Finance Act 2012

Consequential amendments

42(1)For section 118BC of that Act (inspection powers: gaming duty) substitute—

“118BCInspection powers: gaming duty and machine games duty

(1)Subsection (2) applies to premises if an officer has reasonable cause to believe that—

(a)section 10 gaming is taking place, has taken place or is about to take place on the premises, or

(b)machines are located on the premises in respect of which a person is, has been or is about to become liable for machine games duty.

(2)The officer may at any reasonable time enter and inspect the premises and inspect—

(a)accounts, records and other documents in the custody or control of any relevant person, and

(b)any relevant equipment.

(3)Subsection (1) does not permit an officer to enter or inspect a particular part of premises if—

(a)the officer has no reasonable cause to believe that paragraph (a) or, as the case may be, (b) of that subsection is satisfied with respect to that particular part, and

(b)the part is used solely as a dwelling.

(4)An officer may at any reasonable time (whether or not as part of an inspection under subsection (2)) require a relevant person or anyone acting on such a person’s behalf—

(a)to open relevant equipment, and

(b)to carry out any other operation that may be necessary to enable the officer to ascertain whether any gaming duty or machine games duty is payable in respect of it and, if so, how much.

(5)A “relevant person” is—

(a)in relation to gaming duty, a person who is engaging, or whom the officer reasonably suspects of engaging, in section 10 gaming or in any activity by reason of which the person is or may become liable to gaming duty, and

(b)in relation to machine games duty, a person who is, has been or is about to become liable to machine games duty or whom the officer reasonably suspects of being, having been or being about to become so liable.

(6)“Relevant equipment” is—

(a)in relation to gaming duty, equipment that is being, or the officer reasonably suspects of having been or of being intended to be, used on the premises for or in connection with section 10 gaming, and

(b)in relation to machine games duty, any equipment that is, or the officer reasonably suspects of being, a machine in respect of which a person is, has been or may become liable to machine games duty and any other equipment used in connection with such a machine.

(7)In this section—

(a)“section 10 gaming” means gaming to which section 10 of the Finance Act 1997 applies, and

(b)a reference to premises where a machine is located is to be read in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 24 to the Finance Act 2012.”

(2)In section 118G of that Act (offences under Part 9A), in subsection (1), for “or section 118B” substitute “, 118B or 118BC(4)”.