of financial penalties etc

241 Assessment of financial penalties

242 Time limits and treatment of financial penalties

243 Double jeopardy

Reviews and appeals

244 Reviews and appeals

Disclosure of information

245 Disclosure of information

Power to publish information

246 Power to publish information

Power to amend Schedule 20 (exceptions)

247 Power to amend Schedule 20 (exceptions)

Interpretation

248 Interpretation of Chapter

Commencement

249 Commencement

Chapter 2 Conduct etc

Conduct of tax advisers

250 Conduct of tax advisers

Power to publish information about tax advisers etc

251 Power to publish information

252 Power to publish information: change of circumstances

253 Power to publish information: interpretation and commencement

Part 8
Miscellaneous and final

254 Fiscal mandate assessments prepared by the Office for Budget Responsibility

255 Data-gathering

256 Persons on whom digital reporting requirements may be imposed

257 Exemptions from digital reporting requirements

258 Returns to be delivered by electronic communications etc.

259 Penalties: amendments consequential on section 258 etc

260 Powers relating to electronic communications: directions

261 Power to require digital contact details

262 Penalty points and late submission penalties (power to cancel etc)

263 Assessments of late payment penalties etc.

264 Penalties for failure to pay tax due on further appeal

265 Failure to deliver company tax returns

266 Clearances

267 Binding effect

268 Extension

269 Modification

270 Information

271 Misrepresentation

272 Commissioners notice

273 Powers

274 Interpretation

275 Cryptoasset reporting: users and controlling persons resident in the UK

276 International cryptoasset reporting framework: connected matters

277 Stamp duty: piloting of digital service etc

278 Oversight of HMRC tax enforcement functions in Northern Ireland

279 Repeal of obsolete provision in FA 1925 concerning Dominion Governments

280 Repeal of other obsolete provisions and correction of wrong cross-references

281 Interpretation

282 Short title

SCHEDULES

Schedule 1 Property and savings rates of income tax: consequential amendments

Schedule 2 Scottish and Welsh property income rates

Schedule 3 Non-resident, and previously non-domiciled individuals

Schedule 4 PAYE for treaty non-residents etc

Schedule 5 Unassessed transfer pricing profits

Schedule 6 Transfer pricing

Schedule 7 Permanent establishments

Schedule 8 Pillar Two

Schedule 9 Tainted charity donations

Schedule 10 Winter fuel payment charge

Schedule 11 Tax treatment of carried interest

Schedule 12 Reform of reliefs for business property and agricultural property

Schedule 13 Abolition of bingo duty: consequential and transitional provision

Schedule 14 Aggregates levy: amendments relating to disapplication of levy to Scotland

Schedule 15 Vaping products duty: amendments of other enactments

Schedule 16 CBAM Goods

Schedule 17 Administration of CBAM

Schedule 18 Offences relating to CBAM

Schedule 19 Supplementary amendments relating to CBAM

Schedule 20 Registration of tax advisers: exceptions

Schedule 21 Registration of tax advisers: reviews and appeals

Schedule 22 Conduct of tax advisers

Schedule 23 Data-gathering

Part 6Avoidance

Chapter 3Anti-avoidance information notices

Key definitions

177Connected persons

(1)

In this Chapter, a “connected person” means a person who an officer of Revenue and Customs reasonably suspects is or has been—

(a)

contravening an anti-avoidance enactment,

(b)

connected to a person who is or has been contravening an anti-avoidance enactment, or

(c)

connected to arrangements by reference to which a person is or has been contravening an anti-avoidance enactment.

(2)

For the purposes of subsection (1)(b), two persons (“A” and “B”) are connected if—

(a)

A is a director, manager, secretary or other officer or employee of B,

(b)

A is a member of, or partner in, B,

(c)

A is a trustee, settlor, beneficiary or administrator of a trust in respect of which B is a trustee, settlor, beneficiary or administrator, or

(d)

A is accustomed to acting in accordance with B’s directions or instructions.

(3)

For the purposes of subsection (1)(c), a person is connected to arrangements if the person is—

(a)

to any extent involved in making the arrangements available for implementation by another person,

(b)

to any extent involved in the organisation or management of the arrangements, or

(c)

directly or indirectly benefiting from the arrangements.

178Anti-avoidance enactments

(1)

In this Chapter, an “anti-avoidance enactment” means—

(a)

Part 7 of FA 2004 (disclosure of tax avoidance schemes);

(b)

Part 5 of FA 2014 (promoters of tax avoidance schemes);

(c)

Schedule 16 to F(No.2)A 2017 (penalties for enablers of defeated tax avoidance);

(d)

Schedule 17 to F(No.2)A 2017 (disclosure of tax avoidance schemes: VAT and other indirect taxes);

(e)

Chapter 1 of this Part (prohibition on promotion of certain tax avoidance arrangements).

(2)

And a reference to taking action under an anti-avoidance enactment includes a reference to taking action under—

(a)

sections 8ZF and 8ZG of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 (disqualification for promoting tax avoidance);

(b)

Schedule 13 to FA 2020 (joint and several liability);

(c)

section 85 of FA 2022 (winding up petitions by an officer of HMRC);

(d)

section 86 of FA 2022 (publication by HMRC of information about tax avoidance schemes);

(e)

sections 87, 88 and 89 of FA 2022 (freezing orders etc);

(f)

Schedule 13 to FA 2022 (penalties for facilitating avoidance schemes involving non-resident promoters);

(g)

Chapter 2 of this Part (promoter action notices).

Notices by type

179Information notices: connected persons

(1)

An officer of Revenue and Customs may by notice require a connected person to provide information that is, in the opinion of the officer, reasonably required for the purposes of—

(a)

monitoring the compliance of the connected person with an anti-avoidance enactment, or

(b)

HMRC taking, or considering whether HMRC could take, action against the connected person under an anti-avoidance enactment.

(2)

An officer of Revenue and Customs may seek the approval of the tribunal before issuing a notice under this section.

180Information notices: third parties

(1)

An officer of Revenue and Customs may by notice require a person to provide information that is, in the opinion of the officer, reasonably required for the purposes of—

(a)

monitoring the compliance of a connected person with an anti-avoidance enactment, or

(b)

HMRC taking, or considering whether HMRC could take, action against a connected person under an anti-avoidance enactment.

(2)

A notice under this section must identify the connected person to whom it relates.

(3)

Before issuing a notice under this section, an officer of Revenue and Customs must—

(a)

notify the intended recipient of—

(i)

the officer’s intention to issue the notice, and

(ii)

the information that would be required under the notice, and

(b)

allow the intended recipient reasonable opportunity to make representations to HMRC.

(4)

An officer of Revenue and Customs may not issue a notice under this section without either—

(a)

the agreement of the connected person identified in the notice, or

(b)

the approval of the tribunal.

(5)

The tribunal may not approve a notice unless it has been given a summary of any representations made under subsection (3)(b).

(6)

After issuing a notice under this section, an officer of Revenue and Customs must provide to the connected person identified in the notice—

(a)

a copy of the notice, and

(b)

a summary of the officer’s reasons for requiring the information.

(7)

Subsections (2), (3) and (6) do not apply to the extent the tribunal is satisfied that taking the steps in those subsections might prejudice the investigation of tax avoidance.

181Information notices: unidentified connected persons

(1)

An officer of Revenue and Customs may by notice require a person to provide information that is, in the opinion of the officer, reasonably required for the purposes of—

(a)

monitoring the compliance of an unidentified connected person with an anti-avoidance enactment, or

(b)

HMRC taking, or considering whether HMRC could take, action against an unidentified connected person under an anti-avoidance enactment.

(2)

In this section, “unidentified connected person” means—

(a)

a connected person whose identity is not known to the officer, or

(b)

a class of persons whose individual identities are not known to the officer but, of which, one or more members is a connected person.

(3)

A notice under this section may only require information that is not readily available from another source.

(4)

An officer of Revenue and Customs may not issue a notice under this section without the approval of the tribunal.

(5)

In subsection (1)(b), the reference to taking action against an unidentified connected person includes a reference to taking action against one or more members of a class referred to in subsection (2)(b).

182Information notices: identification

(1)

An officer of Revenue and Customs may by notice require a person to provide identifying information that is, in the opinion of the officer, reasonably required for the purpose of identifying an unidentified connected person.

(2)

An officer of Revenue and Customs may not issue a notice under subsection (1) unless the officer has reason to believe that—

(a)

the intended recipient of the notice could identify the unidentified connected person by reference to information provided by the officer, and

(b)

the recipient obtained the identifying information in the course of a business.

(3)

A notice under this section may only require information that is not readily available from another source.

(4)

In this section

identifying information” means one or more of an unidentified connected person’s—

(a)

name;

(b)

last known address;

(c)

in the case of an individual, date of birth;

unidentified connected person” has the meaning given in section 181.

(5)

An officer of Revenue and Customs who is not an authorised officer may not issue a notice under this section without the approval of either—

(a)

the tribunal, or

(b)

an authorised officer of Revenue and Customs.

(6)

An authorised officer of Revenue and Customs may seek the approval of the tribunal before issuing a notice under this section.

183Information notices: financial institutions

(1)

An officer of Revenue and Customs may by notice require a financial institution to provide information that is, in the opinion of the officer, reasonably required for the purposes of—

(a)

monitoring the compliance of a connected person with an anti-avoidance enactment, or

(b)

HMRC taking, or considering whether HMRC could take, action against a connected person under an anti-avoidance enactment.

(2)

A notice under this section must identify the connected person to whom it relates.

(3)

An officer of Revenue and Customs may not issue a notice under this section without the approval of the tribunal.

(4)

After issuing a notice under this section, an officer of Revenue and Customs must provide to the connected person identified in the notice—

(a)

a copy of the notice, and

(b)

a summary of the officer’s reasons for requiring the information.

(5)

Subsection (4) does not apply to the extent the tribunal is satisfied that taking the steps in that subsection might prejudice the investigation of tax avoidance.

(6)

In this section—

financial institution” means—

(a)

a financial institution under the CRS other than one which is such an institution only because it is an investment entity within section 8(A)(6)(b) of the CRS;

(b)

a person who issues credit cards;

CRS” means the common reporting standard for automatic exchange of financial account information developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, as that standard has effect from time to time.

Content, requirements and withdrawal of notices

184Content and requirements of notices

(1)

An information notice must specify (or, in the case of paragraphs (a) and (b), describe)—

(a)

the information that the recipient is required to provide;

(b)

the form in which, and the means by which, the information is to be provided;

(c)

a reasonable period within which the information is to be provided;

(d)

the provision under which the notice is issued;

(e)

whether the notice is issued with the approval of the tribunal.

(2)

An information notice issued under sections 180 to 183 may only require information that would not, in the reasonable opinion of an officer of Revenue and Customs, be unduly onerous for the recipient to provide.

(3)

An information notice may not require a person to produce a document if the whole of the document originates more than 6 years before the date of the notice without the agreement of an authorised officer of Revenue and Customs.

(4)

An information notice may be issued to a person outside the United Kingdom.

185Restriction on disclosure of notices

(1)

An information notice may require the recipient not to disclose the existence or contents of the notice to—

(a)

the connected person to whom the notice relates,

(b)

in the case of a notice under section 181, members of the class of persons to which the notice relates,

(c)

any person who might reasonably be expected to disclose the existence or contents of the notice to the connected person or members of the class, or

(d)

any other person.

(2)

A requirement under subsection (1)(d) may not prohibit disclosure for, or in connection with, the purpose of—

(a)

complying with the notice, or

(b)

seeking legal advice.

(3)

A requirement imposed under subsection (1) has effect until the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the day on which the notice is issued, unless before the end of that period—

(a)

the requirement is withdrawn in accordance with subsection (4), or

(b)

the period is extended in accordance with subsection (5).

(4)

An officer of Revenue and Customs may withdraw the requirement by notifying the recipient in writing.

(5)

An officer of Revenue and Customs may by notice to the recipient—

(a)

extend the period during which a requirement imposed under subsection (1) has effect by a period of 12 months beginning with the day after the last day of the previous period of 12 months, and

(b)

do so on one or more occasions.

(6)

An officer of Revenue and Customs may not issue a notice under subsection (5) unless—

(a)

the officer considers that there are reasonable grounds for believing that failure to extend the period might prejudice the investigation of tax avoidance, and

(b)

where the officer is not an authorised officer of Revenue and Customs, an authorised officer agrees with the officer’s—

(i)

decision to extend the period, and

(ii)

assessment under paragraph (a).

186Excepted information

(1)

An information notice does not require a person to provide information that is not in the possession or power of that person.

(2)

An information notice does not require a person to provide—

(a)

information that relates to the conduct of a pending tax appeal or appeal against a decision under an anti-avoidance enactment;

(b)

personal records (as defined in section 12 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984) or information contained in such records, except that a notice may require a person to produce a redacted version of a document omitting any information that would otherwise make it personal records;

(c)

journalistic material (as defined in section 13 of that Act) or information contained in such material;

(d)

information in respect of a which a claim to legal professional privilege or, (in Scotland) to confidentiality of communications as between a client and professional legal advisor, could be maintained by the person in legal proceedings.

(3)

An information notice does not require a person who has been appointed auditor for the purposes of an enactment to provide information held or created in connection with the performance of the person’s functions under the enactment, other than information that the recipient of the notice has assisted any client in preparing for, or delivering to, HMRC.

(4)

Subsection (3) does not apply in relation to—

(a)

a notice under section 182 (identification), or

(b)

identifying information (within the meaning given in section 182) required by a notice under section 181 in respect of—

(i)

the connected person to whom the notice relates, or

(ii)

a person who has acted on behalf of the connected person.

(5)

The Commissioners may by regulations make provision for the resolution by the tribunal of disputes as to whether any information falls within subsection (2)(d) (privilege).

(6)

Regulations under subsection (5) are to be made by statutory instrument and a statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (5) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the House of Commons.

187Tribunal approval of notices

(1)

An application to the tribunal for approval of a notice, or disapplication of requirements, under this Chapter may be made without notice.

(2)

An officer of Revenue and Customs (other than an authorised officer) may not seek the approval of, or disapplication of requirements by, the tribunal without the agreement of an authorised officer of Revenue and Customs.

(3)

The tribunal may not approve the issue of a notice under sections 179 to 183 unless it is satisfied that the requirements of the relevant section are met.

(4)

A decision of the tribunal is final (despite sections 11 and 13 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007).

188Withdrawal of notices

An officer of Revenue and Customs may withdraw an information notice by notifying the recipient in writing.

Criminal sanctions

189Offence of failing to comply with a notice

(1)

A recipient of an information notice commits an offence if the recipient—

(a)

fails to comply with the notice, or

(b)

in purporting to comply with the notice, carelessly or deliberately provides inaccurate information.

(2)

It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1)(a) to show that they had a reasonable excuse.

(3)

In this section, a reference to carelessness is a reference to a failure to take reasonable care.

(4)

This section does not apply in respect of a notice under section 183 (financial institutions).

190Offence of concealing information

(1)

A recipient of an information notice commits an offence if the recipient conceals, destroys or otherwise disposes of information that is required to be provided under the notice.

(2)

It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) to show that they concealed, destroyed or otherwise disposed of the information only after the information had been provided in accordance with the notice.

(3)

Subsection (2) does not apply where an officer of Revenue and Customs had notified the person in writing that the information must continue to be available (and had not withdrawn that notification).

(4)

A person commits an offence if—

(a)

an officer of Revenue and Customs has notified the person under section 180(3) that—

(i)

the officer intends to issue an information notice to the person, and

(ii)

certain information would be required under the notice, and

(b)

the person conceals, destroys or otherwise disposes of the information.

(5)

It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (4) to show that they concealed, destroyed or otherwise disposed of the information only—

(a)

after the end of the period of six months beginning with the day on which they were last notified under section 180(3) in respect of the information, or

(b)

after an information notice has been issued to the person in respect of the information.

(6)

In this section, a reference to concealing, destroying or otherwise disposing of information includes a reference to arranging for the concealment, destruction or disposal of information.

(7)

This section does not apply in respect of a notice under section 183 (financial institutions).

191Criminal liability of responsible persons

(1)

If an offence under section 189 or 190 is committed by a body corporate or a partnership and—

(a)

is committed with the consent or connivance of a responsible person, or

(b)

is attributable to the neglect of a responsible person,

the responsible person commits the offence (as well as the body or partnership).

(2)

A “responsible person” means—

(a)

in relation to a body corporate other than one whose affairs are managed by its members—

(i)

a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body, or a person purporting to act in such a capacity, or

(ii)

a shadow director within the meaning given in section 251 of the Companies Act 2006;

(b)

in relation to a limited liability partnership or other body corporate whose affairs are managed by its members—

(i)

a member exercising management functions, or purporting to do so, or

(ii)

in the case of a limited liability partnership, a shadow member;

(c)

in relation to a partnership, a partner or a person purporting to act in that capacity.

(3)

In this section, a “shadow member” means a person in accordance with whose directions or instructions the members of the limited liability partnership are accustomed to act, save that a person is not a shadow member by reason only of the fact that the members act on advice given by that person in a professional capacity.

192Criminal liability of responsible persons: no prosecution of recipient

(1)

Subsection (2) applies where a body corporate or partnership that is the recipient of an information notice—

(a)

fails to comply with the notice, or

(b)

in purporting to comply with the notice, carelessly or deliberately provides inaccurate information.

(2)

If the recipient’s failure or careless or deliberate provision of inaccurate information—

(a)

occurred with the consent or connivance of a responsible person, or

(b)

is attributable to the neglect of a responsible person,

the responsible person commits an offence.

(3)

It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (2) to show that they or the recipient had a reasonable excuse.

(4)

In this section—

(a)

a reference to carelessness is a reference to a failure to take reasonable care, and

(b)

responsible person” has the same meaning as in section 191.

(5)

This section does not apply in respect of a notice under section 183 (financial institutions).

193Imprisonment or a fine

A person who commits an offence under section 189, 190 or 192 is liable—

(a)

on summary conviction, to—

(i)

in England and Wales, a fine, or

(ii)

in Scotland or Northern Ireland, a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or

(b)

on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or both.

Civil sanctions

194Penalty for failing to comply with a notice

(1)

A recipient of an information notice is liable to a penalty if the recipient—

(a)

fails to comply with the notice, and

(b)

does so without reasonable excuse.

(2)

The penalty under subsection (1) is—

(a)

in relation to a notice under section 183 (financial institutions), £300;

(b)

otherwise, £5,000.

(3)

If a failure referred to in subsection (1) continues after the day on which a penalty is imposed in respect of it, the recipient is liable to a further penalty for each day on which the failure continues.

(4)

The penalty under subsection (3) is—

(a)

in relation to a notice under section 183 (financial institutions), an amount not exceeding £60;

(b)

otherwise, an amount not exceeding £1,000.

(5)

Before imposing a penalty under this section, an officer of Revenue and Customs must—

(a)

notify the recipient of the fact that the officer considers subsection (1) or (3) to apply, and

(b)

allow the recipient a period of 30 days beginning with the date of notification to make representations to HMRC.

(6)

This section does not apply in relation to a failure to comply with a requirement imposed under section 185 (restriction on disclosure of notices).

195Penalty for concealing information

(1)

A recipient of an information notice is liable to a penalty if the recipient—

(a)

is required to provide information under the notice issued, and

(b)

conceals, destroys or otherwise disposes of the information—

(i)

before the information has been provided in accordance with the notice, or

(ii)

in circumstances where an officer of Revenue and Customs has notified the person in writing that the information must continue to be available (and has not withdrawn that notification).

(2)

A person is liable to a penalty if—

(a)

an officer of Revenue and Customs has notified the person under section 180(3) that—

(i)

the officer intends to issue an information notice to the person, and

(ii)

certain information would be required under the notice, and

(b)

the person conceals, destroys or otherwise disposes of the information.

(3)

Subsection (2) does not apply if the person concealed, destroyed or otherwise disposed of the information only—

(a)

after the end of the period of 6 months beginning with the day on which they were last notified under section 180(3) in respect of the information, or

(b)

after an information notice has been issued to the person in respect of the information.

(4)

The penalty under subsection (1) or (2) is—

(a)

in relation to a notice under section 183 (financial institutions), £300, or

(b)

otherwise, £20,000.

(5)

In this section, a reference to concealing, destroying or otherwise disposing of information includes a reference to arranging for the concealment, destruction or disposal of information.

196Penalty for inaccurate information

(1)

A recipient of an information notice is liable to a penalty if the recipient—

(a)

in purporting to comply with the notice, carelessly or deliberately provides inaccurate information, or

(b)

after purporting to comply with the notice—

(i)

discovers that, in doing so, they provided inaccurate information, and

(ii)

does not take reasonable steps to notify HMRC of that fact.

(2)

The maximum penalty under subsection (1) is—

(a)

in relation to a notice under section 183 (financial institutions), £3,000 for each inaccuracy, or

(b)

otherwise, £20,000 for each inaccuracy.

(3)

Before imposing a penalty under this section, an officer of Revenue and Customs must—

(a)

notify the recipient of the fact that the officer considers subsection (1) to apply, and

(b)

allow the recipient a period of 30 days beginning with the date of notification to make representations to HMRC.

(4)

In this section, a reference to carelessness is a reference to a failure to take reasonable care.

197Penalty for disclosing a notice

(1)

A recipient of an information notice is liable to a penalty if the recipient—

(a)

fails to comply with a requirement imposed under section 185 (restriction on disclosure of notices), and

(b)

does so without reasonable excuse.

(2)

The penalty under subsection (1) is—

(a)

in relation to a notice under section 183 (financial institutions), £1,000, or

(b)

otherwise, £10,000.

198Penalty based on monies received

(1)

Subsection (3) applies if—

(a)

a penalty has been imposed on a person under section 194(1) for failure to comply with a notice,

(b)

the person, without reasonable excuse, continues to fail to comply with the notice,

(c)

an officer of Revenue and Customs has reason to believe that—

(i)

the person received money or money’s worth in connection with the contravening arrangements to which the notice relates, and

(ii)

the continuing failure is significant, and

(d)

the Upper Tribunal decides that it is appropriate for a penalty to be imposed under this section.

(2)

For the purposes of subsection (1)(c)(ii), a continuing failure is significant if—

(a)

it continues beyond the end of the period of six months beginning with the day on which the penalty referred to in subsection (1)(a) was imposed, or

(b)

as a result of the continuing failure, it is or is likely to be significantly more difficult for HMRC to—

(i)

monitor the compliance of a connected person with an anti-avoidance enactment, or

(ii)

take, or consider whether HMRC could take, action against a connected person under an anti-avoidance enactment.

(3)

The person is liable to a penalty equal to the amount of money or money’s worth received, or likely to have been received, by the person in connection with the contravening arrangements to which the notice relates.

(4)

The amount of a penalty to which a person is liable under subsection (3) must be determined by the Upper Tribunal (with such determination being treated as assessment).

(5)

An application to the Tribunal for the purposes of subsection (1)(d) or (4) may be made by an officer of Revenue and Customs and must be made before the end of the period of 12 months beginning with—

(a)

in the case of a penalty relating to a notice against which the recipient may appeal under section 204, the latest of—

(i)

the day on which the person became liable to a penalty under section 194(1),

(ii)

the last day of the period in which notice of appeal against the notice could have been given, and

(iii)

if notice of such an appeal has been given, the day on which the appeal is determined or withdrawn, or

(b)

in any other case, the day on which the person became liable to a penalty under section 194(1).

(6)

An officer of Revenue and Customs who makes an application for the purposes of subsection (1)(d) or (4) must notify the person concerned.

(7)

For the purposes of this section, a reference to contravening arrangements to which a notice relates is a reference to arrangements by reference to which the person to whom the notice relates is considered to be a connected person under section 177(1) (including, where the person is a connected person under section 177(1)(b), arrangements by reference to which the other person is considered to be a connected person).

(8)

This section does not apply in relation to a notice under section 183 (financial institutions).

199Increased daily default penalty

(1)

An officer of Revenue and Customs may apply to the tribunal for a determination that an increased penalty should be available under section 194(4) in respect of a person’s failure to comply with an information notice if—

(a)

a penalty has been imposed under section 194(3) (daily penalties for continuing failure) in respect of the failure,

(b)

the failure continues after the end of the period of 30 days beginning with the day on which notification of the penalty under section 194(3) was issued (see paragraph 46 to Schedule 36 to FA 2008), and

(c)

the officer has notified the person of their intention to apply to the tribunal under this section.

(2)

If the tribunal decides that an increased penalty should be available under section 194(4) in respect of a person’s failure, the tribunal must determine—

(a)

the amount of the increased penalty, and

(b)

the day from which it is to be applicable.

(3)

The increased penalty is available under section 194(4) in respect of the failure—

(a)

from the day determined by the tribunal, and

(b)

as though the figure in that subsection were replaced with the amount of the increased penalty.

(4)

An increased penalty under this section may not exceed—

(a)

in relation to a notice under section 183 (financial institutions), £1,000, or

(b)

otherwise, £5,000.

(5)

In determining the amount of the increased penalty, the tribunal must have regard to—

(a)

the likely cost to the person of complying with the notice,

(b)

any benefits to the person of not complying with the notice, and

(c)

any benefits to anyone else resulting from the person’s non-compliance.

(6)

If the tribunal makes a determination under subsection (2), an officer of Revenue and Customs must notify the person to whom it relates of—

(a)

the amount of the increased penalty, and

(b)

the day from which it is to be applicable.

Sanctions: general

200Extension of time periods

For the purposes of sections 189 to 199(sanctions), a failure of a person to do anything within a limited period of time is to be disregarded if the person did the thing within such further period of time, if any, as an officer of Revenue and Customs or the tribunal allowed.

201Reasonable excuse

For the purposes of sections 189(1)(a) (offence of failing to comply), 192 (criminal liability of responsible persons: no prosecution of recipient), 194 (penalty for failing to comply), 197 (penalty for disclosing) and 198 (penalty based on monies received)—

(a)

an insufficiency of funds is not a reasonable excuse unless attributable to events outside the person’s control,

(b)

if the person relies on any other person to do anything, that is not a reasonable excuse unless the first person took reasonable care to avoid the failure,

(c)

if the person had a reasonable excuse for the failure but the excuse has ceased, the person is to be treated as having continued to have the excuse if the failure is remedied without unreasonable delay after the excuse ceased, and

(d)

reliance on legal advice is to be taken automatically not to constitute a reasonable excuse if either—

(i)

the advice was not based on a full and accurate description of the facts, or

(ii)

the conclusions in the advice that the person relied upon were unreasonable.

202Double jeopardy

A person is not liable to a penalty under this Chapter in respect of anything in respect of which the person has been convicted of an offence.

203Assessment etc of penalties: application of Schedule 36 to FA 2008

(1)

The following paragraphs of Schedule 36 to FA 2008 apply as set out below.

(2)

Paragraph 46 (assessment of penalty) applies to—

(a)

a penalty under sections 194 (failure to comply) and 195 (concealing information) as it applies to a penalty under paragraphs 39 and 40 of the Schedule;

(b)

a penalty under section 196 (inaccurate information) as it applies to a penalty under paragraph 40A of the Schedule.

(3)

Paragraph 51B(2) and (3) (assessment of a penalty for disclosure) apply to a penalty under section 197 (disclosure of a notice) as they apply to a penalty under paragraph 51B(1) of the Schedule.

(4)

Paragraph 49 (enforcement of penalty) applies to a penalty under sections 194 to 197 as it applies to a penalty under paragraphs 39, 40 and 40A of the Schedule and, in the case of a penalty under section 197 (disclosure of a notice), the reference to notification under paragraph 46 of the Schedule is to be read as a reference to notification under paragraph 51B(2)(b) of the Schedule).

(5)

Paragraph 51 (enforcement of a tax-related penalty) applies to a penalty under section 198 (penalties based on monies received) as it applies to a penalty under paragraph 50 of the Schedule.

Appeals

204Appeals against notices

(1)

A recipient of a notice under section 179 (connected persons) may appeal against the issue of the notice or any requirement in the notice.

(2)

A recipient of a notice under section 180 (third parties) may appeal against the issue of the notice or any requirement in the notice on the grounds that it would be unduly onerous to comply with the notice or requirement.

(3)

A recipient of a notice under section 182 (identification) may appeal against the issue of the notice or any requirement in the notice on the grounds that it would be unduly onerous to comply with the notice or requirement.

(4)

Subsections (1) to (3) do not apply in relation to a notice that was issued with tribunal approval.

(5)

Paragraph 32 of Schedule 36 to FA 2008 applies to appeals under this section as it applies to appeals under Part 5 of that Schedule (and references to information notices are to be read as references to notices under this Chapter).

205Appeals against penalties

(1)

A person may appeal against any of the following decisions—

(a)

a decision of an officer of Revenue and Customs that a penalty is payable under sections 194 to 197, and

(b)

a decision of an officer of Revenue and Customs as to the amount of a penalty under sections 194 to 197.

(2)

Paragraph 48 of Schedule 36 to FA 2008 (procedure on appeal against penalty) applies to appeals under this section as it applies to appeals under paragraph 47 of that Schedule (and references to paragraph 47(1)(a) and (b) in paragraph 48 are to be read as references to subsection (1)(a) and (b) of this section).

Miscellaneous and interpretation

206Interpretation

(1)

In this Chapter—

arrangements” includes any agreement, scheme, arrangement or understanding of any kind whether or not legally enforceable involving one or more transactions;

authorised officer of Revenue and Customs” means an officer of Revenue and Customs who is, or is a member of a class of officers who are, authorised by the Commissioners for the purpose of this Chapter;

Commissioners” means the Commissioners for His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs;

document” includes any part of a document (and see subsection (2));

HMRC” means His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs;

information” includes a document (and see subsection (2));

information notice” means a notice issued under any of sections 179 to 183;

investigation of tax avoidance” includes the exercise of a function under an anti-avoidance enactment;

recipient”, in relation to a notice, means the person to whom the notice is issued;

tribunal” means the First-tier Tribunal or, where determined by or under the Tribunal Procedure Rules, the Upper Tribunal.

(2)

For the purposes of this Chapter—

(a)

a reference to providing information includes a reference to producing documents;

(b)

a reference to a document is a reference to anything in which information of any description is recorded.

(3)

Paragraphs 7(2) to (4), 8, 15 and 16 of Schedule 36 to FA 2008 (provision relating to documents) apply in relation to documents required under this Chapter as they apply in relation to documents required under that Schedule.

207Application of provisions of TMA 1970

The following provisions of TMA 1970 apply for the purposes of this Chapter as they apply for the purposes of the Taxes Acts—

(a)

section 108 (responsibility of officers);

(b)

section 114 (want of form);

(c)

section 115 (delivery and service of documents).

208Repeals

(1)

Section 272A of FA 2014 is repealed.

(2)

Subsection (1) comes into force on such day as the Treasury may by regulations made by statutory instrument appoint.