Taxes Management Act 1970

33 Error or mistake. U.K.

[F1(1)If a person who has paid income tax or capital gains tax under an assessment (whether a self-assessment or otherwise) alleges that the assessment was excessive by reason of some error or mistake in a return, he may by notice in writing at any time not later than five years after the 31st January next following the year of assessment to which the return relates, make a claim to the Board for relief.]

(2)On receiving the claim the Board shall inquire into the matter and shall, subject to the provisions of this section, give by way of repayment such relief F2... in respect of the error or mistake as is reasonable and just:

[F4(2A)No relief shall be given under this section in respect of—

(a)an error or mistake as to the basis on which the liability of the claimant ought to have been computed where the return was in fact made on the basis or in accordance with the practice generally prevailing at the time when it was made; or

(b)an error or mistake in a claim which is included in the return.]

(3)In determining the claim the Board shall have regard to all the relevant circumstances of the case, and in particular shall consider whether the granting of relief would result in the exclusion from charge to tax of any part of the profits of the claimant, and for this purpose the Board may take into consideration the liability of the claimant and assessments made on him in respect of chargeable periods other than that to which the claim relates.

(4)If any appeal is brought from the decision of the Board on the claim the Special Commissioners shall hear and determine the appeal in accordance with the principles to be followed by the Board in determining claims under this section; and neither the appellant nor the Board shall be entitled to [F5appeal under section 56A of this Act against the determination of the Special Commissioners except] on a point of law arising in connection with the computation of profits.

F6(4A). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5)In this section“profits”—

(a)in relation to income tax, means income[F7, and]

(b)in relation to capital gains tax, means chargeable gains,

F8(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F6(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .