Finance Act 2004

269 Appeal against decision on discharge of liability

(1) This section applies where the Inland Revenue—

(a) decides to refuse an application under section 267(2) (discharge of liability to lifetime allowance charge) or section 268 (discharge of liability to unauthorised payments surcharge or scheme sanction charge), or

(b) on an application under section 267(5), decides to refuse the application or to discharge the applicant’s liability to the lifetime allowance charge in respect of part only of the excess amount.

(2) The applicant may appeal against the decision.

(3) The appeal is to the General Commissioners, except that the person may elect (in accordance with section 46(1) of TMA 1970) to bring the appeal before the Special Commissioners instead of the General Commissioners.

(4) Paragraphs 1, 2, 8 and 9 of Schedule 3 to TMA 1970 (rules for assigning proceedings to General Commissioners) have effect to identify the General Commissioners before whom an appeal under this section is to be brought, but subject to modifications specified in an order made by the Board of Inland Revenue.

(5) An appeal under this section against a decision must be brought within the period of 30 days beginning with the day on which the applicant was given notification of the decision.

(6) The Commissioners before whom an appeal under subsection (1)(a) is brought must consider whether the applicant’s liability to the lifetime allowance charge, unauthorised payments surcharge or scheme sanction charge ought to have been discharged.

(7) If they consider that the applicant’s liability ought not to have been discharged, they must dismiss the appeal.

(8) If they consider that the applicant’s liability ought to have been discharged, they must grant the application.

(9) The Commissioners before whom an appeal under subsection (1)(b) is brought must consider whether the applicant’s liability to the lifetime allowance charge ought to have been discharged in respect of the excess amount or a greater part of the excess amount.

(10) If they consider that the applicant’s liability ought not to have been discharged in respect of the excess amount or a greater part of the excess amount, they must dismiss the appeal.

(11) If they consider that the applicant’s liability ought to have been discharged in respect of the excess amount or a greater part of the excess amount, they must discharge the applicant’s liability in respect of the excess amount or that part of the excess amount.