Customs and Excise Management Act 1979
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—
“boarding station” means a boarding station for the time being appointed under section 19 below;
“inward processing procedure”
so far as relating to purposes falling within subsection (1)(a) above, has the meaning given by section 289(6) and (7) of the 2002 Act; and
“minimum amount” has the meaning given by section 303 of the 2002 Act;
“prohibited image of a child” has the same meaning as in Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.
“prescribed area” means such an area in Northen Ireland adjoining the boundary as the Commissioners may by regulations prescribe;
“revenue trader” means , whether or not that trade or business is an excise licence trade, ; and any person who is a wholesaler or an occupier of an excise warehouse (so far as not included in paragraph (a) above), and includes a registered club;
" prescribed area " means such an area in Northern Ireland adjoining the boundary as the Commissioners may by regulations prescribe ;
the provisions of the customs and excise Acts relating to the protection, security, collection or management of the revenues derived from the duties of excise on goods produced or manufactured in the United Kingdom;
in paragraph (b) for the words “14 years” there were substituted the words “2 years”.
“vehicle” includes— and any reference to goods being in or on board a vehicle include their being conveyed by the vehicle (for example, by being on or otherwise attached to it);
“wine”.
“authorised economic operators” means persons authorised as such in accordance with provision made by the relevant legislation;
“perfect entry” means an entry made in accordance with regulation 5 of the Customs Controls on Importation of Goods Regulations 1991 or warehousing regulations, as the case may require;
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This Act and the other Acts included in the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 shall be construed as one Act but where a provision of this Act refers to this Act that reference is not to be construed as including a reference to any of the others.
Any expression used in this Act or in any instrument made under this Act to which a meaning is given by any other Act included in the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 has, except where the context otherwise requires, the same meaning in this Act or any such instrument as in that Act; and for ease of reference the Table below indicates the expressions used in this Act to which a meaning is given by any other such Act— ... Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 1979 “rebate ” “refinery ” Tobacco Products Duty Act 1979 “tobacco products ” Part 4 of FA 2026 (vaping products duty) “vaping products”
Goods for use in a ship or aircraft as merchandise for sale to persons carried in the ship or aircraft shall be treated for the purposes of the customs and excise Acts as stores if, and only if—
the goods are to be sold by retail either— and
in the course of a journey made by the ship or aircraft, or
for consumption on board;
the goods are not treated as exported by virtue of regulations under section 12 of the Customs and Excise Duties (General Reliefs) Act 1979 (goods for use in naval ships or establishments).
Any expression used in this Act or in any instrument made under this Act to which a meaning is given by Part 2 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 2023 (alcohol duty) has, except where the context otherwise requires, the same meaning in this Act or any such instrument as in that Part; and for ease of reference the following is a list of the expressions concerned—
A person who deals in or sells tobacco products in the course of a trade or business carried on by him shall be deemed for the purposes of this Act to be carrying on an excise licence trade (and to be a revenue trader) notwithstanding that no excise licence is required for carrying on that trade or business.
Any expression used in this Act or in any instrument made under this Act to which a meaning is given by Part 1 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 has, except where the context otherwise requires, the same meaning in this Act or any such instrument as in that Part; and for ease of reference the following is a list of the expressions concerned—
“intimate search” means any search which involves a physical examination (that is, an examination which is more than simply a visual examination) of a person’s body orifices;
for paragraph (a) there were substituted the following—
In computing for the purposes of this Act any period expressed therein as a period of clear days no account shall be taken of the day of the event from which the period is computed or of any Sunday or holiday.
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In relation to goods treated as stores by virtue of subsection (4) above, any reference in the customs and excise Acts to the consumption of stores shall be construed as referring to the sale of the goods as mentioned in paragraph (a) of that subsection.
This Part, Parts III to VII and Parts X to XII of this Act shall apply as if references to ships or vessels (including references, without more, to vehicles) included references to hovercraft, and the said Parts III to VII shall apply in relation to an approved wharf or temporary storage facility which is not in a port as if it were in a port.
All other provisions of the customs and excise Acts shall apply as if references (however expressed) to goods or passengers carried in or moved by ships or vessels included references to goods or passengers carried in or moved by hovercraft.
In all the provisions of the customs and excise Acts “landed ”, “loaded ”, “master ”, “shipped ”, “shipped as stores ”,... “voyage ”, “waterborne ” and cognate expressions shall be construed in accordance with subsections (1) and (2) above.
References in the customs and excise Acts to goods imported or exported by land, or conveyed into or out of Northern Ireland by land, include references to goods imported, exported or conveyed across any part of the boundary of Northern Ireland; and it is hereby declared that in those Acts references to vehicles include references to hovercraft proceeding over land or water or partly over land and partly over water.
Any power of making regulations or other instruments relating to the importation or exportation of goods conferred by the customs and excise Acts may be exercised so as to make provision for the importation or exportation of goods by hovercraft which is different from the provision made for the importation or exportation of goods by other means.
In the customs and excise Acts “shipping ” and “loading ” and cognate expressions, where used in relation to importation or exportation, include, in relation to importation or exportation by means of a pipe-line, the conveyance of goods by means of the pipe-line and the charging and discharging of goods into and from the pipe-line, but subject to any necessary modifications.
In the customs and excise Acts “importer ”, in relation to goods imported by means of a pipe-line, includes the owner of the pipe-line.
Any power of making regulations or other instruments relating to the importation or exportation of goods conferred by the customs and excise Acts may be exercised so as to make provision for the importation or exportation of goods by means of a pipe-line which is different from the provision made for the importation or exportation of goods by other means.
The provisions of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 relating to aircraft shall apply in relation to any aircraft belonging to or employed in the service of Her Majesty other than a military aircraft.
In this section “military aircraft ” includes naval and air force aircraft and any aircraft commanded by a person in naval, military or air force service detailed for the purpose of such command.
The provisions of this section shall have effect for the purposes of the customs and excise Acts.
Subject to subsections (2A) and (6) below, the time of importation of any goods shall be deemed to be—
where the goods are brought by sea, the time when the ship carrying them comes within the limits of a port;
where the goods are brought by air, the time when the aircraft carrying them lands in the United Kingdom or the time when the goods are unloaded in the United Kingdom, whichever is the earlier;
where the goods are brought by land, the time when the goods enter the United Kingdom.
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If there is a relevant international arrangement with a country or territory outside the United Kingdom, the Commissioners may by regulations provide for the time of importation of any goods to be a time—
which is earlier than the times set out in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of subsection (2), and
which is specified by reference to movement in or out of an area in the country or territory.
Subject to subsections (5), (5A) and (7) below, the time of exportation of any goods from the United Kingdom shall be deemed to be—
where the goods are exported by sea or air, the time when the goods are shipped for exportation;
where the goods are exported by land, the time when they are cleared by the proper officer at the last customs and excise station on their way to the boundary.
“Relevant international arrangement” means an arrangement between Her Majesty’s government in the United Kingdom and the government of the country or territory which includes provision in relation to the time at which goods are to be regarded as imported into the United Kingdom.
In the case of goods of a class or description with respect to the exportation of which any prohibition or restriction is for the time being in force under or by virtue of any enactment which are exported by sea or air, the time of exportation shall be deemed to be the time when the exporting ship or aircraft departs from the last port or regulated aerodrome at which it is cleared before departing for a destination outside the United Kingdom.
Goods imported by means of a pipe-line shall be treated as imported at the time when they are brought within the limits of a port or otherwise when they enter the United Kingdom.
Goods exported by means of a pipe-line shall be treated as exported at the time when they are charged into that pipe-line for exportation.
A ship shall be deemed to have arrived at or departed from a port at the time when the ship comes within or, as the case may be, leaves the limits of that port.
If there is a relevant international arrangement with a country or territory outside the United Kingdom, the Commissioners may by regulations provide for the time of exportation of any goods to be a time—
which is earlier than the times set out in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (4), and
which is specified by reference to movement in or out of an area in the country or territory.
“Relevant international arrangement” means an arrangement between Her Majesty’s government in the United Kingdom and the government of the country or territory which includes provision in relation to the time at which goods are to be regarded as exported from the United Kingdom.
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Her Majesty may from time to time, under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom, appoint persons to be Commissioners of Customs and Excise, and any person so appointed shall hold office during Her Majesty's pleasure and may be paid such remuneration and allowances as the Minister for the Civil Service may determine.
In addition to the duties conferred on them by or under any other enactment, the Commissioners shall, subject to the general control of the Treasury, be charged with the duty of collecting and accounting for, and otherwise managing, the revenues of customs and excise.
The Commissioners may commission such officers and appoint or authorise such other persons to discharge any duties in relation to any assigned matter on such terms and conditions, and may pay to them such remuneration and allowances, as the Commissioners may with the sanction of the Minister for the Civil Service determine.
The Commissioners may at their pleasure suspend, reduce, discharge or restore any officer or person so commissioned, appointed or authorised.
The days on which and the hours between which offices of customs and excise are to be open or officers are to be available for the performance of particular duties shall be such as the Commissioners may direct.
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Save as expressly provided by or under any enactment, no sum granted by way of remuneration or superannuation allowance to any person as being or having been a Commissioner, officer or person appointed by the Commissioners to discharge any duty relating to customs or excise shall before payment thereof to or for the use of that person be capable of assignment or be liable to be taken under or by virtue of any legal process.
The benefits and advantages arising from membership of the Customs Annuity and Benevolent Fund shall be available to and in respect of the Commissioners, all officers and all persons appointed by the Commissioners to discharge any duty relating to any assigned matter.
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by any one or more of the Commissioners; or
if the Commissioners so authorise, by a secretary or assistant secretary to the Commissioners; or
by any other person authorised generally or specially in that behalf in writing by the Commissioners.
Any person, whether an officer or not, engaged by the orders or with the concurrence of the Commissioners (whether previously or subsequently expressed) in the performance of any act or duty relating to an assigned matter which is by law required or authorised to be performed by or with an officer, shall be deemed to be the proper officer by or with whom that act or duty is to be performed.
Any person deemed by virtue of subsection (2) above to be the proper officer shall have all the powers of an officer in relation to the act or duty performed or to be performed by him as mentioned in that subsection.
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give effect, in accordance with such arrangements as they may direct or by regulations prescribe, to any Community requirement or practice as to the movement of goods between countries, including any rules requiring payment to be made in connection with the exportation of goods to compensate for any relief from customs duty allowed or to be allowed (and may recover any such payment as if it were an amount of customs duty unpaid); and
give effect to any reciprocal arrangements made between member States (with or without other countries or territories) for securing, by the exchange of information or otherwise, the due administration of their customs laws and the prevention or detection of fraud or evasion.
HMRC (or anyone acting on their behalf) may disclose to any person information held by them in connection with HMRC's customs functions if the disclosure is made for purposes that are connected with those functions.
In this section “HMRC's customs functions” means HMRC's functions in their capacity as a customs service and includes in particular their functions relating to—
the movement of goods or cash into or out of the United Kingdom, and
the imposition, enforcement or other regulation of import duty.
A person who receives information as a result of this section—
may use it only for the purposes for which it was disclosed, and
may not further disclose it without the consent of the Commissioners (which may be general or specific).
If— section 19 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (offence of wrongful disclosure) applies in relation to the disclosure as it applies in relation to a disclosure in contravention of section 20(9) of that Act.
a person discloses information in contravention of subsection (3)(b), and
the information relates to a person whose identity is specified in, or can be deduced from, the disclosure,
Nothing in this section authorises a disclosure of information if the disclosure would contravene the data protection legislation or would be prohibited by the investigatory powers legislation (but in determining whether a disclosure would do either of those things, the power conferred by subsection (1) is to be taken into account).
In subsection (5)—
Nothing in this section—
applies to a disclosure made in the exercise of the power conferred by section 8B (1) or (2) of this Act (co-operation with other customs services);
limits the circumstances in which information may be disclosed under section 18(2) of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 or under any other enactment or rule of law.
In this section—
“cash” means—
any bearer-negotiable or other monetary instrument;
On being notified at any time by the Treasury that they are satisfied that it is in the national interest that the information in question should be disclosed to persons other than the Commissioners, the Commissioners may disclose through such person as may be specified in the notification such information to which this section applies, in respect of imported goods of such decriptions, as may be so specified.
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The information to which this section applies is information contained in any document with which the Commissioners have been provided in pursuance of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 for the purpose of notifying the importation of any goods, making a declaration in respect of the temporary storage of goods, or making a Customs declaration in respect of any goods, being information of the following descriptions only, namely—
the description of the goods, including any maker’s catalogue number;
the quantities of the goods imported in a particular period, so, however, that if any quantity is given by value it shall not also be given in any other form;
the name of the maker of the goods;
the country of origin of the goods;
the country from which the goods were consigned.
Without prejudice to paragraph 10 of Schedule 7 to this Act, this section also applies to information of any of those descriptions contained in any document with which the Commissioners have been provided for that purpose after 7th March 1967 in pursuance of the Customs and Excise Act 1952.
The Treasury may by order add to the descriptions of information to which this section applies any further description of information contained in any document such as is mentioned in subsection (2) or (3) above other than the price of the goods or the name of the importer of the goods.
The power to make orders under subsection (4) above shall be exercisable by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
HMRC (or anyone acting on their behalf) may co-operate with any other customs service (whether by exchanging information or otherwise) on matters of mutual concern with a view to securing—
the administration of the import duty system,
the prevention or detection of evasion or other fraud relating to import duty, and
the prevention, reduction or elimination of avoidance of a liability to import duty.
HMRC (or anyone acting on their behalf) may co-operate with any other customs service (whether by exchanging information or otherwise) for the purposes of implementing any international obligation of the United Kingdom.
A person who receives information as a result of this section—
may use it only for the purposes of HMRC's customs functions or the functions of the other customs service in question, and
may not further disclose it without the consent of the Commissioners (which may be general or specific).
If— section 19 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (offence of wrongful disclosure) applies in relation to the disclosure as it applies in relation to a disclosure in contravention of section 20(9) of that Act.
a person discloses information in contravention of subsection (3)(b), and
the information relates to a person whose identity is specified in, or can be deduced from, the disclosure,
Nothing in this section authorises a disclosure of information if the disclosure would contravene the data protection legislation or would be prohibited by the investigatory powers legislation (but in determining whether a disclosure would do either of those things, the powers conferred by subsections (1) and (2) are to be taken into account).
In subsection (5)—
“the investigatory powers legislation” means Parts 1 to 7 and Chapter 1 of Part 9 of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016.
Nothing in this section limits the circumstances in which information may be disclosed under section 18(2) of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 or under any other enactment or rule of law.
In this section—
It shall be the duty of every constable and every member of Her Majesty’s armed forces or coastguard to assist in the enforcement of the law relating to any assigned matter.
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The Commissioners may hold or cause to be held such inquiries as they consider necessary or desirable for the purposes of any assigned matter, including inquiries into the conduct of any officer or of any person appointed by them.
The person holding any such inquiry—
may require any person, subject to the tender of the reasonable expenses of his attendance, to attend as a witness and give evidence or to produce any document in his possession or control which relates to any matter in question at the inquiry and is such as would be subject to production in a court of law; and
may require evidence to be given on oath, and for that purpose shall have power to administer oaths.
If any person fails without reasonable excuse to comply with any such requirement as aforesaid, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of £25.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this section, the procedure and conduct of any inquiry under this section shall be such as the Commissioners may direct.
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on summary conviction, to a penalty of the prescribed sum, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or to both ; or
on conviction on indictment, to a penalty of any amount, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, or to both.
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If any person to whom a commission or other written authority has been issued by the Commissioners is required by the Commissioners to deliver up or account to their satisfaction for that commission or authority and fails to comply within such period as may be specified in the requirement, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of £20.
If the failure continues after he is convicted thereof he shall be guilty of a further offence and be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of £5 for every day on which the failure has so continued.
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If any Commissioner or officer or any person appointed or authorised by the Commissioners to discharge any duty relating to an assigned matter— he shall be guilty of an offence under this section.
directly or indirectly asks for or takes in connection with any of his duties any payment or other reward whatsoever, whether pecuniary or other, or any promise or security for any such payment or reward, not being a payment or reward which he is lawfully entitled to claim or receive ; or
enters into or acquiesces in any agreement to do, abstain from doing, permit, conceal or connive at any act or thing whereby Her Majesty is or may be defrauded or which is otherwise unlawful, being an act or thing relating to an assigned matter,
If any person— in order to induce him to do, abstain from doing, permit, conceal or connive at any act or thing whereby Her Majesty is or may be defrauded or which is otherwise unlawful, being an act or thing relating to an assigned matter, or otherwise to take any course contrary to his duty, he shall be guilty of an offence under this section.
directly or indirectly offers or gives to any Commissioner or officer or to any person appointed or authorised by the Commissioners as aforesaid any payment or other reward whatsoever, whether pecuniary or other, or any promise or security for any such payment or reward; or
proposes or enters into any agreement with any Commissioner, officer or person appointed or authorised as aforesaid,
Any person committing an offence under this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of £500 and may be detained.
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Any person who— or who attempts to do any of the aforementioned things, shall be guilty of an offence under this section.
obstructs, hinders, molests or assaults any person duly engaged in the performance of any duty or the exercise of any power imposed or conferred on him by or under any enactment relating to an assigned matter, or any person acting in his aid ; or
does anything which impedes or is calculated to impede the carrying out of any search for any thing liable to forfeiture under any such enactment or the detention, seizure or removal of any such thing ; or
rescues, damages or destroys any thing so liable to forfeiture or does anything calculated to prevent the procuring or giving of evidence as to whether or not any thing is so liable to forfeiture ; or
prevents the detention of any person by a person duly engaged or acting as aforesaid or rescues any person so detained,
A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—
on summary conviction, to a penalty of the prescribed sum, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or to both ; or
on conviction on indictment, to a penalty of any amount, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, or to both.
Any person committing an offence under this section and any person aiding or abetting the commission of such an offence may be detained.
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Save for such sums as may be required for any disbursements permitted by section 10 of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1866, all money and securities for money collected or received in Great Britain for or on account of customs or excise shall be paid or remitted to and accounted for by the Bank of England in such manner as the Commissioners may with the approval of the Treasury direct, and shall be placed to the account in the books of the Bank entitled " the General Account of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise ".
The Bank shall deliver to the Commissioners each day a statement in writing of the money or securities for money, if any, received on that day from or on account of the Commissioners, and every statement so delivered shall be deemed to be a sufficient acknowledgement by the Bank of the receipt of the money and securities specified therein.
Any money and securities for money standing to the credit of the General Account shall be dealt with as provided in section 10 of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1866 subject, however, to payment to the Government of the Isle of Man of the amounts mentioned in section 2(1) of the Isle of Man Act 1958 (payments of Isle of Man share of equal duties).
All money and securities for money collected or received in Northern Ireland for or on account of— shall be dealt with as provided in section 10 of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1866.
duties of customs or excise on goods imported into or manufactured or produced in Northern Ireland; or
any duties of excise specified in any order of the Treasury for the time being in force under section 37(3) of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973,
Notwithstanding anything in section 10 of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1866 or in subsection (1) above as to the disbursements which may be made out of money collected or received for or on account of customs or excise—
any sum required for the purpose of such disbursements in the Port of London shall be paid out of the General Account; and
no repayment of sums overpaid in error shall be made unless the claim thereto is made and evidence in support thereof is submitted to the Commissioners within 6 years of the date of the overpayment and the claim is established to the satisfaction of the Commissioners.
Any reference in this section to money and securities for money collected or received for or on account of customs or excise or of any duties thereof includes a reference to any sums received under or by virtue of any enactment relating to customs or excise or to those duties by way of pecuniary penalties or the pecuniary proceeds of any forfeiture, costs, or otherwise howsoever.
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The Commissioners may by order made by statutory instrument appoint and name as a port for the purposes of customs and excise any area in the United Kingdom specified in the order.
The appointment of any port for those purposes made before 1st August 1952 may be revoked, and the name or limits of any such port may be altered, by an order under subsection (1) above as if the appointment had been made by an order under that subsection.
The Commissioners may in any port from time to time appoint boarding stations for the purpose of the boarding of or disembarkation from ships by officers.
The Commissioners may approve, for such periods ... as they think fit, places for the loading or unloading of goods or of any class or description of goods.
In any case where they consider it would facilitate the administration, collection or enforcement of any duty of customs, the Commissioners may by regulations—
specify conditions which must be met before an approval is granted, ...
impose conditions, or specify conditions which may be imposed, after an approval has been granted,
specify other conditions which they may, in any particular case, require to be met before an approval is granted,
specify restrictions—
that apply in all cases, or
which may be imposed, in any particular case, at the time of the approval,
impose restrictions, or specify restrictions which may be imposed, after an approval has been granted, or
provide for the imposition of conditions or restrictions by direction made by the Commissioners.
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In any other case, an approval has effect subject to such conditions and restrictions as the Commissioners think fit.
Conditions and restrictions which may be imposed by or specified in regulations under subsection (1A) include—
conditions requiring the provision at the place approved under subsection (1) of specified facilities, services or infrastructure for purposes in connection with facilitating the administration, collection or enforcement of any duty of customs,
conditions requiring the provision of specified facilities, services or infrastructure for such purposes otherwise than at the place approved under subsection (1), including conditions—
requiring that provision at a specified place,
requiring a person to whom an approval has been, or may be, given to propose a place at which facilities, services or infrastructure are to be provided, and
requiring the agreement of the Commissioners to any proposal for the provision of facilities, services or infrastructure at a place, and
conditions and restrictions as respects the movements of goods between a place approved under subsection (1) and an off-site facility.
For the purposes of subsection (1C)(a) and (b) “specified” means specified in—
the regulations,
an approval under subsection (1), or
a direction.
For the purposes of this section and section 20A, an “off-site facility” means a place at which facilities, services or infrastructure are provided (in accordance with an approval or conditions attaching to it) other than a place approved under subsection (1).
Save as permitted by the Commissioners, the commander of an aircraft entering the United Kingdom from a place outside the United Kingdom shall not cause or permit the aircraft to land— at any place other than a regulated aerodrome.
for the first time after its arrival in the United Kingdom; or
at any time while it is carrying passengers or goods brought in that aircraft from a place outside the United Kingdom and not yet cleared,
Save as permitted by the Commissioners, no person importing or concerned in importing any goods in any aircraft shall bring the goods into the United Kingdom at any place other than a regulated aerodrome.
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Save as permitted by the Commissioners—
no person shall depart on a flight to a place or area outside the United Kingdom from any place in the United Kingdom other than a regulated aerodrome; and
the commander of any aircraft engaged in a flight from a regulated aerodrome to a place or area outside the United Kingdom shall not cause or permit it to land at any place in the United Kingdom other than a regulated aerodrome specified in the application for clearance for that flight.
Subsections (1) to (3) above shall not apply in relation to any aircraft flying from or to any place or area outside the United Kingdom to or from any place in the United Kingdom which is required by or under any enactment relating to air navigation, or is compelled by accident, stress of weather or other unavoidable cause, to land at a place other than a regulated aerodrome; but, subject to subsection (5) below,—
the commander of any such aircraft—
shall immediately report the landing to an officer or constable and shall on demand produce to him the journey log book belonging to the aircraft,
shall not without the consent of an officer permit any goods carried in the aircraft to be unloaded from, or any of the crew or passengers to depart from the vicinity of, the aircraft, and
shall comply with any directions given by an officer with respect to any such goods; and
no passenger or member of the crew shall without the consent of an officer or constable leave the immediate vicinity of any such aircraft.
Nothing in subsection (4) above shall prohibit— where that departure or removal is necessary for reasons of health, safety or the preservation of life or property.
the departure of passengers or crew from the vicinity of an aircraft; or
the removal of goods from an aircraft,
Any person contravening or failing to comply with any provision of subsections (1) to (4) shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 4 on the standard scale, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or to both.
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In this Act “customs and excise airport” means an aerodrome for the time being designated as a place for the landing or departure of aircraft for the purposes of the customs and excise Acts by an order made by the Secretary of State with the concurrence of the Commissioners which is in force under an Order in Council made in pursuance of section 60 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982.
A person in control of an unregulated aerodrome must take reasonable steps to secure that no aircraft lands at, or departs from, the aerodrome in circumstances in which there would be a contravention of any of subsections (1) to (3).
For the purposes of this Act each of the following is a “regulated aerodrome”— (and any other aerodrome is an “unregulated aerodrome”).
a customs and excise airport, and
an aerodrome approved under section 20B,
References in this section to a place or area outside the United Kingdom do not include references to a place or area in the Isle of Man and in subsection (3)(b) above the reference to a place in the United Kingdom includes a reference to a place in the Isle of Man.
In this Act, references to an approved wharf are to—
a place approved under section 20(1) above; or
an off-site facility.
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Any person contravening or failing to comply with any condition imposed by or under regulations under section 20(1A) attaching to an approval by virtue of which a place is an approved wharf is liable on summary conviction to—
a penalty not exceeding £20,000, or
if the contravention or failure to comply is not remedied before such date as is specified in a notice or further notice given to the person by an officer of Revenue and Customs, a penalty not exceeding the sum of £20,000 and the enhanced amount.
For the purposes of subsection (1A)(b)—
“the enhanced amount” means the sum produced by multiplying £20,000 by the number of notices in respect of which the contravention or failure to comply has not been remedied by the date specified in the notice,
the date specified in a notice must be one that falls after the end of the period of 14 days beginning with the day on which the notice is given, and
if a notice has already been given, a further notice may not be given on or before the date specified in any earlier notice.
Any person contravening or failing to comply with any condition or restriction attaching to an approval by virtue of which a place is an approved wharf (other than a condition imposed under regulations under section 20(1A)) shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale.
An officer may at any time enter an approved wharf and inspect it and any goods for the time being at the wharf.
The Commissioners may approve, for such periods ... as they think fit, a part of, or a place at, any regulated aerodrome for the loading and unloading of goods and the embarkation and disembarkation of passengers.
The Commissioners may at any time for reasonable cause revoke or vary the terms of any approval given under this section.
In any case where they consider it would facilitate the administration, collection or enforcement of any duty of customs, the Commissioners may by regulations—
specify conditions which must be met before an approval is granted, or
specify other conditions which they may, in any particular case, require to be met before an approval is granted.
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In any other case, an approval has effect subject to such conditions and restrictions as the Commissioners think fit.
The Commissioners may approve an aerodrome for the purposes of the customs and excise Acts.
In any case where they consider it would facilitate the administration, collection or enforcement of any duty of customs, the Commissioners may by regulations—
specify conditions which must be met before an approval is granted, or
specify other conditions which they may, in any particular case, require to be met before an approval is granted.
In any other case, an approval has effect subject to such conditions and restrictions as the Commissioners think fit.
The Commissioners may at any time for reasonable cause revoke or vary the terms of an approval.
This section does not apply in relation to an aerodrome which is a customs and excise airport.
The Commissioners may by regulations impose conditions and restrictions as respects the movement of hovercraft and the carriage of goods by hovercraft, and in particular—
may prescribe the procedure to be followed by hovercraft proceeding to or from a port or any regulated aerodrome or customs and excise station, and authorise the proper officer to give directions as to their routes; and
may make provision for cases where by reason of accident, or in any other circumstance, it is impracticable to comply with any conditions or restrictions imposed or directions given as respects hovercraft.
Subsection (1) above shall apply to hovercraft proceeding to or from any approved wharf or temporary storage facility which is not in a port as if it were a port.
If any person contravenes or fails to comply with any regulation made under subsection (1) above, or with any direction given by the Commissioners or the proper officer in pursuance of any such regulation, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale and any goods in respect of which the offence was committed shall be liable to forfeiture.
Goods shall not be imported or exported by means of a pipe-line that is not for the time being approved by the Commissioners for the purposes of this section.
Uncleared goods, that is to say— shall not be moved by means of a pipe-line that is not for the time being approved by the Commissioners for the purposes of this section.
imported goods, whether or not chargeable with duty, which are subject to the control of any officer of Revenue and Customs as a result of Part 1 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018, and in particular goods which are, or are to be, moved under section 30 below; or
dutiable goods moved from warehouse without payment of duty,
The Commissioners may give their approval under this section for such period and subject to such conditions as they think fit, and may at any time for reasonable cause—
vary the terms of their approval; and
(if they have given to the owner of the pipe-line not less than 3 months’ written notice of their intention so to do) revoke their approval.
Section 49 of the Pipe-lines Act 1962 (procedure for service of documents under that Act) shall apply to a notice required by subsection (3)(b) above to be served on the owner of a pipe-line as it applies to a document required by that Act to be so served.
A person who— shall be guilty of an offence under this section and may be detained; and any goods in respect of which the offence was committed shall be liable to forfeiture.
contravenes subsection (1) or (2) above, or contravenes or fails to comply with a condition imposed by the Commissioners under subsection (3) above; or
except with the authority of the proper officer or for just and sufficient cause, obtains access to goods which are in, or in course of conveyance by, a pipe-line approved under this section,
A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—
on summary conviction, to a penalty of the prescribed sum£20,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to both; or
on conviction on indictment, to a penalty of any amount, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, or to both.
In the application of subsection (4) above to Northern Ireland, the reference to the Pipe-lines Act 1962 shall have effect as if that Act extended to Northern Ireland.
The Commissioners may approve, for such periods ... as they think fit, places for the deposit of goods imported and subject to the control of any officer of Revenue and Customs as a result of Part 1 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018..
The Commissioners may at any time for reasonable cause revoke or vary the terms of any approval given under this section.
In any case where they consider it would facilitate the administration, collection or enforcement of any duty of customs, the Commissioners may by regulations—
specify conditions which must be met before an approval is granted, or
specify other conditions which they may, in any particular case, require to be met before an approval is granted.
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In any other case, an approval has effect subject to such conditions and restrictions as the Commissioners think fit.
Where, by any local Act, provision is made for the landing of goods without needing to comply with all customs formalities in relation to the goods for deposit in temporary storage facilities authorised thereunder, the provisions of this Act relating to goods deposited in temporary storage facilities approved under this section shall have effect in relation to goods deposited in temporary storage facilities authorised under that Act.
In this Act, references to an examination station are to—
a part of, or a place at, a regulated aerodrome approved under section 22 above; ...
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Any person contravening or failing to comply with any condition imposed under regulations under section 22(1A) attaching to an approval by virtue of which a part of, or a place at, a regulated aerodrome is an examination station is liable on summary conviction to—
a penalty not exceeding £20,000, or
if the contravention or failure to comply is not remedied before such date as is specified in a notice or further notice given to the person by an officer of Revenue and Customs, a penalty not exceeding the sum of £20,000 and the enhanced amount.
For the purposes of subsection (1A)(b)—
“the enhanced amount” means the sum produced by multiplying £20,000 by the number of notices in respect of which the contravention or failure to comply has not been remedied by the date specified in the notice,
the date specified in a notice must be one that falls after the end of the period of 14 days beginning with the day on which the notice is given, and
if a notice has already been given, a further notice may not be given on or before the date specified in any earlier notice.
Any person contravening or failing to comply with any condition or restriction attaching to an approval by virtue of which a part of, or place at, a regulated aerodrome is an examination station (other than a condition imposed under regulations under section 22(1A)) shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale.
The Commissioners may, for the purpose of safeguarding the revenue and for the better enforcement of any prohibition or restriction for the time being in force under or by virtue of any enactment with respect to the importation or exportation of any goods, make regulations— ....
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appointing places for the examination and entry of and payment of any duty chargeable on any goods being imported or exported by land (referred to in this Act as “customs and excise stations”)
If any person contravenes or fails to comply with any regulation made under subsection (1) above or any condition of a dispensation given under this section he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale, and any goods in respect of which the offence was committed shall be liable to forfeiture.
The Commissioners may, for the purpose of safeguarding the revenue, by regulations—
apply any provision made by or under this Act so that it applies in relation to any road or railway vehicle (with or without modifications),
provide for any provision made by or under this Act not to apply in relation to any road or railway vehicle, and
make provision for the designation of any area as a railway customs area for the purposes of this Act (referred to in this Act as a “railway customs area”).
An area may be designated as a railway customs area if it is—
a place at which goods are loaded onto or unloaded from, or passengers board or disembark from, a railway vehicle before it departs or enters the United Kingdom, or
an area adjoining such a place.
Regulations under this section may make different provision in relation to different classes or descriptions of goods and, in particular, in relation to different classes or descriptions of vehicles.
In such cases and subject to compliance with such conditions as appear to the Commissioners to be appropriate, the Commissioners may dispense with any requirement of a regulation made under this section
At any time while a ship is within the limits of a port, or an aircraft is at an aerodrome, or any other vehicle is— any officer and any other person duly engaged in the prevention of smuggling may board the vehicle and remain therein and rummage and search any part thereof.
entering, leaving or about to leave the United Kingdom,
within the prescribed area,
within a railway customs area,
within the limits of or entering or leaving a port or any land adjacent to a port and occupied wholly or mainly for the purpose of activities carried on at the port,
at, entering or leaving an aerodrome,
at, entering or leaving an approved wharf, temporary storage facility, customs warehouse or free zone, or
at, entering or leaving any such premises as are mentioned in subsection (1) of section 112 below,
The Commissioners may station officers in any ship at any time while it is within the limits of a port, and if the master of any ship neglects or refuses to provide— the master shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 2 on the standard scale.
reasonable accommodation below decks for any officer stationed therein; or
means of safe access to and egress from the ship in accordance with the requirements of any such officer,
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Without prejudice to section 27 above, the proper officer shall have free access to every part of any ship or aircraft at a port or aerodrome and of any other vehicle which falls within paragraphs (a) to (f) of subsection (1) of section 27 above or is brought to a customs and excise station, and may—
cause any goods to be marked before they are unloaded from that vehicle;
lock up, seal, mark or otherwise secure any goods carried in the vehicle or any place or container in which they are so carried; and
break open any place or container which is locked and of which the keys are withheld.
Any goods found concealed on board any such vehicle shall be liable to forfeiture.
Where, in the case of a vehicle of which due report has been made under section 35 below, any goods are still on board that vehicle at the expiration of the relevant period, the proper officer may detain that vehicle until there have been repaid to the Commissioners—
any expenses properly incurred in watching and guarding the goods beyond the relevant period, except, in the case of a ship or aircraft, in respect of the day of clearance inwards; and
where the goods are removed by virtue of any provision of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 from the ship, aircraft or vehicle to a Queen’s warehouse, the expenses of that removal.
In subsection (1) above, “the relevant period” means—
in the case of a ship or vehicle other than an aircraft, 21 clear days from the date of making due report of the ship or vehicle under section 35 below or such longer period as the Commissioners may in any case allow;
in the case of an aircraft, 7 clear days from the date of making due report of the aircraft under that section or such longer period as the Commissioners may in any case allow.
Where, in the case of— it is necessary for the protection of the revenue to station any officer in charge thereof, whether on board or otherwise, the proper officer may detain that ship, aircraft or vehicle until any expenses thereby incurred by the Commissioners have been repaid.
any derelict or other ship or aircraft coming, driven or brought into the United Kingdom under legal process, by stress of weather or for safety; or
any vehicle in Northern Ireland which suffers any mishap.
In this Act, references to a temporary storage facility are to a place approved—
under section 25 above; ...
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Any person contravening or failing to comply with any condition imposed under regulations under section 25(1A) attaching to an approval by virtue of which a place is a temporary storage facility is liable on summary conviction to—
a penalty not exceeding £20,000, or
if the contravention or failure to comply is not remedied before such date as is specified in a notice or further notice given to the person by an officer of Revenue and Customs, a penalty not exceeding the sum of £20,000 and the enhanced amount.
For the purposes of subsection (1A)(b)—
“the enhanced amount” means the sum produced by multiplying £20,000 by the number of notices in respect of which the contravention or failure to comply has not been remedied by the date specified in the notice,
the date specified in a notice must be one that falls after the end of the period of 14 days beginning with the day on which the notice is given, and
if a notice has already been given, a further notice may not be given on or before the date specified in any earlier notice.
Any person contravening or failing to comply with any condition or restriction attaching to an approval by virtue of which a place is a temporary storage facility (other than a condition imposed under regulations under section 25(1A)) shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale.
An officer may at any time enter a temporary storage facility and inspect it and any goods for the time being in the temporary storage facility.
The Commissioners may from time to time give general or special directions as to the manner in which, and the conditions under which, goods to which this section applies, or any class or description of such goods, may be moved—
within the limits of any port, railway customs area or regulated aerodrome, or
between any port, railway customs area or regulated aerodrome and any other place.
This section applies to goods chargeable with any duty which has not been paid, to drawback goods, and to any other goods which are subject to the control of any officer of Revenue and Customs as a result of Part 1 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018.
Any directions under subsection (1) above may require that any goods to which this section applies shall be moved only— and any such licence or approval may be granted for such period and subject to such conditions and restrictions as the Commissioners think fit and may be revoked at any time by the Commissioners.
by persons licensed by the Commissioners for that purpose;
in such vehicles or by such other means as may be approved by the Commissioners for that purpose;
Any person contravening or failing to comply with any direction given or condition or restriction imposed, or the terms of any licence granted, by the Commissioners under this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 2 on the standard scale.
The Commissioners may by regulations impose conditions and restrictions as respects—
the movement of imported goods between the place of importation and a place approved by the Commissioners for the discharge of a Customs procedure in respect of such goods , a free zoneor a place of exportation of such goods; and
the movement of goods intended for export between a place approved by the Commissioners for the examination of such goods ... and the place of exportation.
the movement of goods between—
a free zone and a place approved by the Commissioners for the discharge of a Customs procedure in respect of such goods,
such a place and a free zone, and
a free zone and another free zone;
Regulations under subsection (1) above may in particular—
require the goods to be moved within such period and by such route as may be specified by or under the regulations;
require the goods to be carried in a vehicle or container complying with such requirements and secured in such manner as may be so specified;
prohibit, except in such circumstances as may be so specified, any unloading or loading of the vehicle or container or any interference with its security.
If any person contravenes or fails to comply with any regulation under subsection (1) above or any requirement imposed by or under any such regulation or a direction made under subsection (2A) above or any requirement imposed under that subsection, that person and the person then in charge of the goods shall each be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 4 on the standard scale and any goods in respect of which the offence was committed shall be liable to forfeiture.
Any documents required to be made or produced as a result of regulations made under subsection (1) above shall be made or produced in such form and manner and contain such particulars as the Commissioners may direct; but the Commissioners may relax any requirement imposed under the regulations that any specific document be made or produced and if they do so may impose substituted requirements.
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If any ship or aircraft departs from any place, or any vehicle crosses the boundary out of Northern Ireland, carrying on board without his consent any officer of customs and excise or other Government officer, including an officer of the Government of Northern Ireland, the master of the ship or commander of the aircraft or the person in charge of the vehicle shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of £100.
Without prejudice to the liability of any person under subsection (1) above, the amount of any expenses incurred by the Commissioners or by any Government department, including a department of the Government of Northern Ireland, by reason of the carrying away of any officer may be recovered summarily as a civil debt from that person or from the owner of the ship, aircraft or vehicle concerned.
For the purposes of this section, the guard of a railway train shall be deemed to be the person in charge of any vehicle forming part of that train.
The vehicle operator of a vehicle which is an aircraft or railway vehicle shall permit an officer at any time to board the vehicle and inspect— and an officer shall have the right of access at any time to any place to which access is required for the purpose of any such inspection.
the vehicle and any goods loaded therein; and
all documents relating to the vehicle or to goods or persons carried therein;
The person in control of any aerodrome or railway customs area shall permit an officer at any time to enter upon and inspect the aerodrome or railway customs area and all buildings and goods thereon.
The person in control of an aerodrome licensed under any enactment relating to air navigation or authorised by a certificate under the Aerodromes Regulation and, if so required by the Commissioners, the person in control of any other aerodrome shall—
keep a record in such form and manner as the Commissioners may approve of all aircraft arriving at or departing from the aerodrome;
keep that record available and produce it on demand to any officer, together with all other documents kept on the aerodrome which relate to the movement of aircraft; and
permit any officer to make copies of and take extracts from any such record or document.
If any person contravenes or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this section he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 4 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or to both.
If so required by the Commissioners, the person in control of a railway customs area shall—
keep a record in such form and manner as the Commissioners may approve of all railway vehicles arriving at or departing from the area,
keep that record available and produce it on demand to any officer, together with all other documents kept in the area which relate to the movement of railway vehicles, and
permit any officer to make copies of and take extracts from any such record or document.
In this section “the Aerodromes Regulation” means Commission Regulation (EU) No 139/2014 of 12 February 2014 laying down requirements and administrative procedures related to aerodromes pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
If it appears to any officer or constable that an aircraft is intended or likely to depart for a destination outside the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man from— he may give such instructions and take such steps by way of detention of the aircraft or otherwise as appear to him necessary in order to prevent the flight.
any place other than a regulated aerodrome; or
a regulated aerodrome before the aircraft is cleared for departure,
Any person who contravenes any instructions given under subsection (1) or (1A) above shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 4 on the standard scale, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or to both.
If it appears to any officer or constable— the officer or constable may give such instructions and take such steps by way of detention of the vehicle or otherwise as appear necessary in order to prevent its departure.
that a railway vehicle is intended or likely to depart for a destination outside the United Kingdom, and
that—
the last place at which goods may be loaded onto or unloaded from, or passengers may board or disembark from, the vehicle before it leaves the United Kingdom is not within a railway customs area, or
it is intended or likely to depart from a railway customs area before being cleared for departure,
If an aircraft flies or railway vehicle departs in contravention of any instruction given under subsection (1) or (1A) above or flies or departs notwithstanding any steps taken to prevent the flight or departure, the owner and the vehicle operator thereof shall, without prejudice to the liability of any other person under subsection (2) above, each be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 4 on the standard scale, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or to both, unless he proves that the flight or departure took place without his consent or connivance.
Report shall be made in such form and manner and containing such particulars as the Commissioners may direct of every vehicle to which this section applies . . . .
This section applies to every ship arriving , or expected to arrive, at a port—
from any place outside the United Kingdom; or
carrying any goods brought in that ship from some place outside the United Kingdom which have not yet been declared for a Customs procedure.
This section applies to every aircraft arriving , or expected to arrive, at any place in the United Kingdom—
from any place or area outside the United Kingdom; or
carrying passengers or goods taken on board that aircraft at a place outside the United Kingdom, being passengers or goods either—
bound for a destination in the United Kingdom without yet having made a Customs declaration; or
bound for a destination outside the United Kingdom.
The Commissioners may make regulations prescribing the procedure for making report under this section.
This section applies to every vehicle (other than a ship or aircraft) arriving, or expected to arrive, at any place in the United Kingdom—
from any place outside the United Kingdom; or
carrying any goods brought in the vehicle from a place outside the United Kingdom which have not yet been declared for a Customs procedure.
If the person by whom the report should be made fails to make report as required by or under this section—
he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale; and
any goods required to be reported which are not duly reported may be detained by any officer until so reported or until the omission is explained to the satisfaction of the Commissioners, and may in the meantime be deposited in a Queen’s warehouse.
The person making the report shall at the time of making it answer all such questions relating to the vehicle, to the goods carried therein, to the crew and to the voyage, flight, or journey as may be put to him by the proper officer; and if he refuses to answer he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale.
If at any time after a vehicle carrying goods brought therein from any place outside the United Kingdom arrives in the United Kingdom, or in or over United Kingdom waters, . . . and before report has been made in accordance with this section— and the matter is not explained to the satisfaction of the Commissioners, the vehicle operator . . . shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale.
bulk is broken; or
any alteration is made in the stowage of any goods carried so as to facilitate the unloading of any part thereof before due report has been made; or
any part of the goods is staved, destroyed or thrown overboard or any container is opened,
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References in this section and in section 35A to a place, area or destination outside the United Kingdom do not include referenes to a place, area or destination in the Isle of Man and in subsection (3)(b)(i) above the reference to a destination in the United Kingdom includes a reference to a destination in the Isle of Man.
The person in command of any ship having a commission from Her Majesty or any foreign State which has on board any goods loaded in any place outside the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man shall, before any such goods are unloaded, or at any time when called upon to do so by the proper officer, deliver to the proper officer an account of the goods in accordance with subsection (2) below, and if he fails so to do he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale.
An account of goods under subsection (1) above shall be in such form, and shall contain to the best of the knowledge of the person delivering the account such particulars, and shall be delivered in such manner, as the Commissioners may direct.
The person delivering such an account shall when delivering it answer all such questions relating to the goods as may be put to him by the proper officer and if he refuses to answer he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale.
Subject in the case of ships having a commission from Her Majesty to any regulations made by the Treasury, the provisions of Parts III to VII of this Act as to the boarding and search of ships shall have effect in relation to such a ship as aforesaid as they have effect in relation to any other ship, and any officer may remove to a Queen’s warehouse any goods loaded as aforesaid found on board the ship.
The Commissioners may by regulations make provision requiring, in cases specified in the regulations, a vehicle operator to confirm that, in respect of all goods in the vehicle which are to be imported into the United Kingdom—
a Customs declaration has been made in respect of them, or
the vehicle operator reasonably believes that a Customs declaration has been made in respect of them.
The regulations may require the confirmation to be given in accordance with provision made by the regulations.
A vehicle operator who does not provide a confirmation in accordance with the regulations is liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale.
The importer of any goods, other than goods which are exempt from the requirements of this section, shall deliver to the proper officer an entry thereof in such form and manner and containing such particulars as the Commissioners may direct.
The following goods are exempt from the requirements of this section—
whales and fresh fish (including shell-fish) of British taking brought by British ships ;
passengers' baggage; and
Community transit goods.
Subject to subsections (4) and (5) below, goods may be entered under this section—
for home use, if so eligible ; or
for warehousing ; or
for transit or transhipment; or
for inward processing ; or
in such cases as the Commissioners may permit, for temporary retention with a view to subsequent re-exportation.
All goods imported by means of a pipe-line and chargeable with duty shall be entered for warehousing.
The Commissioners may—
refuse to accept an entry of any goods if they are not satisfied that those goods were imported before the time of the delivery of the entry ;
subject to subsection (4) above, direct that goods of any class or description specified in the direction shall not be permitted to be entered for warehousing.
If, in the case of any goods which are not dutiable goods, any such entry as aforesaid is inaccurate in any particular, the importer shall, within 14 clear days of the delivery of the entry or such longer period as the Commissioners may in any case allow, deliver to the proper officer a full and accurate account of the goods.
If an account of the goods is delivered in accordance with subsection (6) above and the Commissioners are satisfied that the inaccuracy was inadvertent and immaterial except for statistical purposes, then notwithstanding anything in the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 or in any instrument made thereunder the goods shall not be liable to forfeiture, or the importer to any penalty, by reason only of the inaccuracy of the entry.
Without prejudice to section 37 above, where on the importation of any goods the importer is unable for want of full information to make immediately perfect entry thereof, he may subject to subsection (2) below, on making a signed declaration to that effect before the proper officer, deliver to that officer an entry of the goods by bill of sight in such form and manner and containing such particulars as the Commissioners may direct.
Notwithstanding subsection (1) above, the Commissioners may refuse to accept an entry by bill of sight of any goods if they are not satisfied that those goods were imported before the delivery of the entry.
An entry of any goods by bill of sight under subsection (1) above when signed by the proper officer shall be the warrant for the examination of the goods by the importer in the presence of the proper officer with a view to making perfect entry thereof.
If within such period from the date of the entry of any goods by bill of sight as the Commissioners may allow, no entry purporting to be a perfect entry has been made of those goods, the proper officer may cause the goods to be deposited in a' Queen's warehouse; and, without prejudice to section 99(3) below, if any goods so deposited are not cleared within one month from the date of deposit the Commissioners may sell them.
Surplus stores of any ship, aircraft or railway vehicle— This is subject to subsection (2) below.
may remain on board the ship, aircraft or railway vehicle without payment of duty; or
may be entered for warehousing, notwithstanding that they could not lawfully be imported as merchandise.
This section applies only for excise duty purposes.
Goods entered for warehousing by virtue of subsection (1)(b) above shall not, except with the sanction of the Commissioners, be further entered, or be removed from the warehouse, otherwise than for use as stores.
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The proper officer may remove chargeable goods to a Queen’s warehouse in any of the following cases—
entry has not been made thereof by the expiration of the relevant period; or
where the goods have not been presented to Customs on import in accordance with Part 1 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 within the relevant number of days from the day on which the goods were imported;
at the expiration of 21 clear days from the relevant date, entry having been made of the goods, they have not been unloaded from the importing ship or aircraft or, in the case of goods which have been unloaded or which have been imported by land, have not been produced for examination and clearance; or
where the goods have not been moved to a temporary storage facility in accordance with paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to that Act within the relevant number of days from the day on which the goods were required to be so moved;
being goods imported by sea and not being in large quantity, they are at any time after the arrival of the importing ship at the port at which they are to be unloaded the only goods remaining to be unloaded from that ship at that port,
where a Customs declaration has not been made in respect of the goods within the relevant number of days from the day on which the goods were presented to Customs on import;
where a document which is required to accompany a Customs declaration is not made available to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs within the relevant number of days from the day on which it was required to be made available;
where the 90 day period referred to in paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 has ended and the goods have not been released to a Customs procedure within the relevant number of days from the day on which that period ended;
where the goods have been released to a Customs procedure but have not been removed from a temporary storage facility within the relevant number of days from the day on which the goods were released to the procedure;
where an officer of Revenue and Customs requires goods to be made available for examination and the goods are not made available within 21 days of the requirement being imposed; or
where goods have been imported by sea and do not constitute a significant proportion of the ship’s cargo, they are at any time after the arrival of the importing ship at the port at which they are to be unloaded the only goods remaining to be unloaded from that ship at that port.
Where any small package or consignment of goods is imported, the proper officer may at any time after the relevant date cause that package or consignment to be deposited in a Queen’s warehouse to await compliance with the customs formalities in respect of the goods.
Without prejudice to section 99(3) below, if the relevant customs formalities are not complied with in respect of any goods deposited in a Queen’s warehouse by the proper officer under this section ...— the Commissioners may sell the goods.
in the case of goods which are in the opinion of the Commissioners of a perishable nature, forthwith; or
in any other case, within 3 months after they have been so deposited or such longer time as the Commissioners may in any case allow,
In this section—
“the relevant number of days” means—
where the goods have been imported by air, 7 clear days, and
in any other case, 14 clear days;
“the relevant date” means, subject to subsection (5) below, the date when report was made of the importing ship, aircraft or vehicle or of the goods under section 35 above, or, where no such report was made, the date when it should properly have been made.
Where any restriction is placed upon the unloading of goods from any vehicle by virtue of any enactment relating to the prevention of epidemic and infectious diseases, then, in relation to that vehicle—
“the relevant date” means the date of the removal of the restriction; and
the relevant number of days referred to in any paragraph of subsection (1) other than paragraph (d) is counted from the day on which the restriction is removed rather than the day referred to within the paragraph concerned.
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Without prejudice to any liability under any other provision of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 — shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 2 on the standard scale, and the goods in question shall be liable to forfeiture ... .
any person importing goods who contravenes or fails to comply with any of the requirements made by or under this Part of this Act, or
any person who contravenes or fails to comply with any of the requirements made by or under Part 1 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 in connection with the presentation of goods to Customs on import, the making of a declaration relating to the storage of goods or the making of a Customs declaration,
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The Commissioners may make regulations— and different regulations may be made with respect to importation by sea, air or land respectively.
prescribing the procedure to be followed by a ship arriving at a port, an aircraft arriving at a regulated aerodrome, any other vehicle entering the United Kingdom or a person conveying goods into the United Kingdom by land;
regulating the unloading, landing, movement and removal of goods on their importation;
If any person contravenes or fails to comply with any regulation made under this section or with any direction given by the Commissioners or the proper officer in pursuance of any such regulation, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale and any goods in respect of which the offence was committed shall be liable to forfeiture.
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Save as permitted by or under the customs and excise Acts ..., no imported goods shall be delivered or removed on importation until the importer has paid to the proper officer any excise duty chargeable thereon, and that duty shall, in the case of goods of which entry is made, be paid on making the entry.
Subject to subsections (2A), (2B) (2C) and (2D) below, the duties of ... excise and the rates thereof chargeable on imported goods—
if entry is made thereof, except where the entry is for warehousing, or if they are declared under section 78 below, shall be those in force with respect to such goods at the time when the entry is accepted or the declaration is made;
if entry or, in the case of goods entered by bill of sight, perfect entry is made thereof for warehousing, shall be ascertained in accordance with warehousing regulations;
if no entry is made thereof and the goods are not declared under section 78 below shall be—
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... those in force with respect to such goods at the time of their importation.
Any goods brought or coming into the United Kingdom by sea otherwise than as cargo, stores or baggage carried in a ship shall be chargeable with the like excise duty, if any, as would be applicable to those goods if they had been imported as merchandise....
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Where, in accordance with approval given by the Commissioners, entry of goods is made by any method involving the use of a computer, subsection (2) above shall have effect as if the reference in paragraph (a) to the time of the delivery of the entry were a reference to the time when particulars contained in the entry are accepted by the computer.
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Subject to sections 10 and 11 of the Customs and Excise Duties (General Reliefs) Act 1979 (reliefs for re-imported goods) and save as provided by or under any such enactments or instruments as are mentioned in subsection (1) above, any goods which are re-imported into the United Kingdom after exportation from the United Kingdom or the Isle of Man, whether they were manufactured or produced in or outside the United Kingdom and whether or not any excise duty was paid thereon at a previous importation, shall be treated for the purpose of charging excise duty—
as if they were being imported for the first time; and
in the case of goods manufactured or produced in the United Kingdom, as if they had not been so manufactured or produced.
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Nothing in the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) above or of subsection (6) below or in any exception to any of those provisions made by or under section 44 below shall have effect for the purposes of any duty of excise chargeable on any goods for which—
the excise duty point is fixed by regulations under section 1 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 1992; and
the applicable rate of duty is determined in accordance with subsection (2) of that section.
Where entry of goods is made otherwise than for warehousing and there is a reduction in the rate of duty of ... excise chargeable on the goods between— the rate of the excise duty chargeable on the goods shall, if the importer so requests, be that in force at the time mentioned in paragraph (b) above unless clearance of the goods has been delayed by reason of any act or omission for which the importer is responsible.
the time mentioned in subsection (2)(a) above; and
the time when the goods are cleared from ... excise charge,
Notwithstanding section 6(5) of the European Communities Act 1972 “duty of customs” in subsection (6) above does not include any agricultural levy.
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Where the Commissioners so direct, section 43(1) above shall not apply if and so long as the importer or his agent pays to, and keeps deposited with, the Commissioners a sum by way of standing deposit sufficient in their opinion to cover any excise duty which may become payable in respect of goods entered by that importer or agent, and if the importer or agent complies with such other conditions as the Commissioners may impose.
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The Commissioners may by regulations provide for the payment of customs duty to be deferred in such cases as may be specified by the regulations and subject to such conditions as may be imposed by or under the regulations ; and duty of which payment is deferred under the regulations shall be treated, for such purposes as may be specified thereby, as if it had been paid.
Regulations under this section may make different provision for goods of different descriptions or for goods of the same description in different circumstances.
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Where— those goods shall, subject to subsection (2) below, be liable to forfeiture.
except as provided by or under the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 or by or under the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018, any imported goods, being goods chargeable by reference to their importation with customs or excise duty, are, without payment of that duty—
unshipped in any port,
unloaded from any aircraft in the United Kingdom,
unloaded from any other vehicle which has entered the United Kingdom, or
removed from their place of importation or from any approved wharf, examination station or temporary storage facility or any place specified by an officer of Revenue and Customs under Part 1 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 as a place where the goods are required to be kept; or
any goods are imported, landed or unloaded contrary to any prohibition or restriction for the time being in force with respect thereto under or by virtue of any enactment; or
any goods, being goods chargeable with any duty or goods the importation of which is for the time being prohibited or restricted by or under any enactment, are found, whether before or after the unloading thereof, to have been concealed in any manner on board any ship or aircraft or, while in Northern Ireland, in any other vehicle; or
any goods are imported concealed in a container holding goods of a different description; or
any goods are found, whether before or after being released to or discharged from a Customs procedure, not to correspond with any information provided under Part 1 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018;
any imported goods are concealed or packed in any manner appearing to be intended to deceive an officer,
Where any goods, the importation of which is for the time being prohibited or restricted by or under any enactment, are on their importation either— the Commissioners may, if they see fit, permit the goods to be dealt with accordingly.
declared as intended for exportation in the same vehicle,
declared for a transit procedure or a storage procedure, or
are otherwise to be warehoused for exportation or for use as stores,
Subsection (2) below applies to goods of the following descriptions, that is to say—
goods chargeable with a duty which has not been paid; and
goods the importation, landing or unloading of which is for the time being prohibited or restricted by or under any enactment.
If any person with intent to defraud Her Majesty of any such duty or to evade any such prohibition or restriction as is mentioned in subsection (1) above— he shall be guilty of an offence under this subsection and may be detained.
unships or lands in any port or unloads from any aircraft in the United Kingdom or from any other vehicle which has entered the United Kingdom any goods to which this subsection applies, or assists or is otherwise concerned in such unshipping, landing or unloading; or
removes from their place of importation or from any approved wharf, examination station, temporary storage facility, any place specified by an officer of Revenue and Customs under Part 1 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 as a place where the goods are required to be kept or customs and excise station any goods to which this subsection applies or assists or is otherwise concerned in such removal,
If any person imports or is concerned in importing any goods contrary to any prohibition or restriction for the time being in force under or by virtue of any enactment with respect to those goods, whether or not the goods are unloaded, and does so with intent to evade the prohibition or restriction, he shall be guilty of an offence under this subsection and may be detained.
Subject to subsection (5), (5A) or (5B) below, a person guilty of an offence under subsection (2) or (3) above shall be liable—
on summary conviction, to a penalty of the prescribed sum£20,000 or of three times the value of the goods, whichever is the greater, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to both; or
on conviction on indictment, to a penalty of any amount, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years, or to both.
In the case of an offence under subsection (2) or (3) above in connection with a prohibition or restriction on importation having effect by virtue of section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, subsection (4) above shall have effect subject to the modifications specified in Schedule 1 to this Act.
If any person— he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of three times the value of the goods or level 3 on the standard scale, whichever is the greater.
imports or causes to be imported any goods concealed in a container holding goods of a different description; or
directly or indirectly imports, or causes to be imported, any chargeable goods found, whether before or after being released to a Customs procedure, not to correspond with any information provided under Part 1 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018,
In the case of— subsection (4)(b) above shall have effect as if for the words “imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years” there were substituted the words “ imprisonment for life ” .
an offence under subsection (2) or (3) above committed in Great Britain in connection with a prohibition or restriction on the importation of any weapon or ammunition that is of a kind mentioned in section 5(1)(a), (ab), (aba), (ac), (ad), (ae), (af), (ag), (ba) or (c) or (1A)(a) of the Firearms Act 1968, or
any such offence committed in Northern Ireland in connection with a prohibition or restriction on the importation of any weapon or ammunition that is of a kind mentioned in Article 6(1)(a), (ab), (ac), (ad), (ae) or (c) or (1A)(a) Article 45(1)(a), , (aa) (b), (c), (d), (e), (ea), (fa) or (g) or (2)(a) of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004, ...
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In any case where a person would, apart from this subsection, be guilty of— he shall not be guilty of the offence mentioned in paragragh (a) of this subsection.
an offence under this section in connection with the importation of goods contrary to a prohibition or restriction; and
a corresponding offence under the enactment or other instrument imposing the prohibition or restriction, being an offence for which a fine or other penalty is expressly provided by that enactment or other instrument,
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In the case of an offence under subsection (2) or (3) above in connection with the prohibition contained in regulation 2 of the Import of Seal Skins Regulations 1996, subsection (4) above shall have effect as if–
for paragraph (a) there were substituted the following–; and
in paragraph (b) for the words “14 years” there were substituted the words “ 2 years ”
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If goods of any class or description chargeable with duty by reference to their importation from the Republic of Ireland are found in the possession or control of any person in Northern Ireland, any officer or any person having by law in Northern Ireland the powers of an officer may require that person to furnish proof that the goods have not been imported from the Republic of Ireland or that the duty chargeable by reference to their importation has been paid.
If proof of any matter is required to be furnished in relation to any goods under subsection (1) above but is not furnished to the satisfaction of the Commissioners, the goods shall, for the purposes of proceedings under the customs and excise Acts, be deemed to have been unlawfully imported from the Republic of Ireland without payment of duty, unless the contrary is proved.
goods from warehouse, other than goods which have been kept, without being warehoused, in a warehouse by virtue of section 92(4) below ;
For the purposes of this Part of this Act “dutiable or restricted goods” are goods of the following descriptions, that is to say—
goods from an excise warehouse or goods which have been declared for a storage procedure;
transit goods;
any other goods chargeable with any duty which has not been paid or goods which have been declared for an authorised use procedure or temporary admission procedure;
drawback goods or goods otherwise eligible for remission, repayment or refund of duty on their export;
goods with respect to the exportation of which any restriction is for the time being in force under or by virtue of any enactment;
any goods required by or under any provision of this Act other than a provision of this Part or by or under a provision of any other Act to be entered before exportation or before shipment for exportation or as stores.
goods incorporating or resulting from the use of inward processing goods or any goods which, following a determination by the Commissioners, are to be treated for customs purposes as inward processing goods in substitution for such goods.
transit goods;
In this section “inward processing goods” means—
goods declared for an inward processing procedure, or
goods imported for the purpose of being worked on, processed or used in any process or repaired and on the importation of which relief from ... agricultural levy was given on condition that goods incorporating or resulting from the use of them would be exported outside the European Union; and in this subsection “agricultural levy” means any tax or charge, not being a customs duty, provided for under the common agricultural policy or under any special arrangements which, pursuant to Article 352 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union are applicable to goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products.
any other goods chargeable with any duty which has not been paid;
drawback goods;
goods with respect to the exportation of which any restriction is for the time being in force under or by virtue of any enactment;
any goods required by or under any provision of this Act other than a provision of this Part or by or under a provision of any other Act to be entered before exportation or before shipment for exportation or as stores.
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deliver to the proper officer an entry outwards of the goods under this section in such form and manner and containing such particulars as the Commissioners may direct; and
give security to the satisfaction of the Commissioners that the goods will be duly shipped or exported and discharged at the destination for which they are entered outwards within such time as the Commissioners consider reasonable, or, in the case of goods for use as stores, will be duly so used, or that they will be otherwise accounted for to the satisfaction of the Commissioners.
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on summary conviction, to a penalty of the prescribed sum or of three times the value of the goods, whichever is the greater, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to both ; or
on conviction on indictment, to a penalty of any amount, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, or to both.
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If any dutiable or restricted goods which are required to be exported in accordance with the applicable export provisions are shipped for exportation or as stores or are waterborne for such shipment before the applicable export provisions have been complied with, and the shipping or making waterborne is done with fraudulent intent any person concerned therein with knowledge of that intent shall be guilty of an offence under this subsection and may be detained.
A person guilty of an offence under subsection (8) above shall be liable—
on summary conviction, to a penalty of the prescribed sum£20,000 or of three times the value of the goods, whichever is the greater, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to both; or
on conviction on indictment, to a penalty of any amount, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years or to both.
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This section applies to any goods the export of which is required to be made in accordance with the applicable export provisions.
If any person contravenes or fails to comply with any of the requirements—
the person is guilty of an offence, and
the goods are liable to forfeiture.
A person guilty of an offence under subsection (2) in a case where the goods are dutiable or restricted goods is liable on summary conviction to a penalty of— whichever is the greater.
£20,000, or
three times the value of the goods,
A person guilty of an offence under subsection (2) in any other case is liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 4 on the standard scale.
If— the goods are (in addition to being liable to forfeiture under subsection (2)) subject to the control of an officer of Revenue and Customs as mentioned in subsection (6) even if the procedure provided for by the applicable export provisions is discharged.
in breach of the applicable export provisions, any dutiable or restricted goods fail to be exported from the United Kingdom by the time by which they were required to be exported, and
notice of the failure is not immediately given to an officer of Revenue and Customs,
An officer of Revenue and Customs may—
require any person to provide such information and documents to the officer as may be specified by the officer, and
require the goods to be moved to, and kept in, such place as may be specified by the officer.
Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with a requirement imposed under subsection (6) is liable on summary conviction to a penalty of £20,000.
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Subject to subsection (6) below and to section 56 below, before any goods which are not dutiable or restricted goods are exported or shipped for exportation, the exporter shall, unless the goods are Community transit goods, deliver to the proper officer an entry outwards of the goods under this section.
The form of entries under this section, the particulars to be contained therein and the manner of their delivery shall be such as the Commissioners may from time to time direct.
Directions under this section may, if the Commissioners think fit, contain provisions authorising the delivery in circumstances specified in the directions of provisional entries under this section, and imposing requirements on persons delivering such entries as to the subsequent delivery of perfected entries, and the obtaining and retention for a specified period of receipts for perfected entries.
Where the particulars contained in any entry delivered under this section are in any way incorrect or inaccurate, the person delivering it shall notify the proper officer of any necessary correction within a period of 14 days beginning with the day of delivery.
The Commissioners may give directions under this section imposing on persons specified in the directions requirements as to the giving of information with respect to, and the furnishing of documents in connection with, goods which have been entered under this section but are not exported or shipped for exportation within a specified period beginning with the day of delivery of the entry.
The Commissioners may relax any requirement imposed by or under this section as they think fit in relation to any goods.
If any goods of which entry is required under this section are exported or shipped for exportation before delivery of an entry in respect thereof, the exporter shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of £100.
Any person who fails to comply with subsection (4) above in the case of any entry shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of £10.
Any person who, being required by directions given under this section to obtain and retain for a specified period a receipt for any entry, fails to produce a receipt complying with the directions on demand made by the proper officer at any time during that period shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of £100.
Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with any directions given under this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of £100.
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The Commissioners shall have power—
to maintain a register of exporters ;
to enter therein any person applying for registration and appearing to them to be concerned in the exportation of goods and to satisfy such requirements for registration as they may think fit to impose ;
to give directions imposing requirements on registered persons (and, in particular, requirements as to the keeping of records and accounts and the giving of access thereto) as a condition of their remaining on the register;
to assign to registered persons numbers for use for export purposes ; and
to cancel the registration of any person if it appears to them that he has failed to comply with any direction under this section or that there is other reasonable cause for cancellation.
The Commissioners may relax any requirement imposed under this section as they think fit in relation to any goods.
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If the Commissioners think fit so to direct— if, before shipment, a number assigned under section 55 above to a person concerned in the exportation of the goods, together with such particulars of the goods and other information relating thereto as the directions may require, is furnished in accordance with the directions to a person specified therein.
dutiable or restricted goods falling within paragraph (c) or (d) of section 52 above may be shipped for exportation without entry under section 53 above; and
goods which are not dutiable or restricted goods may be shipped for exportation without entry under section 54 above,
Directions under this section may contain provision enabling the Commissioners to exclude shipments of goods from their operation in particular cases by giving notice to that effect in accordance with the directions.
The Commissioners may relax any requirement imposed under this section as they think fit in relation to any goods.
If any person, for the purpose of enabling any goods to be shipped without entry by virtue of directions given under this section, furnishes a number other than one for the time being assigned to him under section 55 above, then, unless the number is one for the time being assigned to another person under that section and is furnished with that person's consent, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of £100.
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Subject to subsection (2) below and section 58 below, in any of the following events, that is to say— the exporter of the goods shall deliver to the proper officer a specification of the goods in accordance with this section.
where any dutiable or restricted goods are, by virtue of section 53(3) or 56 above, exported without entry under section 53 above, shipped for exportation without such an entry or shipped as stores for use on a voyage or flight to an eventual destination outside the United Kingdom without such an entry ; or
where any goods which are not dutiable or restricted goods are, by virtue of section 56 above, shipped for exportation without entry under section 54 above,
No specification need be delivered as required by subsection (1) above in the case of Community transit goods or in the case of goods shipped as stores where the shipment as stores is permitted by the Commissioners and such conditions as they see fit to impose are complied with.
A specification of goods under this section shall—
be in such form and contain such particulars as the Commissioners may direct; and
be delivered in such manner as they may direct within a period of 14 days or such longer period as they may direct—
after the clearance outwards of the ship or aircraft from the place of loading; or
in the case of goods exported by land, after the goods have been exported.
Where any goods are shipped for exportation without entry by virtue of directions given under section 56 above, the person whose number was furnished in relation to the goods for the purpose of their shipment without entry shall, if it was so furnished with his consent, be the exporter of the goods for the purposes of this section.
For the purposes of this section, any ship built, or aircraft manufactured, in the United Kingdom departing for the first time for a voyage or flight to a place outside the United Kingdom for the purpose of its delivery to a consignee outside the United Kingdom shall be treated both as goods shipped for exportation and as the exporting ship or aircraft, and the owner of the ship or aircraft or, where the owner is outside the United Kingdom, the builder of the ship or the manufacturer of the aircraft shall be deemed to be the exporter.
For goods exported by means of a pipe-line the period for delivery of a specification of the goods under this section shall be 14 days from the time when the goods are charged into the pipe-line for exportation or such longer period as the Commissioners may direct.
Where any goods in respect of which a specification is required under this section are shipped as stores on board any ship which has touched at a port for the purpose only of shipping those goods and then departing for a place outside the United Kingdom, and which is permitted by the Commissioners to depart without being cleared outwards from that port, this section shall have effect as if for the reference in subsection (3) above to the clearance outwards of the ship there were substituted a reference to the shipping of the goods.
The Commissioners may give a direction under this subsection requiring any person delivering a specification under this section in relation to goods shipped for exportation to obtain a receipt therefor in accordance with the direction and to retain it for a period specified therein. The Commissioners may relax any requirement imposed under this subsection as they think fit in relation to any goods.
If in the case of any such goods as are mentioned in subsection (1) above no specification is delivered in accordance with this section, the exporter of the goods shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of £100.
If, when a specification has been delivered under this section, any goods to which it relates have not in fact been exported or shipped as stores or the particulars contained therein are in any other way incorrect or inaccurate, the person signing the specification and the exporter of the goods shall each be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of £10 unless one of them notifies the proper officer of any necessary correction within a period of 14 days beginning with the day of delivery.
Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with any direction given under subsection (8) above shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of £100.
Any person who, being required by a direction given under subsection (8) above to obtain and retain for a specified period a receipt for a specification under this section, fails to produce a receipt complying with the direction on demand made by the proper officer at any time during that period shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of £100.
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In connection with any arrangements approved by the Commissioners for recording particulars of exported goods by computer they may relax the requirements of section 57 above by suspending the obligation to deliver the specifications there mentioned on condition that— and subject to such other conditions as they may impose.
the particulars which should otherwise be contained in the specifications, or such of those particulars as the Commissioners may specify, are recorded by computer in accordance with the arrangements ; and
the particulars so recorded are subsequently delivered to the proper officer within such time as the Commissioners may specify;
If under subsection (1) above particulars are recorded by computer, and any goods to which the particulars relate have not in fact been exported or shipped as stores, or the particulars are in any other way incorrect or inaccurate, the exporter of the goods and any other person who caused the incorrect or inaccurate particulars to be recorded shall each be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of £5 unless one of them, either himself or by an agent, corrects the particulars within the period mentioned in section 57(3) above.
This section applies to all goods which are required to be exported in accordance with the applicable export provisions.
The Commissioners may make regulations—
prohibiting, as from such date as is specified in the regulations, the putting of any goods to which this section applies alongside any vehicle other than a road vehicle for loading for exportation, except under a written authority in that behalf obtained in accordance with, and in such form as is specified in, the regulations; and
requiring any person putting goods alongside a vehicle other than a road vehicle under one or more such authorities to endorse the authority or each of the authorities with such particulars as are specified in the regulations, and to deliver the endorsed authority or authorities, together with a written statement of the number of authorities delivered, to the proper officer within such period as is so specified.
Regulations under subsection (2) above may make different provision for different circumstances.
Without prejudice to section 3 above, subsection (2) above shall apply to the charging of goods into a pipe-line for exportation as it applies to the putting of goods alongside a ship or aircraft for loading for exportation.
The Commissioners may relax any requirement imposed under subsection (2) above as they think fit in relation to any goods.
Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with any regulation under subsection (2) above shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale.
This section shall not come into force until such day as the Commissioners may appoint by order made by statutory instrument.
No person shall export any dutiable or restricted goods falling within paragraphs (a) to (d) of section 52 above, or enter any such goods for exportation, in any ship of less than 40 tons register.
Subsection (1) above shall not apply to hovercraft, but dutiable or restricted goods shall only be exported in a hovercraft it it is of a class or description for the time being approved by the Commissioners and subject to such conditions and restrictions as they may impose.
For the purposes of subsection (1), the reference to entering goods for exportation is to the doing of anything required to be done under provision made by or under Part 1 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 in connection with the export of the goods.
Any goods shipped or entered contrary to subsection (1) or (2) above shall be liable to forfeiture.
A person contravening or failing to comply with subsection (2) above, or with any condition or restriction imposed thereunder, shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of three times the value of the goods or level 3 on the standard scale, whichever is the greater.
Subject to subsection (7) below, if any goods entered but not shipped or exported as mentioned in subsection (5) above have not, at the expiration of a period of 14 days after the clearance of the ship or aircraft as mentioned in that subsection or, in the case of goods entered for exportation by land, after the date of the entry, been either— the person by whom the entry was made shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of £25.
warehoused ; or
again entered for exportation or for use as stores ; or
otherwise accounted for to the satisfaction of the Commissioners,
Subsection (6) above shall not apply where, before the expiration of the said period, the goods have been seized by virtue of subsection (5) above.
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as to the quantity of any goods which may be carried in any ship or aircraft as stores for use on a voyage or flight to an eventual destination outside the United Kingdom;
as to the authorisation to be obtained for the supply arid carriage of, and the procedure to be followed in supplying, any goods as stores for use as mentioned in paragraph (a) above, whether or not any duty is chargeable or has been paid, or any drawback is payable, in respect of those goods.
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If any goods shipped or carried as stores without payment of duty are without the authority of the proper officer landed or unloaded at any place in the United Kingdom—
the goods shall be liable to forfeiture; and
the vehicle operator and the owner of the ship, aircraft or railway vehicle shall each be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of three times the value of the goods or level 3 on the standard scale, whichever is the greater.
The proper officer may lock up, mark, seal or otherwise secure any goods entered, shipped or carried as stores ... as mentioned in subsection (5) above or any place or container in which such goods are kept or held.
But subsection (5) above does not apply where the goods are entered for warehousing in accordance with section 39.
If any ship, aircraft or railway vehicle which has departed from the United Kingdom carrying stores fails to reach the destination for which it was cleared for departure and returns to any place within the United Kingdom, then— the vehicle operator shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 2 on the standard scale, and shall also pay on the deficiency or, as the case may be, on the excess deficiency any duty chargeable on the importation of such goods.
if the failure was not due to stress of weather, mechanical defect or any other unavoidable cause and any deficiency is discovered in the said goods; or
if the failure was due to any such cause as is mentioned in paragraph (a) above and any deficiency is discovered in the said goods which, in the opinion of the Commissioners, exceeds the quantity which might fairly have been consumed having regard to the length of time between the vehicle’s departure and return as aforesaid,
Any duty , other than excise duty,payable under subsection (7) above shall be recoverable summarily as a civil debt.
No amount of excise duty shall be payable under subsection (7) above unless the Commissioners have assessed that amount as being excise duty due from the vehicle operator and notified him or his representative accordingly.
An amount of excise duty assessed as being due under subsection (7A) above shall, unless, or except to the extent that, the assessment has subsequently been withdrawn or reduced and subject to any appeal under section 16 of the Finance Act 1994, be recoverable summarily as a civil debt.
References in this section to a country or destination outside the United Kingdom do not include references to, or a destination in, the Isle of Man; and subsection (5) above applies whether the goods were shipped in the United Kingdom or the Isle of Man.
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The Commissioners may give directions under this subsection imposing on persons specified in the directions requirements as to the giving of information with respect to, or the furnishing of documents in connection with, goods exported, or intended to be exported, in any such vehicle or container as is specified in the directions, or by such other means, or in accordance with any such commercial procedure, as is so specified.
... This subsection shall not come into force until such day as the Commissioners may appoint by order made by statutory instrument.
The Commissioners may relax any requirement imposed under subsection (1) ... above as they think fit in relation to any goods.
Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with any direction given under subsection (1) ... above shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale.
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The Commissioners may by regulations make provision in relation to goods for use on a ship, aircraft or railway vehicle as stores.
The provision that may be made by regulations under subsection (1) includes—
provision permitting, in specified circumstances, goods to be shipped or carried as stores without payment of duty or on drawback;
provision requiring authorisation to be obtained, in specified circumstances, for goods to be shipped or carried as stores as mentioned in paragraph (a) above;
provision about obtaining such authorisation;
provision enabling such authorisation to be withdrawn in specified circumstances;
provision for the supply, shipping or carriage of goods as stores as mentioned in paragraph (a) above to be subject to specified conditions or restrictions;
provision as to any procedure to be followed in supplying goods to be shipped or carried as stores as mentioned in paragraph (a) above.
Regulations made by virtue of subsection (2)(a) may include—
provision requiring duty to be paid on goods shipped or carried as stores without payment of duty or on drawback where those goods are—
consumed on a journey of a specified description; or
consumed in specified circumstances in port;
provision as to the persons by whom such duty is payable;
provision about the way in which, and the time at which, such duty is to be paid; and
provision for goods, in specified circumstances, to be treated as having been consumed on a journey or in port.
The provision that may be made by regulations under this section includes—
different provision for different cases; and
incidental, supplemental, consequential or transitional provision or savings.
In this section “specified” means—
specified in regulations made under this section; or
specified by the Commissioners under such regulations.
This section applies if a person fails to comply with—
any provision made by or under regulations under section 60A; or
any condition or restriction imposed under such regulations.
The person's failure to comply shall attract a penalty under section 9 of the Finance Act 1994 (civil penalties) (but see subsection (4)).
Any goods in respect of which the person fails to comply with the provision, condition or restriction are liable to forfeiture.
Subsection (2) does not apply if, as a result of the failure, the person is liable to pay a penalty under Schedule 55 to the Finance Act 2009 (penalty for failure to make returns etc) or Schedule 56 to that Act (penalty for failure to make payments on time).
Where a ships is to load any goods at a port for exportation ... or as stores for use on a voyage to an eventual destination outside the United Kingdom, the master of the ship shall, before any goods are taken on board that ship at that port, other than goods for exportation loaded in accordance with a stiffening order issued by the proper officer, deliver to the proper officer—
an entry outwards of the ship in such form and manner and containing such particulars as the Commissioners may direct; and
a certificate from the proper officer of the clearance inwards or coastwise of the ship of her last voyage with cargo; and
if the ship has already loaded goods at some other port for exportation or as stores for use as aforesaid or has been cleared in ballast from some other port, the clearance outwards of the ship from that other port.
If, on the arrival at any port of a ship carrying goods coastwise from one place in Great Britain to another such place, it is desired that the ship shall proceed with those goods or any of them to a place outside the United Kingdom, entry outwards shall be made of that ship (whether or not any other goods are to be loaded at that port) and of any of those goods which are duitable or restricted goods as if the goods were to be loaded for exportation at that port, but any such entry may, subject to such conditions as the Commissioners see fit to impose, be made without the goods being first discharged.
A ship may, subject to subsection (4) below, be entered outwards from a port under this section notwithstanding that before departing for any place outside the United Kingdom the ship is to go to another port.
A ship carrying cargo brought in that ship from some place outside Great Britain and intended to be discharged in Great Britain may only be entered outwards by virtue of subsection (3) above subject to such conditions as the Commissioners see fit to impose.
If, when a ship is required by this section to be entered outwards from any port, any goods are taken on board that ship at that port, except in accordance with such a stiffening order as is mentioned in subsection (1) above, before the ship is so entered, the goods shall be liable to forfeiture and the master of the ship shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale.
Where goods are taken on board a ship as mentioned in subsection (5) above or made waterborne for that purpose with fraudulent intent, any person concerned therein with knowledge of that intent may be detained and shall be liable—
on summary conviction, to a penalty of the prescribed sum£20,000 or of three times the value of the goods, whichever is the greater, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to both; or
on conviction on indictment, to a penalty of any amount, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years, or to both.
References in this section to a destination or place outside the United Kingdom or Great Britain ... do not include references to a destination or place in the Isle of Man and in subsections (2) and (4) above references to a place in Great Britain and to discharge in Great Britain include references to a place in the Isle of Man and to discharge in the Island.
No vehicle other than a road vehicle is to depart from the United Kingdom until clearance for departure has been obtained from the proper officer.
The Commissioners may give directions—
as to the procedure for obtaining clearance under this section;
as to the documents to be produced and the information to be furnished by any person applying for such clearance.
The Commissioners may by regulations make provision disapplying the requirement to obtain clearance in specified circumstances.
Where clearance is sought under this section for any ship which is in ballast or has on board no goods other than stores, the baggage of passengers carried in that ship, chalk, slate, or empty returned containers upon which no freight or profit is earned, the proper officer in granting clearance thereof shall, on the application of the master, clear the ship as in ballast.
Any officer may board any ship which is cleared outwards from a port at any time while the ship is in United Kingdom waters and require the production of the ship’s clearance, and if the master refuses to produce it or to answer such questions as the officer may put to him concerning the ship, cargo and intended voyage, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 1 on the standard scale.
Every ship departing from a port shall, if so required for the purpose of disembarking an officer or of further examination, bring to at the boarding station, and if any ship fails to comply with any such requirement the master shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 2 on the standard scale.
If any vehicle required to be cleared under this section departs from the United Kingdom without a valid clearance, the vehicle operator shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale.
If, where any vehicle is required under this section to obtain clearance to depart the United Kingdom, any goods are loaded, or are waterborne for loading, into that vehicle before application for clearance has been made, the goods shall be liable to forfeiture and, where the loading or making waterborne is done with fraudulent intent, any person concerned therein with knowledge of that intent shall be guilty of an offence under this subsection and may be detained.
A person guilty of an offence under subsection (7) above shall be liable—
on summary conviction, to a penalty of the prescribed sum£20,000 or of three times the value of the goods, whichever is the greater, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to both; or
on conviction on indictment, to a penalty of any amount, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, or to both.
For the purpose of the detention thereof in pursuance of any power or duty conferred or imposed by or under any enactment, or for the purpose of securing compliance with any provision of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 or Part 1 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 or of any other enactment or of any instrument made thereunder, being a provision relating to the importation or exportation of goods—
the proper officer may at any time refuse clearance of any vehicle required to obtain clearance to depart the United Kingdom,; and
where clearance has been given in respect of a vehicle, any officer may at any time cancel the clearance before the vehicle has departed from the United Kingdom.
Any cancellation may be made orally, electronically or otherwise in writing, and if made in writing (but not electronically) may be served on the vehicle operator—
by delivering it to him personally; or
by leaving it at his last known place of abode; or
by leaving it on board the vehicle with the person appearing to be in charge or command thereof.
Where a clearance is cancelled, it forthwith becomes void.
the clearance shall forthwith become void ; and
if the demand is not complied with, the master of the ship or the commander of the aircraft shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of £100.
The Commissioners may make regulations—
regulating with respect to vehicles the loading (including making waterborne for loading) of goods for exportation or as stores and the embarking of passengers for a destination outside the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man;
prescribing the procedure to be followed and the documents to be produced and information to be furnished by any person conveying goods out of the United Kingdom by land;
requiring delivery of a manifest containing such particulars as the Commissioners may direct of all cargo carried in an exporting ship and, if the Commissioners so direct, such other documents relating to the cargo as are specified in the direction;
requiring delivery of a certificate of the fuel shipped in any ship departing from a port for a place outside the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man.
If any person contravenes or fails to comply with any regulation made under this section, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 4 on the standard scale, or in the case of a contravention of or a failure to comply with a regulation made under subsection (1)(b) above a penalty of level 5 on the standard scale£20,000,and any goods in respect of which the offence was committed shall be liable to forfeiture.
If any goods which have been loaded or retained on board any vehicle for exportation are not exported to and discharged at a place outside the United Kingdom but are unloaded in the United Kingdom, then, unless— the vehicle operator and any person concerned in the unshipping, relanding, landing, unloading or carrying of the goods from the vehicle without such authority, payment or repayment shall each be guilty of an offence under this section.
the unloading was authorised by the proper officer; and
except where that officer otherwise permits, any duty chargeable and unpaid on the goods is paid and any drawback or allowance paid in respect thereof is repaid,
The Commissioners may impose such conditions as they see fit with respect to any goods loaded or retained as mentioned in subsection (1) above which are permitted to be unloaded in the United Kingdom.
If any person contravenes or fails to comply with, or is concerned in any contravention of or failure to comply with, any condition imposed under subsection (2) above he shall be guilty of an offence under this section.
Where any goods loaded or retained as mentioned in subsection (1) above ... are— then if any container in which the goods are held is without the authority of the proper officer opened, or any mark, letter or device on any such container or on any lot of the goods is without that authority cancelled, obliterated or altered, every person concerned in the opening, cancellation, obliteration or alteration shall be guilty of an offence under this section.
goods in an excise warehouse or goods which have been declared for a storage procedure;
transit goods;
other goods chargeable with a duty which has not been paid or goods which have been declared for an authorised use procedure or temporary admission procedure; or
drawback goods,
Any goods in respect of which an offence under this section is committed shall be liable to forfeiture and any person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of three times the value of the goods or level 3 on the standard scale, whichever is the greater.
If any goods are— and the exportation or shipment is or would be contrary to any prohibition or restriction for the time being in force with respect to those goods under or by virtue of any enactment, the goods shall be liable to forfeiture and the exporter or intending exporter of the goods and any agent of his concerned in the exportation or shipment or intended exportation or shipment shall each be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of three times the value of the goods or level 3 on the standard scale, whichever is the greater.
exported or shipped as stores; or
brought to any place in the United Kingdom for the purpose of being exported or shipped as stores,
Any person knowingly concerned in the exportation or shipment as stores, or in the attempted exportation or shipment as stores, of any goods with intent to evade any such prohibition or restriction as is mentioned in subsection (1) above shall be guilty of an offence under this subsection and may be detained.
Subject to subsection (4) or (4A) below, a person guilty of an offence under subsection (2) above shall be liable—
on summary conviction, to a penalty of the prescribed sum £20,000 or of three times the value of the goods, whichever is the greater, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to both; or
on conviction on indictment, to a penalty of any amount, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years, or to both.
In the case of an offence under subsection (2) above in connection with a prohibition or restriction on exportation having effect by virtue of section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, subsection (3) above shall have effect subject to the modifications specified in Schedule 1 to this Act.
If by virtue of any such restriction as is mentioned in subsection (1) above any goods may be exported only when consigned to a particular place or person and any goods so consigned are delivered to some other place or person, the vehicle in which they were exported shall be liable to forfeiture unless it is proved to the satisfaction of the Commissioners that both the owner of the vehicle and the vehicle operator—
took all reasonable steps to secure that the goods were delivered to the particular place to which or person to whom they were consigned; and
did not connive at or, except under duress, consent to the delivery of the goods to that other place or person.
In the case of— subsection (3)(b) above shall have effect as if for the words “imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years” there were substituted the words “ imprisonment for life ” .
an offence under subsection (2) ... above committed in Great Britain in connection with a prohibition or restriction on the exportation of any weapon or ammunition that is of a kind mentioned in section 5(1)(a), (ab), (aba), (ac), (ad), (ae), (af), (ag), (ba) or (c) or (1A)(a) of the Firearms Act 1968, or
any such offence committed in Northern Ireland in connection with a prohibition or restriction on the exportation of any weapon or ammunition that is of a kind mentioned in Article 6(1)(a), (ab), (ac), (ad), (ae) or (c) or (1A)(a) Article 45(1)(a), , (aa) (b), (c), (d), (e), (ea), (fa) or (g) or (2)(a) of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004, ...
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In any case where a person would, apart from this subsection, be guilty of— he shall not be guilty of the offence mentioned in paragraph (a) of this subsection.
an offence under subsection (1) or (2) above; and
a corresponding offence under the enactment or instrument imposing the prohibition or restriction in question, being an offence for which a fine or other penalty is expressly provided by that enactment or other instrument,
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Without prejudice to section 11(1) of the Finance Act 1982, if any person is, in relation to any goods, in any way knowingly concerned in any fraudulent evasion or attempt at evasion of any agricultural levy chargeable on the export of the goods, he shall be guilty of an offence and may be detained.
A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—
on summary conviction, to a penalty of the prescribed sum £20,000 or of three times the value of the goods, whichever is the greater, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to both; or
on conviction on indictment, to a penalty of any amount, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years, or to both.
Any goods in respect of which an offence under this section is committed shall be liable to forfeiture.
In this section “agricultural levy” has the same meaning as in section 6 of the European Communities Act 1972 and the provisions of this section apply notwithstanding that any such levy may be payable to the Secretary of State, the Scottish Ministers, the National Assembly for Wales or (in relation to Northern Ireland) the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, as the case may be.
If goods of any class or description chargeable with agricultural levies on their exportation from the United Kingdom are found in the possession or control of any person within the prescribed area in Northern Ireland, any officer or any person having by law in Northern Ireland the powers of an officer may require that person to furnish proof either—
that the goods are not intended for such exportation; or
that the goods are intended for such exportation and any entry required to be made or security required to be given in connection with that exportation has been or will be made or given.
If proof of any matter is required to be furnished in relation to any goods under subsection (1) above but is not so furnished, the goods shall be liable to forfeiture.
In subsection (1) above “agricultural levy” has the same meaning as in section 6 of the European Communities Act 1972.
Subject to section 70 below, any ship for the time being engaged in the trade of carrying goods coastwise between places in the United Kingdom shall for the purposes of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 be a coasting ship.
In this Part “coasting ship” means any ship for the time being engaged in the trade of carrying goods coastwise—
between places in the United Kingdom, or
between a place in the United Kingdom and a place in the Isle of Man.
Subject to that section, no goods not yet entered on exportation shall be carried in a ship engaged in the trad of carrying goods coastwise.
The Commissioners may from time to time give directions as to what trade by water— is, or is not, to be deemed to be carrying goods coastwise.
between places in the United Kingdom, or
between a place in the United Kingdom and a place in the Isle of Man,
The Commissioners may from time to time give directions as to what trade by water between places in the United Kingdom is or is not to be deemed to the carrying goods coastwise.
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The Commissioners may, subject to such conditions and restrictions as they see fit to impose, permit a ship to carry trade goods coastwise notwithstanding that the ship is carrying goods brought therein from some place outside the United Kingdom and not yet entered on importation; but a ship so permitted to carry goods coastwise shall not for the purposes of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 be a coasting ship.
The Commissioners may, subject to such conditions and restrictions as they see fit to impose, permit goods brought by an importing ship to some place in the United Kingdom but consigned to and intended to be delivered at some other such place to be transhipped before due entry of the goods has been made to another ship for carriage coastwise to that other place.
Where any ship has begun to load goods at any place in the United Kingdom for exportation or as stores for use on a voyage to an eventual destination outside the United Kingdom and is to go to any other such place to complete loading, the Commissioners may, subject to such conditions as they see fit to impose, permit that ship to carry other goods coastwise until she has completed her loading.
If, where any goods are permitted to be carried coastwise in any ship under this section, the goods are loaded, unloaded, carried or otherwise dealt with contrary to any condition or restriction imposed by the Commissioners, the goods shall be liable to forfeiture and the master of the ship shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of £50.
Subject to the provisions of this section and save as permitted by the Commissioners, before any coasting ship departs from any port the master thereof shall deliver to the proper officer an account in such form and manner and containing such particulars as the Commissioners may direct; and that account when signed by the proper officer shall be the transire, that is to say, the clearance of the ship from that port and the pass for any goods to which the account relates.
The Commissioners may, subject to such conditions as they see fit to impose, grant a general transire in respect of any coasting ship and any goods carried therein.
Any such general transire may be revoked by the proper officer by notice in writing delivered to the master or the owner of the ship or to any member of the crew on board the ship.
If a coasting ship departs from any port without a correct account having been delivered, except as permitted by the Commissioners or under and in compliance with any conditions imposed on the grant of a general transire, the master shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 2 on the standard scale.
The proper officer may examine any goods carried or to be carried in a coasting ship—
at any time while they are on board the ship; or
at any place in the United Kingdom to which the goods have been brought for shipment in, or at which they have been unloaded from, the ship.
For the purpose of examining any goods in pursuance of subsection (1) above, the proper officer may require any container to be opened or unpacked; and any such opening or unpacking and any repacking shall be done by or at the expense of the proprietor of the goods.
The proper officer— and if the master of the ship fails to produce or bring any such document to the proper officer when required, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 2 on the standard scale.
may board and search a coasting ship at any time during its voyage;
may at any time require any document which should properly be on board a coasting ship to be produced or brought to him for examination;
The Commissioners may make regulations as to the carriage of goods coastwise—
regulating the loading and unloading and the making waterborne for loading of the goods;
requiring the keeping and production by the master of a coasting ship of such record of the cargo carried in that ship as may be prescribed by the regulations.
If any person contravenes or fails to comply with any regulation made under this section, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale and any goods in respect of which the offence was committed shall be liable to forfeiture.
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any goods are taken on board or removed therefrom at sea or at any place outside the United Kingdom , or
except for some unavoidable cause the ship touched at any place outside the United Kingdom or deviates from her voyage ; or
at any place outside the United Kingdom and the master does not report that fact in writing to the proper officer at the first port at which the ship arrives thereafter,
Any goods which are shipped and carried coastwise, or which, having been carried coastwise, are unloaded in any place in the United Kingdom, otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of section 71 above or of any regulations made under section 73 above, or which are brought to any place for the purpose of being so shipped and carried coastwise, shall be liable to forfeiture.
If any goods— then those goods shall be liable to forfeiture and the shipper or intending shipper of the goods shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale.
are carried coastwise or shipped as stores in a coasting ship contrary to any prohibition or restriction for the time being in force with respect thereto under or by virtue of any enactment; or
are brought to any place in the United Kingdom for the purpose of being so carried or shipped,
In any case where a person would, apart from this subsection, be guilty of— he shall not be guilty of the offence mentioned in paragraph (a) of this subsection.
an offence under subsection (3) above; and
a corresponding offence under the enactment or other instrument imposing the prohibition or restriction in question, being an offence for which a fine or other penalty is expressly provided by that enactment or other instrument,
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No goods which are explosives within the meaning of the Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005 the Explosives Regulations 2014 shall be loaded into any ship or aircraft for exportation, exported by land or shipped for carriage coastwise as cargo, until due entry has been made of the goods in such form and manner and containing such particulars as the Commissioners may direct.
Without prejudice to sections 53 and 60 above, any goods required to be entered under this section which are loaded, exported or shipped as mentioned in subsection (1) above without being entered under this section shall be liable to forfeiture, and the exporter or, as the case may be, shipper shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale.
Without prejudice to any other requirement of this Act as to the entry or clearance of goods, the Commissioners may, where they are satisfied that it is expedient in the public interest, by order made by statutory instrument require with respect to any goods entry and clearance of the goods in such manner as the Commissioners may direct before their exportation or shipment for exportation, for carriage coastwise or as stores.
Without prejudice to sections 53 and 60 above, if any person required by virtue of an order made under this section to make entry or obtain clearance of any goods, ships or exports, or attempts to ship or export, those goods without such entry or clearance or otherwise contrary to the order, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of £100.
An officer may require any person— to furnish in such form as the officer may require any information relating to the goods and to produce and allow the officer to inspect and take extracts from or make copies of any invoice, bill of lading or other book or document whatsoever relating to the goods.
concerned with the shipment for carriage coastwise of goods of which for that purpose a declaration is required as a result of Part 1 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018; or
concerned in the carriage, unloading, landing or loading of goods which are being or have been imported or exported,
If any person without reasonable cause fails to comply with a requirement imposed on him under subsection (1) above he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale.
Where any prohibition or restriction to which this subsection applies, that is to say, any prohibition or restriction under or by virtue of any enactment with respect to— is for the time being in force, then, if any person about to ship for exportation or to export any goods or, as the case may be, any goods of that class or description, in the course of making a declaration in respect of the goods before shipment or exportation makes a statement as to the ultimate destination thereof, and the Commissioners have reason to suspect that the statement is untrue in any material particular, the goods may be detained until the Commissioners are satisfied as to the truth of the statement, and if they are not so satisfied the goods shall be liable to forfeiture.
the exportation of goods to any particular destination; or
the exportation of goods of any particular class or description to any particular destination,
Any person concerned in the exportation of any goods which are subject to any prohibition or restriction to which subsection (3) above applies shall, if so required by the Commissioners, satisfy the Commissioners that those goods have not reached any destination other than that mentioned in the declaration made in respect of the goods.
If any person required under subsection (4) above to satisfy the Commissioners as mentioned in that subsection fails to do so, then, unless he proves— he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of three times the value of the goods or level 3 on the standard scale, whichever is the greater.
that he did not consent to or connive at the goods reaching any destination other than that mentioned in the declaration made in respect of the goods; and
that he took all reasonable steps to secure that the ultimate destination of the goods was not other than that so mentioned,
Any person entering the United Kingdom shall, at such place and in such manner as the Commissioners may direct, declare any thing contained in his baggage or carried with him which— and in respect of which he is not entitled to exemption from duty and tax by virtue of provision made by regulations under section 19 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 relating to any relief conferred on persons entering the United Kingdom or any order under section 13 of the Customs and Excise Duties (General Reliefs) Act 1979 (personal reliefs). In this subsection “taxable goods” means goods on the importation of which value added tax is chargeable or goods obtained in the United Kingdom before 1st April 1973 which are chargeable goods within the meaning of the Purchase Tax Act 1963; and “tax” means value added tax or purchase tax.
he has obtained outside the United Kingdom; or
being dutiable goods or taxable goods, he has obtained in the United Kingdom without payment of duty or tax,
Any person entering or leaving the United Kingdom shall answer such questions as the proper officer may put to him with respect to his baggage and any thing contained therein or carried with him, and shall, if required by the proper officer, produce that baggage and any such thing for examination at such place as the Commissioners may direct.
Subsection (1) above does not apply to a person entering the United Kingdom from the Isle of Man as respects anything obtained by him in the Island unless it is chargeable there with duty or value added tax and he has obtained it without payment of the duty or tax.
Any person failing to declare any thing or to produce any baggage or thing as required by this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of three times the value of the thing not declared or of the baggage or thing not produced, as the case may be, or level 3 on the standard scale, whichever is the greater.
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Any thing chargeable with any duty or tax which is found concealed, or is not declared, and any thing which is being taken into or out of the United Kingdom contrary to any prohibition or restriction for the time being in force with respect thereto under or by virtue of any enactment, shall be liable to forfeiture.
Subject to subsection (1A) above, where the journey of a person arriving by air in the United Kingdom is continued or resumed by air to a destination in the United Kingdom which is not the place where he is regarded for the purposes of this section as entering the United Kingdom, subsections (1) and (2) above shall apply in relation to that person on his arrival at that destination as they apply in relation to a person entering the United Kingdom.
Every person who is concerned (in whatever capacity) in the importation or exportation of goods for which for that purpose an entry is required by regulation 5 of the Customs Controls on Importation of Goods Regulations 1991 or an entry or specification is required by or under this Act shall—
furnish to the Commissioners, within such time and in such form as they may reasonably require, such information relating to the goods or to the importation or exportation as the Commissioners may reasonably specify; and
if so required by an officer, produce or cause to be produced for inspection by the officer— any documents relating to the goods or to the importation or exportation.
at the principal place of business of the person upon whom the demand is made or at such other place as the officer may reasonably require, and
at such time as the officer may reasonably require,
Where, by virtue of subsection (1) above, an officer has power to require the production of any documents from any such person as is referred to in that subsection, he shall have the like power to require production of the documents concerned from any other person who appears to the officer 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.
An officer may take copies of, or make extracts from, any document produced under subsection (1) or subsection (2) above.
If it appears to him to be necessary to do so, an officer may, at a reasonable time and for a reasonable period, remove any document produced under subsection (1) or subsection (2) above and shall, on request, provide a receipt for any document so removed; and where a lien is claimed on a document produced under subsection (2) above, the removal of the document under this subsection shall not be regarded as breaking the lien.
Where a document removed by an officer under subsection (4) above is reasonably required for the proper conduct of a business, the officer 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.
Where any documents removed under the powers conferred by this section 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.
If any person fails to comply with a requirement under this section, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale.
The Commissioners may, if they consider it necessary, require evidence to be produced to their satisfaction in support of any information required by or under Parts III to VII of this Act to be provided in respect of goods imported or exported.
Without prejudice to subsection (1) above, where any question as to the duties chargeable on any imported goods, or the operation of any prohibition or restriction on importation, depends on any question as to the place from which the goods were consigned, or any question where they or other goods are to be treated as grown, manufactured or produced, or any question as to payments made or relief from duty allowed in any country or territory, then—
the Commissioners may require the importer of the goods to furnish to them, in such form as they may prescribe, proof of— and if such proof is not furnished to their satisfaction, the question may be determined without regard to that statement or to that certificate or document; and
any statement made to them as to any fact necessary to determine that question, or
the accuracy of any certificate or other document furnished in connection with the importation of the goods and relating to the matter in issue,
if in any proceedings relating to the goods or to the duty chargeable thereon the accuracy of any such certificate or document comes in question, it shall be for the person relying on it to furnish proof of its accuracy.
Every person who is concerned (in whatever capacity) in the importation or exportation of weapons or firearms within the meaning of the Directive mentioned in section 75B(1) above shall—
furnish to the Commissioners, within such time and in such form as they may reasonably require, such information relating to such goods or to the importation or exportation as the Commissioners may specify for the purposes of that Directive; and
if so required by an officer for such purposes, produce or cause to be produced for inspection by the officer—
at the principal place of business of the person upon whom the demand is made or at such other place as the officer may reasonably require, and
at such time as the officer may reasonably require, any documents relating to such goods or to the importation or exportation.
Subsections (2) to (7) of section 77A above shall apply in relation to any requirement under this section as they apply in relation to any requirement under that section.
Where on the exportation of any goods from the United Kingdom there has been furnished for the purpose of any requirement by or under any enactment any certificate or other evidence as to the origin of those goods, or as to payments made or relief from duty allowed in any country or territory, then, for the purpose of verifying or investigating that certificate or evidence, the Commissioners or an officer may require the exporter, or any other person appearing to the Commissioners or officer to have been concerned in any way with the goods, or with any goods from which, directly or indirectly, they have been produced or manufactured, or to have been concerned with the obtaining or furnishing of the certificate or evidence,—
to furnish such information, in such form and within such time, as the Commissioners or officer may specify in the requirement; or
to produce for inspection, and to allow the taking of copies or extracts from, such invoices, bills of lading, books or documents as may be so specified.
Any person who, without reasonable cause, fails to comply with a requirement imposed on him under subsection (1) above shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale.
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Every person who is concerned (in whatever capacity) in the importation or exportation of weapons or firearms within the meaning of Council Directive 91/477/EEC (control of acquisition and possession of such goods) shall keep such records as the Commissioners may require for the purposes of that Directive.
Subsections (2) to (6) of section 75A above shall apply in relation to any requirement under this section and to the records kept in pursuance of this section as they apply in relation to any requirement under that section and to the records kept in pursuance of that section.
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In this section “small ships” means—
ships not exceeding 100 tons register; and
hovercraft, of whatever size.
The Commissioners may make general regulations with respect to small ships and any such regulations may in particular make provision as to the purposes for which and the limits within which such ships may be used.
Different provision may be made by regulations under this section for different classes or descriptions of small ships.
The Commissioners may, in respect of any small ship, grant a licence exempting that ship from all or any of the provisions of any regulations made under this section.
Any such licence may be granted for such period, for such purposes and subject to such conditions and restrictions as the Commissioners see fit, and may be revoked at any time by the Commissioners.
Any small ship which, except under and in accordance with the terms of a licence granted under this section, is used contrary to any regulation made under this section, and any ship granted such a licence which is found not to have that licence on board, shall be liable to forfeiture.
Every boat belonging to a British ship and every other vessel not exceeding 100 tons register, not being a fishing vessel registered under Part II of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 and every hovercraft, shall be marked in such manner as the Commissioners may direct, and any such boat, vessel or hovercraft which is not so marked shall be liable to forfeiture.
The person in command or charge of any vessel in the service of Her Majesty which is engaged in the prevention of smuggling—
may haul up and leave that vessel on any part of the coast or of the shore or bank of any river or creek; and
may moor that vessel at any place below high water mark on any part of the coast or of any such shore or bank.
Any officer and any person acting in aid of an officer or otherwise duly engaged in the prevention of smuggling may for that purpose patrol upon and pass freely along and over any part of the coast or of the shore or bank of any river or creek, over any railway or railway customs area or aerodrome or land adjoining any aerodrome, and over any land in Northern Ireland within the prescribed area.
Nothing in this section shall authorise the use of or entry into any garden or pleasure ground.
Where, in pursuance of any power conferred by the customs and excise Acts or of any requirement imposed by or under those Acts, a seal, lock or mark is used to secure or identify any goods for any of the purposes of those Acts and— that person and the person then in charge of the goods shall each be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 4 on the standard scale.
at any time while the goods are in the United Kingdom or within the limits of any port or on passage between ports in the United Kingdom or between a port in the United Kingdom and a port in the Isle of Man, the seal, lock or mark is wilfully and prematurely removed or tampered with by any person; or
at any time before the seal, lock or mark is lawfully removed, any of the goods are wilfully removed by any person,
For the purposes of subsection (1) above, goods in a ship or aircraft shall be deemed to be in the charge of the master of the ship or commander of the aircraft.
Where, in pursuance of any Community requirement or practice which relates to the movement of goods between countries or of any international agreement to which the United Kingdom is a party and which so relates,— that person and the person then in charge of the goods shall each be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 4 on the standard scale.
a seal, lock or mark is used (whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere) to secure or identify any goods for customs or excise purposes; and
at any time while the goods are in the United Kingdom, the seal, lock or mark is wilfully and premately removed or tampered with by any person,
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In this section references to a " prohibited signal " or a " prohibited message " are references to a signal or message connected with the smuggling or intended smuggling of goods into or out of the United Kingdom.
Any person who by any means makes any prohibited signal or transmits any prohibited message from any part of the United Kingdom or from any ship or aircraft for the information of a person in any ship or aircraft or across the boundary shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of £100, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to both, and may be detained ; and any equipment or apparatus used for sending the signal or message shall be liable to forfeiture.
Subsection (2) above applies whether or not the person for whom the signal or message is intended is in a position to receive it or is actually engaged at the time in smuggling goods.
If, in any proceedings under subsection (2) above, any question arises as to whether any signal or message was a prohibited signal or message, the burden of proof shall lie upon the defendant or claimant.
If any officer or constable or any member of Her Majesty's armed forces or coastguard has reasonable grounds for suspecting that any prohibited signal or message is "being or is about to be made or transmitted from any ship, aircraft, vehicle, house or place, he may board or enter that ship, aircraft, vehicle, house or place and take such steps as are reasonably necessary to stop or prevent the sending of the signal or message.
Any person who save for just and sufficient cause interferes in any way with any ... vehicle, buoy, anchor, chain, rope or mark which is being used for the purposes of any functions of the Commissioners under Parts III to VII of this Act shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 1 on the standard scale.
Any person who fires upon any vehicle in the service of Her Majesty while that vessel, aircraft or vehicle is engaged in the prevention of smuggling shall be liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years.
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contrary to or for the purpose of contravening any prohibition or restriction for the time being in force under or by virtue of any enactment with respect to the importation or exportation thereof; or
without payment having been made of or security given for any duty payable thereon,
If any person offers any goods for sale as having been imported without payment of duty, or as having been otherwise unlawfully imported, then, whether or not the goods were so imported or were in fact chargeable with duty, the goods shall be liable to forfeiture and the person so offering them for sale shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of three times the value of the goods or level 3 on the standard scale, whichever is the greater, and may be detained.
Where— while constructed, adapted, altered or fitted in any manner for the purpose of concealing goods, that ship, aircraft or other vehicle shall be liable to forfeiture.
a ship is or has been in United Kingdom waters; or
an aircraft is or has been at any place, whether on land or on water, in the United Kingdom; or
any other vehicle is or has been within the limits of any port, railway customs area or aerodrome or, while in Northern Ireland, within the prescribed area,
If any part of the cargo of a ship is thrown overboard or is staved or destroyed to prevent seizure— the ship shall be liable to forfeiture.
while the ship is in United Kingdom waters; or
where the ship, having been properly summoned to bring to by any vessel in the service of Her Majesty, fails so to do and chase is given, at any time during the chase,
For the purposes of this section a ship shall be deemed to have been properly summoned to bring to—
if the vessel making the summons did so by means of an international signal code or other recognised means and while flying her proper ensign; and
in the case of a ship which is not a British ship, if at the time when the summons was made the ship was in United Kingdom waters.
Where a ship has been within the limits of any port in the United Kingdom or the Isle of Man, a railway vehicle has been within the limits of a railway customs area or an aircraft has been in the United Kingdom or the Isle of Man, with a cargo on board and a substantial part of that cargo is afterwards found in the United Kingdom to be missing, then, if the vehicle operator fails to account therefor to the satisfaction of the Commissioners, the ship, railway vehicle or aircraft shall be liable to forfeiture.
If, save for just and sufficient cause, any ship which is liable to forfeiture or examination under or by virtue of any provision of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 does not bring to when required to do so, the master of the ship shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 2 on the standard scale.
Where any ship liable to forfeiture or examination as aforesaid has failed to bring to when required to do so and chase has been given thereto by any vessel in the service of Her Majesty and, after the commander of that vessel has hoisted the proper ensign and caused a gun to be fired as a signal, the ship still fails to bring to, the ship may be fired upon.
The Commissioners may approve, for such periods and subject to such conditions as they think fit, places of security for the deposit, keeping and securing— subject to and in accordance with warehousing regulations; and any place of security so approved is referred to in this Act as an “excise warehouse”.
of imported goods chargeable as such with excise duty (whether or not also chargeable with customs duty) without payment of the excise duty;
of goods for exportation or for use as stores, being goods not eligible for home use;
of goods manufactured or produced in the United Kingdom or the Isle of Man and permitted by or under the customs and excise Acts to be warehoused without payment of any duty of excise chargeable thereon;
of goods imported into or manufactured or produced in the United Kingdom or the Isle of Man and permitted by or under the customs and excise Acts to be warehoused on drawback,
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of imported goods chargeable with customs duty or otherwise not for the time being in free circulation in member States (whether or not also chargeable with excise duty) without payment of the customs duty;
of such other goods as the Commissioners may allow to be warehoused for exportation or for use as stores in cases where relief from or repayment of any customs duty or other payment is conditional on their exportation or use as stores,
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goods originating in member States ;
goods which are in free circulation in member States ; and
goods placed on importation under a customs procedure (other than warehousing) involving the suspension of, or the giving of relief from, customs duties,
The Commissioners may from time to time give directions—
as to the goods which may or may not be deposited in any particular warehouse or class of warehouse;
as to the part of any warehouse in which any class or description of goods may be kept or secured.
If, after the approval of a warehouse as an excise warehouse, the occupier thereof makes without the previous consent of the Commissioners any alteration therein or addition thereto, the making of the alteration or addition shall attract a penalty under section 9 of the Finance Act 1994 (civil penalties)..
The Commissioners may at any time for reasonable cause revoke or vary the terms of their approval of any warehouse under this section.
Where any person contravenes or fails to comply with any condition imposed or direction given by the Commissioners under this section, his contravention or failure to comply shall attract a penalty under section 9 of the Finance Act 1994 (civil penalties).
The Commissioners may by regulations under this section (referred to in this Act as “warehousing regulations”)—
prohibit the deposit or keeping of goods in a warehouse except where the occupier of the warehouse has been approved by the Commissioners in accordance with the regulations and where such conditions as may be prescribed in relation to that occupier are satisfied;
otherwise regulate the deposit, keeping, securing and treatment of goods in a warehouse;
make provision with respect to goods which are required to be deposited in a warehouse;
regulate the removal of goods from a warehouse and make provision with respect to goods which have lawfully been permitted to be removed from a warehouse without payment of duty; and
make provision, in relation to goods which have been warehoused or are required to be deposited in a warehouse with respect to the keeping, preservation and production of records and the furnishing of information.
In their application to warehouses, this section and sections 94, 95, 97 and 98 apply only to excise warehouses.
Warehousing regulations may, without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) above, include provisions— and may contain such incidental or supplementary provisions as the Commissioners think necessary or expedient for the protection of the revenue. In this subsection “relevant business or activity” means, in relation to an occupier or proprietor, any business or activity of his which includes occupation of a warehouse or (as the case may be) proprietorship of goods in a warehouse or goods which have been in or are required to be deposited in a warehouse, where the goods are of a kind in which the proprietor trades or deals.
imposing or providing for the imposition under the regulations of conditions and restrictions subject to which goods may be deposited in secured in, kept in or removed from warehouse or made available there to their owner for any prescribed purpose;
requiring goods deposited in warehouse to be produced to or made available for inspection by an officer on request by him;
permitting the carrying out on warehoused goods of such operations as may be prescribed by or allowed under the regulations in such manner and subject to such conditions and restrictions as may be imposed by or under the regulations;
for determining, for the purpose of charging or securing the payment of duty, the duties of customs or excise and the rates thereof to be applied to warehoused goods (other than goods falling within section 92(2)(b) above) and in that connection—
for determing the time by reference to which warehoused goods are to be classified;
for determining the time at which warehoused goods are to be treated as having been removed from warehouse;
for ascertaining the quantity which is to be taken as the quantity of warehoused goods;
enabling the Commissioners to allow goods to be removed from warehouse without payment of duty in such circumstances and subject to such conditions as they may determine;
providing for all or any prescribed purposes of the customs and excise Acts—
for goods to be treated as warehoused where in a prescribed case they are in the custody or under the control of an approved occupier of a warehouse; and
for goods to be treated, at such times before the excise duty point for those goods as may be prescribed or as may be determined under the regulations, as goods which are required to be deposited in a warehouse;
permitting goods to be destroyed or abandoned to the Commissioners without payment of customs duty in such circumstances and subject to such conditions as they may determine.
providing for the revocation of the approval under regulations of any occupier of a warehouse and applying, with modifications, any of the provisions of section 98 below in relation to such a revocation or to cases where such an approval is not renewed;
providing that goods which are required to be deposited in a warehouse, or which have been lawfully permitted to be removed from a warehouse without payment of duty, are to be treated as if, for all or any prescribed purposes of the customs and excise Acts, they were warehoused;
requiring goods which are required to be deposited in a warehouse or which have lawfully been permitted to be removed from a warehouse without payment of duty to be accompanied by such documents in such form and containing such particulars as may be prescribed;
imposing or providing for the imposition under the regulations of requirements on persons concerned in any prescribed respect with the carriage of such goods to keep and preserve the documents that are required to accompany the goods;
imposing or providing for the imposition under the regulations of requirements on a person so concerned to produce or cause to be produced any documents which are required to accompany any goods by virtue of paragraph (fa) above to an officer when required to do so for the purpose of allowing the officer to inspect them, to copy or take extracts from them or to remove them at a reasonable time and for a reasonable period;
imposing or providing for the imposition under the regulations of requirements on the occupier of a warehouse or the proprietor of goods in a warehouse or goods which have been in or are required to be deposited in a warehouse to keep and preserve such records as may be prescribed relating to his occupation of the warehouse or proprietorship of the goods;
imposing or providing for the imposition under the regulations of requirements on such an occupier or proprietor to preserve all other records kept by him for the purposes of any relevant business or activity, except any records which (or records of a class which) the Commissioners specify as not needing preservation;
imposing or providing for the imposition under the regulations of requirements on such an occupier or proprietor to produce or cause to be produced any records which he has been required to preserve by virtue of paragraph (g) or (h) above to an officer when required to do so for the purpose of allowing the officer to inspect them, to copy or take extracts from them or to remove them at a reasonable time and for a reasonable period;
imposing or providing for the imposition under the regulations of requirements on such an occupier or proprietor to furnish the Commissioners with any information relating to any relevant business or activity which they specify as information which they think it is necessary or expedient for them to be given for the protection of the revenue;
allowing a requirement to preserve any records which has been imposed by virtue of paragraph (h) above to be discharged by the preservation in a form approved by the Commissioners of the information contained in the records.
Warehousing regulations may make different provision for different cases, including different provision for different occupiers or descriptions of occupier, for warehouses or parts of warehouses of different descriptions or for goods of different classes or descriptions or of the same class or description in different circumstances.
Warehousing regulations may make provision about the removal of goods from one warehouse to another or from one part of a warehouse to another part or for treating goods remaining in a warehouse as if, for all or any prescribed purposes of the customs and excise Acts, they had been so removed; and regulations about the removal of goods may, for all or any prescribed purposes of those Acts, include provision for treating the goods as having been warehoused or removed from warehouse (where they would not otherwise be so treated).
Where any documents or records removed under the powers conferred by subsection (2)(fc) or (j)above 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 or records.
Warehousing regulations made by virtue of paragraph (a) or (c) of subsection (2) above may also provide for the forfeiture of goods in the event of non-compliance with any condition or restriction imposed by virtue of that paragraph or in the event of the carrying out of any operation on warehoused goods which is not by virtue of the said paragraph (c) permitted to be carried out in warehouse.
If any person fails to comply with any warehousing regulation or with any condition restriction or requirement imposed under a warehousing regulation his failure to comply shall attract a penalty under section 9 of the Finance Act 1994 (civil penalties)..
In this section—
“prescribed” means prescribed by warehousing regulations;
references to goods which are required to be deposited in a warehouse are references to goods which have been entered for warehousing on importation, which have been removed from a producer’s premises for warehousing without payment of duty which are to be warehoused on drawback or which are otherwise to be treated by virtue of subsection (2)(da)(ii) above as goods which are required to be deposited in a warehouse.
Warehousing regulations made by virtue of any of paragraphs (fa) to (fc) or (g) to (j) of subsection (2) above may also provide for the forfeiture of the goods in question in the event of any contravention of, or non-compliance with, any requirements imposed by or under the regulations with respect to any documents or records relating to prescribed goods.
. . . , this section applies where goods have been warehoused and, before they are lawfully removed from warehouse in accordance with a proper clearance thereof, they are found to be missing or deficient.
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In any case where this section applies, unless it is shown to the satisfaction of the Commissioners that the absence of or deficiency in the goods can be accounted for by natural waste or other legitimate cause, the Commissioners may .
require the occupier of the warehouse or the proprietor of the goods to pay immediately any duty, other than excise duty, chargeable or deemed under warehousing regulations to be chargeable on the relevant goods or, in the case of goods warehoused on drawback which could not lawfully be entered for home use, an amount equal to any drawback or allowance of such duty paid in respect of the relevant goods;
assess, as being excise duty due from the occupier of the warehouse or the proprietor of the goods, the excise duty chargeable or deemed under warehousing regulations to be chargeable on the relevant goods or, in the case of goods warehoused on drawback which could not lawfully be entered for home use, an amount equal to any drawback or allowance of excise duty paid in respect of the relevant goods.
If, on the written demand of an officer, the occupier of the warehouse or the proprietor of the goods refuses to pay any sum which he is required to pay under subsection (3)(a) above he shall in addition be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of double that sum.
Where the Commissioners make an assessment under subsection (3)(b) above they shall notify the person assessed or his representative accordingly.
This section has effect without prejudice to any penalty or forfeiture incurred under any other provision of the customs and excise Acts.
If— he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of double that amount.
the occupier of the warehouse or the proprietor of the goods refuses to pay any amount of excise duty to which he has been assessed under subsection (3)(b) above, and
the conditions set out in subsection (4B) below are fulfilled,
The conditions are that—
the period of 30 days for accepting an offer of review under section 15C of the Finance Act 1994 or for appealing against the decision under section 16 of that Act has expired;
on any review under Chapter II of Part I of that Act the Commissioners’ decision (“the original decision”) in relation to the assessment has been confirmed (or treated as confirmed by virtue of section 15F(8) of that Act), or confirmed subject only to a reduction in the amount of duty due under the assessment; and
the final result of any appeal under section 16 of that Act, or of any further appeal, is that the original decision has been confirmed, subject only to any reduction in the amount of duty due under the assessment; and “final result” means the result of the last of any such appeals, against which no appeal may be made (whether because of expiry of time or for any other reason).
Where the amount of excise duty due under subsection (3)(b) above is reduced in consequence of a review or appeal, the penalty to which the person assessed is liable under subsection (4A) above shall be a penalty of double the reduced amount.
In this section “the relevant goods” means the missing goods or the whole or any part of the deficiency, as the Commissioners see fit.
The preceding provisions of this section so far as they have effect for- shall have effect subject to the provisions of any regulations under section 1 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 1992; and accordingly, the power to make regulations under that section shall include power, for the purposes of, or in connection with, the making of any provision falling within paragraph (a) or (b) above, to modify any of the preceding provisions of this section and the provisions of section 95 below.
fixing the excise duty point for any goods chargeable with a duty of excise; or
determining the person on whom any liability to pay any such duty is to fall,
Where any goods have been lawfully permitted to be taken from a warehouse without payment of duty for removal to another warehouse or to some other place, section 94 above shall, subject to subsection (2) below and to any such regulations as are mentioned in subsection (6) of that section, have effect in relation to those goods in the course of that removal as if those goods were still in warehouse.
In its application in relation to any goods by virtue of subsection (1) , (1A) or (1B) above, section 94 above shall have effect as if the following provisions were omitted, namely—
the references in subsections (3) , (4) and (4A) to the occupier of the warehouse.
Subsection (1) applies in relation to goods that are alcoholic products as if references, in that subsection and in section 94, to a “warehouse” included references to premises in respect of which a person is authorised, under section 82 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 2023, to hold alcoholic products without payment of duty (and references to “warehoused” are to be construed accordingly).
Subsection (1) applies (as modified by subsection (1A)) in relation to alcoholic products on which alcohol duty has been remitted as it applies to alcoholic products lawfully permitted to be taken from premises as mentioned in that subsection.
This section applies where goods of any of the following descriptions, that is to say— are moved by pipe-line, or notified to the proper officer as being goods to be moved by pipe-line, and are at any time thereafter found to be missing or deficient.
goods which are chargeable with a duty which has not been paid;
goods on which duty has been repaid or remitted in whole or in part; and
goods on which drawback has been paid,
In any case where this section applies, unless it is shown to the satisfaction of the Commissioners that the absence of or deficiency in the goods can be accounted for by natural waste or other legitimate cause, the Commissioners may .
require the owner of the pipe-line or the proprietor of the goods to pay immediately any duty, other than excise duty, unpaid or repaid on the relevant goods or, as the case may be, an amount equal to any drawback of such duty paid on the relevant goods;
assess, as being excise duty due from the owner of the pipe-line or the proprietor of the goods, the excise duty unpaid or repaid on the relevant goods or, as the case may be, an amount equal to any drawback of excise duty paid on the relevant goods.
If, on the written demand of an officer, any person refuses to pay any sum which he is required to pay under subsection (2)(a) above he shall in addition be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of double that sum.
Where the Commissioners make an assessment under subsection (2)(b) above they shall notify the person assessed or his representative accordingly.
For the purposes of this section any absence or deficiency in the case of goods moved by a pipe-line used for the importation or exportation of goods shall be deemed to have taken place within the United Kingdom unless the contrary is shown.
This section has effect without prejudice to any penalty or forfeiture incurred under any other provision of the customs and excise Acts.
If— he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of double that amount.
any person refuses to pay any amount of excise duty to which he has been assessed under subsection (2)(b) above, and
the conditions set out in paragraphs (a) to (c) of section 94(4B) above (exhaustion of opportunities for review and appeal) are fulfilled,
Where the amount of excise duty due under subsection (2)(b) above is reduced in consequence of a review or appeal, the penalty to which the person assessed is liable under subsection (3A) above shall be a penalty of double the reduced amount.
In this section “the relevant goods” means the missing goods or the whole or any part of the deficiency, as the Commissioners see fit.
The preceding provisions of this section so far as they have effect for— shall have effect subject to the provisions of any regulations under section 1 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 1992; and, accordingly, the power to make regulations under that section shall include power, for the purposes of, or in connection with, the making of any provision falling within paragraph (a) or (b) above, to modify any of the preceding provisions of this section.
fixing the excise duty point for any goods chargeable with a duty of excise; or
determining the person on whom any liability to pay any such duty is to fall,
This section applies to—
any loss or damage caused to goods while in a warehouse or pipe-line; and
any unlawful removal of goods from a warehouse or pipe-line.
Subject to subsection (3) below, no compensation shall be payable by, and no action shall lie against, the Commissioners or any officer acting in the execution of his duty for any loss or damage to which this section applies or for any unlawful removal to which this section applies.
If any goods in a warehouse or pipe-line are destoyed, stolen or unlawfully removed by or with the assistance or connivance of an officer and that officer is convicted of the offence, then, except where the proprietor of the goods or the occupier of the warehouse or, as the case may be, the owner of the pipe-line was a party to the offence, the Commissioners shall pay compensation for any loss caused by any such destruction, theft or removal.
Where compensation is payable by virtue of subsection (3) above then, notwithstanding any provision of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979, no duty shall be payable on the goods by the proprietor of the goods or by the occupier of the warehouse or, as the case may be, the owner of the pipe-line, and any sum paid by way of duty on those goods by any of those persons before the conviction shall be repaid.
Where the Commissioners intend to revoke or not to renew their approval of a warehouse, they shall, not later than the beginning of the prescribed period ending with the date when the revocation is to take effect or the approval is due to expire, as the case may be, give notice of their intention, specifying therein the said date and, unless the notice has been withdrawn or extended, the warehouse shall cease to be approved on that date.
the notice shall be given in writing and shall be deemed to have been served on all persons interested in any goods then deposited in that warehouse, or permitted under the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 to be so deposited between the date of the giving of the notice and the date specified therein, if addressed to the occupier of, and left at, the warehouse.
If after the date on which the warehouse ceases to be approved any goods not duly cleared still remain in the former warehouse—
they may be taken by an officer to a Queen’s warehouse and, without prejudice to section 99(3) below, if they are not cleared from it within one month may be sold; or
if the Commissioners so allow, they may remain in the former warehouse and if they are not cleared from it within one month may be sold.
In this section “the prescribed period” means the period of 3 months.
in the case of a warehouse which is a customs warehouse but not also an excise warehouse, such period as may be prescribed by warehousing regulations ;
in the case of a warehouse which is or is also an excise warehouse, 3 months.
Where in accordance with paragraph (b) above goods remain in the warehouse after the revocation or expiry of the Commissioners’ approval—
subsection (6) and (7) of section 99 below shall apply to them as if they were deposited in a Queen’s warehouse under the Customs and Excise Acts 1979; and
sections 93, 94, 95 and 97 above and section 100 below shall apply and any security given by bond or otherwise and any condition imposed by or under the customs and excise Acts shall continue to have effect, as if the former warehouse were still a warehouse.
The following provisions of this section shall have effect in relation to any goods which are deposited in a Queen’s warehouse under or by virtue of any provision of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 or Part 1 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018.
Such rent shall be payable while the goods are deposited as may be fixed by the Commissioners.
If the goods are of a combustible or inflammable nature or otherwise of such a character as to require special care or treatment— but, in the case of goods deposited by virtue of section 40(2) above, paragraph (c) above shall only apply if the goods are of a combustible or inflammable nature.
they shall, in addition to any other charges payable thereon, be chargeble with such expenses for securing, watching and guarding them as the Commissioners see fit;
neither the Commissioners nor any officer shall be liable to make good any damage which the goods may have sustained; and
if the proprietor of the goods has not cleared them within a period of 14 days from the date of deposit, they may be sold by the Commissioners;
Save as permitted by or under the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 or Part 1 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018, the goods shall not be removed from the warehouse until—
any duty chargeable thereon has been paid; and
any charges in respect thereof— have been paid ...; and
for their removal to the warehouse, and
under subsections (2) and (3) above,
the requirements made by or under Part 1 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 have been complied with.
The officer having the custody of the goods may refuse to allow them to be removed until it is shown to his satisfaction that any freight charges due thereon have been paid.
If the goods are sold under or by virtue of any provision of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 or Part 1 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018, the proceeds of sale shall be applied— and if the person who was immediately before the sale the proprietor of the goods makes application in that behalf the remainder, if any, shall be paid over to him.
first, in paying any duty chargeable on the goods;
secondly, in defraying any such charges as are mentioned in subsection (4) above; and
thirdly, in defraying any charges for freight;
When the goods are authorised to be sold under or by virtue of any provision of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 or Part 1 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 but cannot be sold— the Commissioners may destroy the goods.
if the goods are to be exported, for a sum sufficient to make the payment mentioned in paragraph (b) of subsection (6) above; or
in any other case, for a sum sufficient to make the payments mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b) of that subsection,
Any person who, except with the authority of the proper officer or for just and sufficient cause, opens any of the doors or locks of a warehouse or Queen’s warehouse or makes or obtains access to any such warehouse or to any goods warehoused therein shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 5 on the standard scale£20,000 and may be detained.
Where— those goods shall be liable to forfeiture.
any goods which have been declared for a storage procedure or entered for warehousing or are otherwise required to be deposited in a warehouse are taken into the warehouse without the authority of, or otherwise than in accordance with any directions given by, the proper officer; or
save as permitted by the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 or by or under warehousing regulations, any goods which have been declared for a storage procedure or entered for warehousing or are otherwise required to be deposited in a warehouse are removed without being duly warehoused or are otherwise not duly warehoused; or
any goods which have been deposited in a warehouse or Queen’s warehouse are unlawfully removed therefrom or are unlawfully loaded into any vehicle for removal or for exportation or use as stores; or
any goods are concealed at a time before they are warehoused when they have been declared for a storage procedure or entered for warehousing or are otherwise required to be deposited in a warehouse or when they are required to be in the custody or under the control of the occupier of a warehouse; or
any goods which have been lawfully permitted to be removed from a warehouse or Queen’s warehouse without payment of duty for any purpose are not duly delivered at the destination to which they should have been taken in accordance with that permission,
If any person who took, removed, loaded or concealed any goods as mentioned in subsection (2) above did so with intent to defraud Her Majesty of any duty chargeable thereon or to evade any prohibition or restriction for the time being in force with respect thereto under or by virtue of any enactment, he shall be guilty of an offence under this subsection and may be detained.
A person guilty of an offence under subsection (3) above shall be liable—
on summary conviction, to a penalty of the prescribed sum £20,000 or of three times the value of the goods, whichever is the greater, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to both; or
on conviction on indictment, to a penalty of any amount, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years, or to both.
In this section “warehouse”, except in the expression “Queen’s warehouse”, means a customs warehouse or an excise warehouse.
An excise licence shall be in such form and contain such particulars as the Commissioners may direct and, subject to the provisions of any enactment relating to the licence or trade in question, may be granted by the proper officer on payment of any appropriate duty.
An excise licence for the carrying on of a trade shall be granted in respect of one set of premises only, but a licence for the same trade may be granted to the same person in respect of each of two or more sets of premises.
Where an excise licence trade is carried on at any set of premises by two or more persons in partnership, then, subject to the provisions of any enactment relating to the licence or trade in question, not more than one licence shall be required to be held by those persons in respect of those premises at any one time.
Without prejudice to any other requirement as to the production of licences contained in the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 or made by regulations under section 45 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018, if any person who is the holder of an excise licence to carry on any trade or to manufacture or sell any goods fails to produce his licence for examination within one month after being so requested by an officer his failure shall attract a penalty under section 9 of the Finance Act 1994 (civil penalties)..
Any government department or local authority having power to grant an excise licence may, if they think fit, grant the licence upon receipt of a cheque for the amount of any dutypayable thereon.
Where a licence is granted to any person on receipt of a cheque and the cheque is subsequently dishonoured, the licence shall be void as from the time when it was granted, and the department or authority who granted it shall send to that person, by letter sent by registered post or the recorded delivery service and addressed to him at the address given by him when applying for the licence, a notice requiring him to deliver up the licence within the period of 7 days from the date when the notice was posted.
If a person who has been required under subsection (2) above to deliver up a licence fails to comply with the requirement within the period mentioned in that subsection he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of the following amount, that is to say—
where the licence is a gaming licence ..., a penalty of level 5 on the standard scale£20,000;
in any other case, a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale.
where the licence is a licence under the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994, a penalty of whichever is the greater of—
level 3 on the standard scale, or
an amount equal to five times the annual rate of duty that was payable on the grant of the licence or would have been so payable if it had been taken out for a period of twelve months.
Subject to subsection (2) below, where a person who has taken out an excise licence issuable annually in respect of any trade takes out a fresh licence in respect of that trade for the next following licence year, then, subject to the provisions of any enactment relating to the licence or trade in question, the fresh licence shall bear the date of the day immediately following that on which the previous licence expires.
Where an application for the fresh licence is made after the day on which the previous licence expires or such later day as the Commissioners may in any case allow, the licence shall bear the date of the day when the application is made.
Subject to any provision of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 or of any other enactment relating to the licence or trade in question, where the holder of an excise licence to carry on any trade dies, or where the holder of such a licence in respect of premises specified therein leaves those premises, the proper officer may transfer that licence in such manner as the Commissioners may direct, without any additional payment, to some other person for the remainder of the period for which the licence was granted.
Subject to any such provision as aforesaid, where any person who holds an excise licence in respect of any premises removes his trade to other premises on which it may be lawfully carried on, the proper officer may authorise in such manner as the Commissioners may direct the carrying on, without any additional payment other than any required to be paid by subsection (3) below, of that trade on those other premises for the remainder of the period for which the licence was granted.
Where, in a case falling within subsection (2) above, the amount of any duty payable on the grant of the licence was determined by reference to the annual value of the premises in respect of which it was granted and would have been greater if the licence had originally been granted in respect of the premises to which the trade is removed, such additional sum shall be payable as bears the same proportion to the difference as the remainder of the period for which the licence was granted bears to a year.
Notwithstanding anything in subsections (1) to (3) above, where by any other enactment relating to the licence or trade in question the authorisation of any court or other authority or the production of any certificate is required for such a transfer or removal of an excise licence trade as is mentioned in this section, no transfer or removal, of an excise licence to carry on that trade shall be granted unless it is shown to the satisfaction of the proper officer that the authorisation or certificate has been granted.
Where any imported goods are on importation warehoused without payment of duty, then, notwithstanding that they are goods for the sale of which an excise licence is required, a licence shall not be required for a sale of those goods at any time before they are delivered for home use if the sale is made to one person or to persons carrying on trade or business in partnership and—
is of not less than one complete container or lot of the goods; and
if it is a sale of wine or a sale of spirits, is of not less than 100 gallons.
Any person may sell by auction by sample in any place any goods for the sale of which an excise licence is required without holding such a licence if the proprietor of the goods holds a licence for the sale of such goods granted in respect of premises in the same locality.
The Commissioners may if they see fit authorise any person to sell by auction any goods for the sale of which an excise licence is required without holding such a licence where they are satisfied that the goods are the property of a private person and are not being sold for profit or by way of trade.
If any person holding an excise licence for the sale of any goods contravenes the terms of that licence, or sells otherwise than as he is authorised by the licence, or contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 or any other Act applicable to the licence, then, if he does not thereby commit an offence under any other enactment, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of £50.
Subject to subsection (3) below, if in the case of any goods for the sale of which an excise licence is required, any person solicits or takes any order for any such goods otherwise than under the authority of the appropriate licence for their sale granted in respect of the premises at which the order is solicited or taken, he shall be liable on summary conviction to the same penalty as a person selling those goods without that licence
Subsection (2) above shall not apply—
in relation to a sale of goods in warehouse for which excise licence is by virtue of section 105 above not required ; or
to a bona fide traveller taking orders for goods which his employer is duly licensed to sell.
The Commissioners may require any person holding an excise licence to carry on any trade to affix to and maintain on the premises in respect of which the licence is granted, in such form and manner and containing such particulars as they may direct, a notification of the person to whom and the purpose for which the licence is granted.
If any person contravenes or fails to comply with any requirement made or direction given under this section his contravention or failure to comply shall attract a penalty under section 9 of the Finance Act 1994 (civil penalties).
If any person not duly licensed to carry on an excise licence trade affixes to any premises any sign or notice purporting to show that he is so licensed his doing so shall attract a penalty under section 9 of the Finance Act 1994 (civil penalties).
Where by or under the revenue trade provisions of the customs and excise Acts any person is required to make entry of any premises or article— as the Commissioners may direct.
the entry shall be made in such form and manner and contain such particulars; and
the premises or article shall be, and be kept, marked in such manner,
No entry shall be valid unless the person by whom it was made—
had at the time of its making attained the age of 18 years; and
was at that time and is for the time being a true and real owner of the trade in respect of which the entry was made.
Where any person required to make entry is a body corporate—
the entry shall be signed by a director, general manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body and, except where authority for that person to sign has been given under the seal of the body, shall be made under that seal; and
both the body corporate and the person by whom the entry is signed shall be liable for all duties charged in respect of the trade to which the entry relates.
If any person making entry of any premises or article contravenes or fails to comply with any direction of the Commissioners given under this section with respect thereto, his contravention or failure to comply shall attract a penalty under section 9 of the Finance Act 1994 (civil penalties).
The Commissioners may at any time, by notice in writing to the person by whom any existing entry was signed addressed to him at any premises entered by him, require a new entry to be made of any premises or article to which the existing entry relates, and the existing entry shall, without prejudice to any liability incurred, become void at the expiration of 14 days from the delivery of the notice.
Save as permitted by the Commissioners and subject to such conditions as they may impose, no premises or article of which entry has been made by any person shall, while that entry remains in force, be entered by any other person for any purpose of the revenue trade provisions of the customs and excise Acts, and any entry made in contravention of this subsection shall be void.
Where the person by whom entry has been made of any premises absconds or quits possession of the premises and discontinues the trade in respect of which the entry was made, and the Commissioners permit a further entry to be made of the premises by some other person, the former entry shall be deemed to have been withdrawn and shall be void.
For the purpose of any proceedings before any court, if any question arises as to whether or not entry under the revenue trade provisions of the customs and excise Acts has been made by any person, or of any premises or article, or for any purpose, then—
if a document purporting to be an original entry made by the person, or of the premises or article, or for the purpose, in question is produced to the court by an officer, that document shall, until the contrary is proved, be sufficient evidence that the entry was so made; and
if the officer in whose custody any such entry, if made, would be gives evidence that the original entries produced by him to the court constitute all those in his custody and that no such entry as is in question is among them, it shall be deemed, until the contrary is proved, that no such entry has been made.
If any person uses for any purpose of his trade any premises or article required by or under the revenue trade provisions of the customs and excise Acts to be entered for that purpose without entry having been duly made thereof, his use of the premises or article shall attract a penalty under section 9 of the Finance Act 1994 (civil penalties), and anysuch article and any goods found on any such premises or in any such article shall be liable to forfeiture.
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An officer may, subject to subsection (2) below, at any time enter upon any premises of which entry is made, or is required by or under the revenue trade provisions of the customs and excise Acts to be made, or any other premises owned or used by a revenue trader for the purposes of his trade and may inspect the premises and search for, examine and take account of any machinery vehicles, vessels, utensils, goods or materials belonging to or in any way connected with that trade.
Except in the case of such traders as are mentioned in subsection (3) below, no officer shall exercise the powers conferred on him by subsection (1) above by night unless he is accompanied by a constable.
Where any such premises as are mentioned in subsection (1) above are those of a a person who produces alcoholic products or vaping products, or an occupier of an excise warehouse, and an officer, after having demanded admission into the premises and declared his name and business at the entrance thereof, is not immediately admitted, that officer and any person acting in his aid may, subject to subsection (4) below, break open any door or window of the premises or break through any wall thereof for the purpose of obtaining admission.
No officer or person acting in his aid shall exercise the powers conferred on him by subsection (3) above by night unless he is accompanied by a constable.
Subsection (1) above applies to vehicles, ... hovercraft or structures in or from which tobacco products or vaping products are sold or dealt in or alcoholic products are sold by retail as it applies to premises.
This section applies to the occupier of a refinery as it applies to a person who produces alcoholic products, whether or not the occupier is a revenue trader.
For the purposes of subsection (1)—
it does not matter if the premises in question are owned or used partly for the purposes of the trade and partly for other purposes (including as a dwelling), but
the officer may not enter or inspect any part of the premises that is used solely as a dwelling.
Premises used to hold or store anything for the purposes of a revenue trader's trade are taken to be used by the revenue trader for the purposes of that trade, regardless of who owns or occupies the premises.
If an officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that any secret pipe or other means of conveyance, cock, vessel or utensil is kept or used by a revenue trader to whom this section applies, that officer may, subject to subsection (2) below, at any time, break open any part of the premises of that trader and forcibly enter thereon and so far as is reasonably necessary break up the ground in or adjoining those premises or any wall thereof to search for that pipe or other means of conveyance, cock, vessel or utensil.
No officer shall exercise the powers conferred on him by subsection (1) above by night unless he is accompanied by a constable.
If the officer finds any such pipe or other form of conveyance leading to or from the trader’s premises, he may enter any other premises from or into which it leads, and so far as is reasonably necessary break up any part of those other premises to trace its course, and may cut it away and turn any cock thereon, and examine whether it conveys or conceals any goods chargeable with a duty of excise, or any materials used in the manufacture of such goods, in such manner as to prevent a true account thereof from being taken.
Every such pipe or other means of conveyance, cock, vessel or utensil as aforesaid, and all goods chargeable with a duty of excise or materials for the manufacture of such goods found therein, shall be liable to forfeiture . . ..
If any damage is done in any such search as aforesaid and the search is unsuccessful, the Commissioners shall make good the damage.
The revenue traders to whom this section applies are persons who produce alcoholic products or vaping products.
This section also applies to the occupier of a refinery as it applies to the traders mentioned in subsection (6) above, whether or not the occupier is a revenue trader.
If it appears to the satisfaction of the Commissioners that any substance , product or liquid is used, or is capable of being used, in the manufacture or preparation for sale of any goods chargeable, as goods manufactured or produced in the United Kingdom, with a duty of excise, and that that substance , product or liquid is of a noxious or detrimental nature or, being a chemical or artificial extract or product, may affect prejudicially the interests of the revenue, the Commissioners may by regulations prohibit the use of that substance , product or liquid in the manufacture or preparation for sale of any goods specified in the regulations.
If while any such regulations are in force any person knowingly uses a substance , product or liquid thereby prohibited in the manufacture or preparation for sale of any goods specified in the regulations his use of that substance , product or liquid in that manner shall attract a penalty under section 9 of the Finance Act 1994 (civil penalties); but section 10 of that Act (exception for cases of reasonable excuse) shall not apply in relation to conduct attracting a penalty by virtue of this subsection.
Any substance , product or liquid the use of which is for the time being prohibited by any such regulations found in the possession of any person licensed for the manufacture or sale of any goods specified in the regulations, and any goods in the manufacture or preparation of which any substance, product or liquid has been used contrary to any such prohibition, shall be liable to forfeiture.
The proper officer may place and leave on the premises of a revenue trader a specimen, that is to say, a document in which may be entered any particulars relating to the trader’s trade from time to time recorded by that or any other officer.
Any such specimen shall be deposited at some place on premises entered by the trader where convenient access may be had thereto at any time by the trader and by any officer, and any officer may at any time remove the specimen and deposit a new one in its place.
Where any charge of duty made by an officer upon a trader is not recorded in a specimen, the officer shall, if so required in writing by the trader at the time when the officer takes his account for the purpose of charging duty, give to the trader a copy of the charge in writing under his hand.
If the revenue trader removes, conceals, withholds, damages or destroys a specimen, or alters, defaces, or obliterates any entry therein, his doing so shall attract a penalty under section 9 of the Finance Act 1994 (civil penalties)..
For the purposes of subsection (4) above and without prejudice to section 10(1) of the Finance Act 1994 (exception for cases of reasonable excuse), conduct by an employee of the revenue trader or by any other person entitled to act on the trader’s behalf in connection with his trade shall be deemed to be conduct by that trader except in so far as he took all reasonable steps to prevent it.
Every revenue trader shall pay any duty of excise payable in respect of his trade at or within such time, at such place and to such person as the Commissioners may direct whether or not payment of that duty has been secured by bond or otherwise.
If any duty payable is not paid in accordance with subsection (1) above, it shall be paid on demand made by the Commissioners either to the trader personally or by delivering the demand in writing at his place of abode or business.
If any duty is not paid on demand made under subsection (2) above the trader’s failure to pay the duty on demand shall attract a penalty under section 9 of the Finance Act 1994 (civil penalties) which shall be calculated by reference to the amount of the duty demanded and shall also attract daily penalties..
Where any sum is owing by a revenue trader in respect of any . . . excise duty or of any relevant penalty, all the following things which are in the possession or custody of that trader or of any agent of his or of any other person on his behalf shall be liable to be taken in execution in default of the payment of that sum, that is to say—
all goods liable to any excise duty, whether or not that duty has been paid;
all materials for manufacturing or producing any such goods; and
all apparatus, equipment, machinery, tools, vessels and utensils for, or for preparing any such materials for, such manufacture or production, or by which the trade in respect of which the duty is imposed is carried on.
Subsection (1) above shall also apply in relation to things falling within paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of that subsection which, although they are not still in the possession or custody of the trader, an agent of his or other person on his behalf, were in such possession or custody—
at the time when the . . . excise duty was charged or became chargeable or at any time while it was owing; or
at the time of the commission of the offence for which the penalty was incurred.
In subsection (1) above as it applies in relation to a sum owing by a revenue trader in respect of lottery duty or of a relevant penalty—
references to goods liable to any excise duty include lottery tickets on the taking of which lottery duty will be chargeable, and
“the trade in respect of which the duty is imposed” includes any trade or business carried on by the revenue trader that consists of or includes the buying, selling, importation, exportation, dealing in or handling of tickets or chances on the taking of which lottery duty is or will be chargeable.
Notwithstanding anything in subsection (1) or (2) above, but subject to subsection (4) below, where the proper officer has taken account of and charged any goods chargeable with any excise duty and those goods are in the ordinary course of trade sold for full and valuable consideration to a bona fide purchaser and delivered into his possession before the issue of any warrant or process for distress or seizure of the goods, those goods shall not be liable to be seized under this section.
Where any goods have been seized under this section, the burden of proof that the goods are by virtue of subsection (3) above not liable to be so seized shall lie upon the person claiming that they are not so liable.
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This section does not apply for the purposes of levying distress in accordance with regulations under section 51 of the Finance Act 1997 or for the purposes of any execution under section 52 of that Act by diligence.
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In this section— . . . “relevant penalty” means a penalty incurred under the revenue trade provisions of the customs and excise Acts.
" relevant penalty " means a penalty incurred under the revenue trade provisions of the customs and excise Acts.
This section shall apply to Scotland subject to the following modifications—
in subsection (3) for the words from “issue” to the end there shall be substituted the words “granting of a warrant for the recovery of a sum owing by the revenue trader, those goods shall not be liable to be taken in execution under this section.”;
in subsection (4) for the word “seized” in both places where it occurs there shall be substituted the words “taken in execution”;
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Any person who acts ostensibly as the owner or who is a principal manager of the business of a revenue trader in respect of which entry of any premises or article has been made or who occupies or uses any entered premises or article shall, notwithstanding that he is under full age, be liable in like manner as the real and true owner of the business for all duties charged and all penalties incurred in respect of that business.
The power in section 112(1) includes power to inspect any business documents that are on the premises.
“Business documents” means documents (or copies of documents) that relate to the carrying on of the revenue trader's trade, whether or not ones that a person may be required to produce under section 118B.
Subsections (4) to (8) of section 118B apply to documents inspected under section 112(1) as they apply to documents produced under section 118B.
The power in section 112(1) also includes power—
to mark items that have been examined or inspected, and anything containing such items, for the purpose of indicating that they have been examined or inspected, and
to obtain and record information (whether electronically or otherwise) relating to the premises, items and documents that have been examined or inspected.
The Treasury may by order designate any area in the United Kingdom as a special area for customs purposes.
An area so designated shall be known as a “free zone”.
An order under subsection (1) above—
shall have effect for such period as shall be specified in the order;
may be made so as to take effect, in relation to the area or any part of the area designated by a previous order under this section, on the expiry of the period specified in the previous order;
shall appoint one or more persons as the responsible authority or authorities for the free zone;
may impose on any responsible authority such conditions or restrictions as may be specified; and
may be revoked if the Commissioners are satisfied that there has been a failure to comply with any condition or restriction.
The Treasury may by order—
from time to time vary—
the conditions or restrictions imposed by a designation order; or
with the agreement of the responsible authority, the area designated; or
appoint one or more persons as the responsible authority or authorities for a free zone either in addition to or in substitution for any person appointed as such by a designation order.
In this Act “designation order” means an order made under subsection (1) above.
Any order under this section shall be made by statutory instrument.
Any person entering or leaving a free zone shall answer such questions as any officer may put to him with respect to any goods and shall, if required by the officer, produce those goods for examination at such place as the Commissioners may direct.
At any time while a vehicle is entering or leaving a free zone, any officer may board the vehicle and search any part of it.
Any officer may at any time enter upon and inspect a free zone and all buildings and goods within the zone.
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Where it is impracticable immediately to ascertain whether any or what duty is payable in respect of any imported goods which are entered for home use, whether on importation or from warehouse, the Commissioners may, if they think fit and notwithstanding any other provision of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979, allow those goods to be delivered upon the importer giving security by deposit of money or otherwise to their satisfaction for payment of any amount unpaid which may be payable by way of duty.
The Commissioners may for the purposes of subsection (1) above treat goods as entered for home use notwithstanding that the entry does not contain all the particulars required for perfect entry if it contains as many of those particulars as are then known to the importer, and in that event the importer shall supply the remaining particulars as soon as may be to the Commissioners.
Where goods are allowed to be delivered under this section, the Commissioners shall, when they have determined the amount of duty which in their opinion is payable, give to the importer a notice specifying that amount.
On the giving of a notice under subsection (3) above the amount specified in the notice or, where any amount has been deposited under subsection (1) above, any difference between those amounts shall forthwith be paid or repaid as the case may require.
Subject to subsection (6) below, if the importer disputes the correctness of the amount specified in a notice given to him under subsection (3) above he may at any time within 3 months of the date of the notice make such a requirement for reference to arbitration or such an application to the court as is provided for by section 127 below, and that section shall have effect accordingly.
No requirement or application shall be made by virtue of subsection (5) above until any sum falling to be paid by the importer under subsection (4) above has been paid, and where any sum so falls to be paid no interest shall be paid under section 127(2) below in respect of any period before that sum is paid.
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The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for determining, for the purposes of any duty or customs or excise, the origin of any goods in cases where it does not fall to be determined under a Community regulation or any Act or other instrument having the force of law.
Regulations under this section may—
make provision as to the evidence which is to be required or is to be sufficient or the: purpose of showing that goods are of a particular origin , and
make different provision different purposes and in relation to goods of different descriptions.
Subject to the provisions of any regulations under this section, where in connection with a duty of customs or excise chargeable on any goods any question arise as to the origin of the goods, the Commissioners may require the importer of the goods to furnish to them, in such form as they may prescribe, proof of any statement made to them as to any fact necessary to determine that question; and if such proof is not furnished to their satisfaction, the question may be determines without regard to that statement.
Where any question as to the duties of customs or excise chargeable on any imported goods depends on any matter ... not reasonably ascertainable from an examination of the goods, and that question is not in law conclusively determined by the production of any certificate or other document, then, on the importation of those goods, the Commissioners may impose such conditions as they see fit for the prevention of abuse or the protection of the revenue (including conditions requiring security for the observance of any conditions so imposed).
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The Commissioners may, in accordance with subsection (2) below, make regulations applying in cases where any question as to the duties of customs chargeable on any goods depends on the use to be made of them.
In cases in which a Community instrument makes provision for the purpose of securing that the relevant use is made of the goods, regulations under this section may make provision for any matter which under the instrument is required or authorised to be dealt with by the authorities of member States or which otherwise arises out of the instrument; and in other cases regulations under this section may make such provision for that purpose as appears to the Commissioners to be necessary or expedient.
Subject to such conditions as the Commissioners see fit to impose, where it is shown to the satisfaction of the Commissioners— the importer shall be entitled to obtain from the Commissioners repayment of any excise duty paid on the importation of the goods.
that goods were imported in pursuance of a contract of sale and that the description, quality, state or condition of the goods was not in accordance with the contract or that the goods were damaged in transit; and
that the importer with the consent of the seller either—
returned the goods unused to the seller and, if the export of the goods was required to be made in accordance with the applicable export provisions, the requirements were met; or
destroyed the goods unused,
Nothing in this section shall apply to goods imported on approval, or on sale or return, or on other similar terms.
Where— the goods shall be liable to forfeiture.
any imported goods have been relieved from customs or excise duty chargeable by reference to their importation or have been charged with duty at a reduced rate; and
any condition or other obligation required to be complied with in connection with the relief or with the charge of duty at that rate is not complied with,
The provisions of this section shall apply whether or not any undertaking , security or other guarantee has been given for compliance with the condition or obligation or for the payment of the duty payable apart therefrom, and the forfeiture of any goods under this section shall not affect any liability of any person who has given any such undertaking , security or other guarantee.
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For the purposes of any duty for the time being chargeable on any imported goods by reference to their value (whether a Community customs duty or not), the value of the goods shall, subject to subsection (2) below, be taken according to the rules applicable in the case of Community customs duties, and duty shall be paid on that value.
In relation to an importation in the course of trade within the Communities the value of any imported goods for the purposes mentioned in subsection (1) above shall be determined on the basis of a delivery to the buyer at the port or place of importation into the United Kingdom.
The Commissioners may make regulations for the purpose of giving effect to the foregoing provisions of this section, and in particular for requiring any importer or other person concerned with the importation of goods—
to furnish to the Commissioners in such form as they may require, such information as is necessary for a proper valuation of the goods and
to produce any books of account or other documents of whatever nature relating to the purchase, importation or sale of the goods by that person.
If any person contravenes or fails to comply with any regulation made under subsection (3) above he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of ‚¤50
Subject to subsections (2) to (4) below, if any imported goods contain as a part or ingredient thereof any article chargeable with excise duty, excise duty shall be chargeable on the goods in respect of each such article according to the quantity thereof appearing to the Commissioners to be used in the manufacture or preparation of the goods.
Where, in the opinion of the Treasury, it is necessary for the protection of the revenue, such imported goods shall be chargeable with the amount of excise duty with which they would be chargeable if they consisted wholly of the chargeable article or, if the goods contain more than one such article, of that one of the chargeable articles which will yield the highest amount of excise duty.
Schedule 2 to this Act shall have effect with respect to the excise duties to be charged, and the excise drawbacks to be allowed, on imported composite goods containing a dutiable part or ingredient and with respect to rebates and drawbacks of excise duties charged in accordance with that Schedule.
Subsections (1) and (2) above do not apply where other provision is made by any other enactment relating to excise duties on imported goods.
Any rebate which can be allowed by law on any article when separately charged shall be allowed in charging goods under subsection (1) or (2) above in respect of any quantity of that article used in the manufacture or preparation of the goods.
If, before the delivery of any imported goods out of charge, any dispute arises as to whether any or what duty is payable on those goods, the importer shall pay the amount demanded by the proper officer but may, not later than 3 months after the date of the payment—
if the dispute is in relation to the value of the goods, require the question to be referred to the arbitration of a referee appointed by the Lord Chancellor (not being an official of any government department), whose decision shall be final and conclusive; or
in any other case, apply to the High Court or, in Scotland, to the Court of Session for a declaration as to the amount of duty, if any, properly payable on the goods.
If on any such reference or application the referee or court determines that a lesser or no amount was properly payable in respect of duty on the goods, the amount overpaid shall be repaid by the Commissioners, together with interest thereon from the date of the overpayment at such rate as the referee or court may determine; and any sum so repaid shall be accepted by the importer in satisfaction of all claims in respect of the importation of the goods in question and the duty payable thereon and of all damages and expenses incidental to the dispute other than the costs of the proceedings.
The procedure on any reference to a referee under this section shall be such as may be determined by the referee.
During any period not exceeding 3 months specified at any time by order of the Commissioners for the purposes of this section, the Commissioners may refuse to allow the removal for home use on payment of duty, or the sending out for home use after the charging of duty, of goods of any class or description chargeable with a duty of excise, notwithstanding payment of that duty, in quantities exceeding those which appear to the Commissioners to be reasonable in the circumstances.
Where the Commissioners have during any such period exercised their powers under this section with respect to goods of any class or description, then, in the case of any such goods which are removed or sent out for home use after the end of that period, the duties of excise and the rates thereof chargeable on those goods shall, notwithstanding any other provision of the customs and excise Acts relating to the determination of those duties and rates, be those in force at the date of the removal or sending out of the goods.
Subject to subsection (2) below, where any goods— have by reason of their state or condition ceased to be worth the full duty of excise chargeable thereon and have been denatured in such manner as the Commissioners may direct and in accordance with such conditions as they see fit to impose, the Commissioners may remit or repay the whole or part of any duty of excise chargeable or paid thereon, or waive repayment of the whole or part of any drawback paid on their warehousing, upon the delivery of the goods for use for such purposes as the Commissioners may allow.
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which are chargeable with a a duty of excise the requirement to pay which has not yet taken effect,
Subsection (1) above does not apply in relation to spirits.
The reference in subsection (1) above to goods which are chargeable with a duty of excise the requirement to pay which has not yet taken effect shall be construed as a reference to any goods which are warehoused or ... to any goods at a time, before the excise duty point for those goods, when they are chargeable with such a duty.
Where, whether under subsection (1) above or otherwise, any goods chargeable with duty have gone into home use after having been denatured by mixture with some other substance, any person who separates the goods from that other substance shall be guilty of an offence under this subsection and may be detained, and the goods shall be liable to forfeiture.
A person guilty of an offence under subsection (3) above shall be liable—
on summary conviction, to a penalty of the prescribed sum£20,000 or of three times the value of the goods, whichever is the greater, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to both; or
on conviction on indictment, to a penalty of any amount, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, or to both.
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Where it is shown to the satisfaction of the Commissioners that any goods chargeable with any duty have been lost or destroyed by unavoidable accident— the Commissioners may remit or repay any duty chargeable or paid thereon or waive repayment of any drawback paid on their warehousing.
after importation but before clearance for any purpose for which they might be entered on importation; or
in the case of goods chargeable with a duty of excise on their manufacture or production or on their removal from the place of their manufacture or production, at any time before their removal from that place; or
while in a warehouse or Queen's warehouse ; or
at any time while that duty is otherwise lawfully unpaid, except when payment of that duty has become due but has been allowed by the Commissioners to be deferred; or
at any time after drawback of that duty has been paid,
The Commissioners may, at the request of the proprietor of the goods in question and subject to compliance with such conditions as the Commissioners see fit to impose, permit the destruction of, and waive payment of duty or repayment of drawback on—
any part of any warehoused goods which becomes damaged or surplus by reason of the carrying out of any permitted operation on those goods in warehouse, and any refuse resulting from any such operation ; and
any imported goods not yet cleared for any purpose for which they might be entered on importation or any warehoused goods, being in either case goods which have by reason of their state or condition ceased to be worth the full duty chargeable thereon.
If any goods which have been lawfully permitted to be removed for any purpose without payment of excise duty are unlawfully taken from any ... vehicle or place before that purpose is accomplished, the Commissioners may if they see fit enforce any bond given in respect thereof notwithstanding that any time prescribed in the bond for accomplishing that purpose has not expired.
The Commissioners may by regulations make provision for the payment (in accordance, where any requirement to pay the duty takes effect, with that requirement) of any excise duty on goods of a prescribed kind to be deferred, in prescribed cases, subject to such conditions or requirements as may be imposed—
by the regulations; or
where the regulations so provide, by the Commissioners.
Any duty payment of which is deferred under the regulations shall be treated, for prescribed purposes, as if it had been paid.
Where—
any excise duty to which an application for deferment of duty made under the regulations relates is payable on goods on their removal from an excise warehouse; and
the Commissioners are not satisfied— the Commissioners may, notwithstanding any provision of the regulations, refuse the application or refuse it in so far as it relates to those goods. Nothing in this subsection shall be taken to prejudice the power of the Commissioners to prescribe the cases in which excise duty may be deferred.
that the conditions imposed under section 92(1) above in relation to the warehouse have been complied with by the occupier of the warehouse; or
that the warehousing regulations made by virtue of section 93(2)(g) above have been complied with by the occupier or by the proprietor of the goods;
Regulations under this section may make different provision for goods of different descriptions or for goods of the same description in different circumstances.
In this section “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made under this section.
Without prejudice to any other provision of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 or any other Act, where drawback is allowable on the shipment of any goods as stores, the like drawback shall, subject to such conditions and restrictions as the Commissioners see fit to impose, be allowed on the warehousing in an excise warehouse of those goods for use as stores.
Without prejudice to any other provision of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 or any other Act, where drawback would be payable on the exportation of any goods, or on the warehousing of any goods for exportation, then, subject to such conditions and restrictions as the Commissioners see fit, the like drawback shall be payable on the shipment of any such goods as stores or, as the case may be, on their warehousing in an excise warehouse for use as stores.
Any claim for drawback shall be made in such form and manner and contain such particulars as the Commissioners may direct.
This section applies in relation to any claim for drawback for the purposes of any excise duty.
Where drawback has been claimed in the case of any goods subsections (4) to (6) below shall apply in relation to the claim.
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No drawback shall be paid until the person entitled thereto or his agent has made a declaration in such form and manner and containing such particulars as the Commissioners may direct that the conditions on which the drawback is payable have been fulfilled.
The Commissioners may require any person who has been concerned at any stage with the goods or article—
to furnish such information as may be reasonably necessary to enable the Commissioners to determine whether duty has been duly paid and not drawn back and for enabling a calculation to be made of the amount of drawback payable; and
to produce any book of account or other document of whatever nature relating to the goods or article.
If any person fails to comply with any requirement made under subsection (5) above, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale.
Where it is proved to the satisfaction of the Commissioners that any goods after being duly shipped for exportation have been destroyed by accident on board the exporting ship or aircraft, any amount payable in respect of the goods by way of drawback, allowance or repayment of duty shall be payable in the same manner as if the goods had been exported to their destination.
This section applies only for the purposes of excise duty.
Where it is proved to the satisfaction of the Commissioners that any goods, after being duly shipped for exportation, have been materially damaged by accident on board the exporting ship or aircraft, and the goods are with the consent of and in accordance with any conditions imposed by the Commissioners relanded or unloaded again in or brought back into the United Kingdom and either abandoned to the Commissioners or destroyed, any amount payable in respect of the goods by way of drawback, allowance or repayment of duty shall be paid as if they had been duly exported and not so relanded, unloaded or brought back.
Notwithstanding any provision of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 or any other Act relating to the reimportation of exported goods, the person to whom any amount is payable or has been paid under subsection (2) above shall not be required to pay any duty in respect of any goods relanded, unloaded or brought back under that subsection.
No payment shall be made in respect of any drawback or allowance for the purposes of any excise duty unless the debenture or other document authorising payment is presented for payment within 2 years from the date of the event on the happening of which the drawback or allowance became payable.
If any person, with intent to defraud Her Majesty, obtains or attempts to obtain, or does anything whereby there might be obtained by any person, any amount by way of drawback, allowance, remission or repayment of, or any rebate from, any duty in respect of any goods which— he shall be guilty of an offence under this subsection.
is not lawfully payable or allowable in respect thereof; or
is greater than the amount so payable or allowable,
A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) above shall be liable— and a person guilty of an offence under subsection (1A) above shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale or three times the amount which was or might have been improperly obtained or allowed, whichever is the greater.
on summary conviction, to a penalty of the prescribed sum £20,000 or of three times the value of the goods, whichever is the greater, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to both; or
on conviction on indictment, to a penalty of any amount, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years, or to both;
If any person, without such intent as is mentioned in subsection (1) above, does any of the things there mentioned, he shall be guilty of an offence under this subsection.
Any goods in respect of which an offence under subsection (1) or (1A) above is committed shall be liable to forfeiture; but in the case of a claim for drawback, the Commissioners may, if they see fit, instead of seizing the goods either refuse to allow any drawback thereon or allow only such drawback as they consider proper.
Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this section, if, in the case of any goods upon which a claim for drawback, allowance, remission or repayment of duty has been made, it is found that those goods do not correspond with any any declaration made thereof in connection with that claim, the goods shall be liable to forfeiture and any person by whom any such any declaration or claim was made shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of three times the amount claimed or level 3 on the standard scale, whichever is the greater.
Subsection (4) above applies in the case of any goods upon which a claim for drawback, allowance, remission or repayment of duty has been made where it is found that the goods, if sold for home use, would realise less than the amount claimed as it applies where the finding specified in that subsection is made except that it does not apply by virtue of this subsection to any claim under—
section 123 or 134(2) above; or
section 74 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 2023 (remission or repayment of duty on spoilt alcoholic products).
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Without prejudice to any other provision of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979, any amount due by way of ... excise duty may be recovered as a debt due to the Crown.
Any excise duty or drawback, allowance or rebate in relation to excise duty the rate of which is expressed by reference to a specified quantity or weight of any goods shall, subject to subsection (3) below, be chargeable or allowable on any fraction of that quantity or weight of the goods, and the amount payable or allowable on any such fraction shall be calculated proportionately.
The Commissioners may for the purposes of subsection (2) above determine the fractions to be taken into account in the case of any weight or quantity.
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Where a person pays to the Commissioners an amount by way of excise duty which is not due to them, the Commissioners are liable to repay that amount.
The Commissioners shall not be required to make any such repayment unless a claim is made to them in such form, and supported by such documentary evidence, as may be prescribed by them by regulations; and regulations under this subsection may make different provision for different cases.
It is a defence to a claim for repayment that the repayment would unjustly enrich the claimant.
The Commissioners shall not be liable, on a claim made under this section, to repay any amount paid to them more than 4 years before the making of the claim.
Except as provided by this section the Commissioners are not liable to repay an amount paid to them by way of excise duty by reason of the fact that it was not due to them.
This section does not apply in a case where the Commissioners are—
entitled to pay an amount under Part 1 of Schedule 3 to the Finance Act 2001, or
required to repay an amount under Part 3 of that Schedule.
For the purpose of administering, collecting or protecting the revenues derived from duties of excise, the Commissioners may by regulations under this section (in this Act referred to as “registered excise dealers and shippers regulations”)—
confer or impose such powers, duties, privileges and liabilities as may be prescribed in the regulations upon any person who is or has been a registered excise dealer and shipper; and
impose on persons other than registered excise dealers and shippers, or in respect of any goods of a class or description specified in the regulations, such requirements or restrictions as may by or under the regulations be prescribed with respect to registered excise dealers and shippers or any activities carried on by them.
The Commissioners may approve, and enter in a register maintained by them for the purpose, any revenue trader who applies for registration under this section and who appears to them to satisfy such requirements for registration as they may think fit to impose.
In the customs and excise Acts “registered excise dealer and shipper” means a revenue trader approved and registered by the Commissioners under this section.
The Commissioners may approve and register a person under this section for such periods and subject to such conditions or restrictions as they may think fit or as they may by or under the regulations prescribe.
The Commissioners may at any time for reasonable cause revoke or vary the terms of their approval or registration of any person under this section.
The regulations may make provision for treating revenue traders as approved and registered under this section in cases where they are members of a group of companies (within the meaning of the regulations) which is approved and registered in accordance with the regulations.
Without prejudice to the generality of section 100G above, registered excise dealers and shippers regulations may, in particular, make provision—
regulating the approval and registration of persons as registered excise dealers and shippers and the variation or revocation of any such approval or registration or of any condition or restriction to which such an approval or registration is subject;
regulating any activities carried on by or for a registered excise dealer and shipper and, in particular, the importation, exportation, buying, selling, loading, unloading, delivery, movement, holding, deposit, security, treatment or removal of, or the carrying out of operations on, or the effecting of any other transaction relating to, any goods of a class or description subject to a duty of excise;
authorising a registered excise dealer and shipper to carry out or arrange for the carrying out of any prescribed activity falling within paragraph (b) above in relation to goods chargeable with a duty of excise which has not been paid, but subject to prescribed conditions or restrictions and to prescribed requirements for the payment of the unpaid duty;
exempting registered excise dealers and shippers from compliance with such provisions made by or under the customs and excise Acts as may be prescribed, or applying such provisions in relation to registered excise dealers and shippers with prescribed modifications or adaptations, or applying in relation to registered excise dealers and shippers such substitute provisions as may be prescribed in place of any such provisions;
requiring, except as otherwise permitted by the Commissioners, goods which are subject to a duty of excise that has not been paid and which are not consigned to an excise warehouse—
to be consigned to a registered excise dealer and shipper; and
to be accompanied by such documents in such form and such manner and containing such particulars as may be prescribed;
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for securing and collecting any duty of excise on goods which have been or may be the subject of a transaction involving a registered excise dealer and shipper;
for determining, in relation to goods which are the subject of a transaction involving a registered excise dealer and shipper, the duties of excise chargeable on those goods and the rates of those duties and, in that connection, the method of charging the duties;
permitting payment of excise duty by a registered excise dealer and shipper to be deferred, subject to compliance with prescribed conditions;
for relieving registered excise dealers and shippers from liability to pay excise duty on goods in prescribed circumstances;
for cases where a registered excise dealer and shipper acts as agent for some other person (whether a registered excise dealer and shipper or not);
requiring registered excise dealers and shippers to keep and make available for inspection such records relating to their activities as such as may be prescribed;
imposing requirements with respect to, or to the production of, the documents required to accompany goods which are the subject of a transaction involving a registered excise dealer and shipper on any person concerned in any prescribed respect with the carriage of those goods, or providing for the imposition under the regulations of any such requirements;
for goods in the United Kingdom which are liable to a duty of excise which has not been paid to be subject to forfeiture for any breach of—
registered excise dealers and shippers regulations, so far as relating to goods chargeable with a duty of excise which has not been paid, or
any condition or restriction imposed by or under any such regulations so far as so relating.
authorised by section 24AA of the Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 1979 (regulation of traders in controlled oil).
Registered excise dealers and shippers regulations may make different provision for persons or goods of different classes or descriptions, for different circumstances and for different cases.
In this section “prescribed” means prescribed in registered excise dealers and shippers regulations or prescribed by the Commissioners under any such regulations.
If any person contravenes any provision of registered excise dealers and shippers regulations or fails to comply with any condition or restriction which the Commissioners impose upon him under section 100G above or by or under any such regulations, his contravention or failure to comply shall attract a penalty under section 9 of the Finance Act 1994 (civil penalties), and any goods in respect of which any person contravenes any provision of any such regulations, or fails to comply with any such condition or restriction, shall be liable to forfeiture..
Any person who has committed, or whom there are reasonable grounds to suspect of having committed, any offence for which he is liable to be detained under the customs and excise Acts may be detained by any officer or any member of Her Majesty’s armed forces or coastguard at any time within 20 years from the date of the commission of the offence.
Where it was not practicable to detain any person so liable at the time of the commission of the offence, or where any such person having been then or subsequently detained for that offence has escaped, he may be detained by any officer or any member of Her Majesty’s armed forces or coastguard at any time and may be proceeded against in like manner as if the offence had been committed at the date when he was finally detained.
Where any person who is a member of the crew of any ship in Her Majesty’s employment or service is detained by an officer for an offence under the customs and excise Acts, the commanding officer of the ship shall, if so required by the detaining officer, keep that person secured on board that ship until he can be brought before a court and shall then deliver him up to the proper officer.
Where any person has been arrested by a person who is not an officer— the person arresting him shall give notice of the arrest to an officer at the nearest convenient office of customs and excise.
by virtue of this section; or
by virtue of section 24 or 24A of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 in its application to offences under the customs and excise Acts, or
by virtue of Article 26 or 26A of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 in its application to such offences,
Any thing liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts may be seized or detained by any officer or constable or any member of Her Majesty’s armed forces or coastguard.
Where any thing is seized or detained as liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts by a person other than an officer, that person shall, subject to subsection (3) below, deliver that thing to an officer .
deliver that thing to the nearest convenient office of customs and excise; or
if such delivery is not practicable, give to the Commissioners at the nearest convenient office of customs; and excise notice in writing of the seizure or detention with full particulars of the thing seized or detained.
A person mentioned in subsection (1) who reasonably suspects that any thing may be liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts may detain that thing.
Where the person seizing or detaining any thing as liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts is a constable and that thing is or may be required for use in connection with any proceedings to be brought otherwise than under those Acts it may, subject to subsection (4) below, be retained in the custody of the police until either those proceedings are completed or it is decided that no such proceedings shall be brought.
References in this section and Schedule 2A to a thing detained as liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts include a thing detained under subsection (1A).
The following provisions apply in relation to things retained in the custody of the police by virtue of subsection (3) above, that is to say—
notice in writing of the seizure or detention and of the intention to retain the thing in question in the custody of the police, together with full particulars as to that thing, shall be given to an officer ;
any officer shall be permitted to examine that thing and take account thereof at any time while it remains in the custody of the police;
nothing in section 31 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 shall apply in relation to that thing.
Subject to subsections (3) and (4) above and to Schedules 2A and 3 to this Act, any thing seized or detained under the customs and excise Acts shall, pending the determination as to its forfeiture or disposal, be dealt with, and, if condemned or deemed to have been condemned or forfeited, shall be disposed of in such manner as the Commissioners may direct.
Schedule 3 to this Act shall have effect for the purpose of forfeitures, and of proceedings for the condemnation of any thing as being forfeited, under the customs and excise Acts.
If any person, not being an officer, by whom any thing is seized or detained or who has custody thereof after its seizure or detention, fails to comply with any requirement of this section or with any direction of the Commissioners given thereunder, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 2 on the standard scale.
Subsections (2) to (7) above shall apply in relation to any dutiable goods seized or detained by any person other than an officer notwithstanding that they were not so seized as liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts.
Schedule 2A contains supplementary provisions relating to the detention of things as liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts.
Where, by any provision of, or of any instrument made under, the Customs and Excise Acts 1979, any spirits become liable to forfeiture by reason of some offence committed by a revenue trader, then—
where that provision specifies the quantity of those spirits but does not specify the spirits so liable, the Commissioners may seize the equivalent of that quantity from any spirits in the stock of that trader; and
where that provision specifies the spirits so liable the Commissioners may, if they think fit, seize instead of the spirits so specified an equivalent quantity of any other spirits in the stock of that trader.
Without prejudice to any other provision of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979, where any thing has become liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts— shall also be liable to forfeiture.
any ... vehicle, animal, container (including any article of passengers’ baggage) or other thing whatsoever which has been used for the carriage, handling, deposit or concealment of the thing so liable to forfeiture, either at a time when it was so liable or for the purposes of the commission of the offence for which it later became so liable; and
any other thing mixed, packed or found with the thing so liable,
Where any ... vehicle or animal has become liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts, whether by virtue of subsection (1) above or otherwise, all tackle, apparel or furniture thereof shall also be liable to forfeiture.
Where any of the following, that is to say— becomes liable to forfeiture under this section by reason of having been used in the importation, exportation or carriage of goods contrary to or for the purpose of contravening any prohibition or restriction for the time being in force with respect to those goods, or without payment having been made of, or security given for, any duty payable thereon, the owner and the vehicle operator shall each be liable on summary conviction to a penalty equal to the value of the ship, aircraft or hovercraft or level 5 on the standard scale£20,000, whichever is the less.
any ship not exceeding 100 tons register;
any aircraft; or
any railway vehicle;
any hovercraft,
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979, a ship of 250 or more tons register shall not be liable to forfeiture under or by virtue of any provision of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979, except under section 88 above, unless the offence in respect of or in connection with which the forfeiture is claimed—
was substantially the object of the voyage during which the offence was committed; or
was committed while the ship was under chase by a vessel in the service of Her Majesty after failing to bring to when properly summoned to do so by that vessel.
For the purposes of this section, a ship shall be deemed to have been properly summoned to bring to—
if the vessel making the summons did so by means of an international signal code or other recognised means and while flying her proper ensign; and
in the case of a ship which is not a British ship, if at the time when the summons was made the ship was in United Kingdom waters.
For the purposes of this section, all hovercraft (of whatever size) shall be treated as ships of less than 250 tons register.
The exemption from forfeiture of any ship under this section shall not affect any liability to forfeiture of goods carried therein.
This section applies where—
any ship of 250 or more tons register would, but for section 142, be liable to forfeiture for, or in connection with, any offence under the customs and excise Acts, and
in the opinion of the Commissioners, a responsible officer of the ship is implicated either by the officer's own act, or by neglect, in that offence.
For the purposes of this section, all hovercraft (of whatever size) shall be treated as ships of less than 250 tons register.
The Commissioners may take proceedings in accordance with Schedule 3 to this Act, in like manner as they might but for section 142 above have taken proceedings for the condemnation of the ship if notice of claim had been given in respect thereof, for the condemnation of the ship in such sum not exceeding £10,000 as the court may see fit.
The Commissioners may require such sum as they see fit, not exceeding £10,000 , to be deposited with them to await ... the decision of the court, and may detain the ship until that sum has been so deposited.
No claim shall lie against the Commissioners for damages in respect of the payment of any deposit or the detention of any ship under this section.
For the purposes of this section—
“responsible officer”, in relation to any ship, means a person who is, or is acting as, the master, a mate , an engineer or the bosun of the ship and, in the case of a ship carrying a passenger certificate, the purser or chief steward ...;
without prejudice to any other grounds upon which a responsible officer of any ship may be held to be implicated by neglect, he may be so held if goods not owned to by any member of the crew are discovered in a place under that officer’s supervision in which they could not reasonably have been put if he had exercised proper care at the time of the loading of the ship or subsequently.
If the Treasury consider that there has been a change in the value of money since the Finance Act 2013 was passed or, as the case may be, since the last occasion when the power conferred by this subsection was exercised, they may by order substitute for the sum for the time being specified in subsections (3) and (4) such other sum as appears to them to be justified by the change.
An order under subsection (7) may not vary the penalty for any conduct occurring before the coming into force of the order.
An order under subsection (7) must be made by statutory instrument.
A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (7) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
Where, in any proceedings for the condemnation of any thing seized as liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts, judgment is given for the claimant, the court may, if it sees fit, certify that there were reasonable grounds for the seizure.
Where any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, are brought against the Commissioners, a law officer of the Crown or any person authorised by or under the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 to seize or detain any thing liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts on account of the seizure or detention of any thing, and judgment is given for the plaintiff or prosecutor, then if either— the plaintiff or prosecutor shall not be entitled to recover any damages or costs and the defendant shall not be liable to any punishment.
a certificate relating to the seizure has been granted under subsection (1) above; or
the court is satisfied that there were reasonable grounds for seizing or detaining that thing under the customs and excise Acts,
Nothing in subsection (2) above shall effect any right of any person to the return of the thing seized or detained or to compensation in respect of any damage to the thing or in respect of the destruction thereof.
Any certificate under subsection (1) above may be proved by the production of either the original certificate or a certified copy thereof purporting to be signed by an officer of the court by which it was granted.
Subject to the following provisions of this section, no proceedings for an offence under the customs and excise Acts or for condemnation under Schedule 3 to this Act shall be instituted except— .
Subject to the following provisions of this section, any proceedings under the customs and excise Acts instituted by order of the Commissioners in a magistrates’ court, and any such proceedings instituted by order of the Commissioners in a court of summary jurisdiction in Northern Ireland, shall be commenced in the name of an officer of Revenue and Customs .
by or with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions, or
Subsections (1) and (2) above shall not apply to proceedings on indictment in Scotland.
by order of, or with the consent of, the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.
In the case of the death, removal, discharge or absence of the officer in whose name any proceedings were commenced under subsection (2) above, those proceedings may be continued by any officer authorised in that behalf by the Commissioners.
Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this section shall prevent the institution of proceedings for an offence under the customs and excise Acts by order and in the name of a law officer of the Crown in any case in which he thinks it proper that proceedings should be so instituted.
Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this section, where any person has been detained for any offence for which he is liable to be detained under the customs and excise Acts, any court before which he is brought may proceed to deal with the case although the proceedings have not been instituted in accordance with this section. .
Any summons or other process issued anywhere in the United Kingdom for the purpose of any proceedings under the customs and excise Acts may be served on the person to whom it is addressed in any part of the United Kingdom without any further endorsement, and shall be deemed to have been duly served—
if delivered to him personally; or
if left at his last known place of abode or business or, in the case of a body corporate, at their registered or principal office; or
if left on board any vessel or aircraft to which he may belong or have lately belonged.
Any summons, notice, order or other document issued for the purposes of any proceedings under the customs and excise Acts, or of any appeal from the decision of the court in any such proceedings, may be served by an officer. In this subsection “appeal” includes an appeal by way of case stated.
This section shall not apply in relation to proceedings instituted in the High Court or Court of Session.
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may be commenced at any time within 3 years from the date of the commission of the offence; and
shall not be commenced later than 3 years from that date.
Where, in England or Wales, a magistrates’ court has begun to inquire into an information charging a person with an offence under the customs and excise Acts as examining justices the court shall not proceed under section 25(3) of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 to try the information summarily without the consent of—
the Attorney General, in a case where the proceedings were instituted by his order and in his name; or
the Commissioners, in any other case.
In the case of proceedings in England or Wales, without prejudice to any right to require the statement of a case for the opinion of the High Court, the prosecutor may appeal to the Crown Court against any decision of a magistrates’ court in proceedings for an offence under the customs and excise Acts.
In the case of proceedings in Northern Ireland, without prejudice to any right to require the statement of a case for the opinion of the High Court, the prosecutor may appeal to the county court against any decision of a court of summary jurisdiction in proceedings for an offence under the customs and excise Acts.
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shall if prosecuted summarily be prosecuted in the sheriff court;
may be also prosecuted by any other method.
Except as otherwise provided in the customs and excise Acts, and notwithstanding anything in any other enactment, the following provisions shall apply in relation to proceedings for an offence under those Acts.
Proceedings for an indictable offence shall not be commenced after the end of the period of 20 years beginning with the day on which the offence was committed.
Proceedings for a summary offence shall not be commenced after the end of the period of 3 years beginning with that day but, subject to that, may be commenced at any time within 6 months from the date on which sufficient evidence to warrant the proceedings came to the knowledge of the prosecuting authority.
For the purposes of subsection (3) above, a certificate of the prosecuting authority as to the date on which such evidence as is there mentioned came to that authority’s knowledge shall be conclusive evidence of that fact.
In the application of this section to Scotland—
in subsection (2), “proceedings for an indictable offence” means proceedings on indictment;
in subsection (3), “proceedings for a summary offence” means summary proceedings.
In the application of this section to Northern Ireland—
“indictable offence” means an offence which, if committed by an adult, is punishable on conviction on indictment (whether only on conviction on indictment, or either on conviction on indictment or on summary conviction);
“summary offence” means an offence which, if committed by an adult, is punishable only on summary conviction.
In this section, “ prosecuting authority”
in England and Wales, means the Director of Public Prosecutions,
in Scotland, means ... the procurator fiscal, and
in Northern Ireland, means the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland .
Proceedings for an offence under the customs and excise Acts may be commenced—
in any court having jurisdiction in the place where the person charged with the offence resides or is found; or
if any thing was detained or seized in connection with the offence, in any court having jurisdiction in the place where that thing was so detained or seized or was found or condemned as forfeited; or
in any court having jurisdiction anywhere in that part of the United Kingdom, namely— in which the place where the offence was committed is situated.
England and Wales,
Scotland, or
Northern Ireland,
Where any such offence was committed at some place outside the area of any commission of the peace, the place of the commission of the offence shall, for the purpose of the jurisdiction of any court, be deemed to be any place in the United Kingdom where the offender is found or to which he is first brought after the commission of the offence.
The jurisdiction under subsection (2) above shall be in addition to and not in derogation of any jurisdiction or power of any court under any other enactment.
Where, in any proceedings for an offence under the customs and excise Acts, a magistrates’ court in England or Wales or a court of summary jurisdiction in Scotland, in addition to ordering the person convicted to pay a penalty for the offence— the aggregate of the terms for which he is so ordered to be imprisoned shall not exceed 15 months.
orders him to be imprisoned for a term in respect of the same offence; and
further (whether at the same time or subsequently) orders him to be imprisoned for a term in respect of non-payment of that penalty or default of a sufficient distress to satisfy the amount of that penalty.
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In subsection (1)(b) as it applies to a magistrates' court in England or Wales the reference to default of sufficient distress to satisfy the amount of the penalty is a reference to want of sufficient goods to satisfy the amount, within the meaning given by section 79(4) of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980.
Where, under any enactment for the time being in force in Northern Ireland, a court of summary jurisdiction has power to order a person to be imprisoned in respect of the non-payment of a penalty, or of the default of a sufficient distress to satisfy the amount of that penalty, for a term in addition and succession to a term of imprisonment imposed for the same offence as the penalty, then in relation to a sentence for an offence under the customs and excise Acts the aggregate of those terms of imprisonment may, notwithstanding anything in any such enactment, be any period not exceeding 15 months.
Where liability for any offence under the customs and excise Acts is incurred by two or more persons jointly, those persons shall each be liable for the full amount of any pecuniary penalty and may be proceeded against jointly or severally as prosecuting authority (within the meaning of section 146A) may see fit.
In any proceedings for an offence under the customs and excise Acts instituted in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, any court by whom the matter is considered may mitigate any pecuniary penalty as they see fit.
In any proceedings for an offence or for the condemnation of any thing as being forfeited under the customs and excise Acts, the fact that security has been given by bond or otherwise for the payment of any duty or for compliance with any condition in respect of the non-payment of which or non-compliance with which the proceedings are instituted shall not be a defence.
The balance of any sum paid or recovered on account of any penalty imposed under the customs and excise Acts, after paying any such compensation or costs as are mentioned in section 139 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 to persons other than the Commissioners shall, notwithstanding any local or other special right or privilege of whatever origin, be accounted for and paid to the Commissioners or as they direct.
The Commissioners may, as they see fit— but paragraph (a) above shall not apply to proceedings on indictment in Scotland.
...compound an offence (whether or not proceedings have been instituted in respect of it) and compound proceedings or for the condemnation of any thing as being forfeited under the customs and excise Acts; or
restore, subject to such conditions (if any) as they think proper, any thing forfeited or seized under those Acts; or
after judgment, mitigate or remit any pecuniary penalty imposed under those Acts; or
order any person who has been imprisoned to be discharged before the expiration of his term of imprisonment, being a person imprisoned for any offence under those Acts or in respect of the non-payment of a penalty or other sum adjudged to be paid or awarded in relation to such an offence or in respect of the default of a sufficient distress to satisfy such a sum;
Any document purporting to be signed either by one or more of the Commissioners, or by their order, or by any other person with their authority, shall, until the contrary is proved, be deemed to have been so signed and to be made and issued by the Commissioners, and may be proved by the production of a copy thereof purporting to be so signed.
Without prejudice to subsection (1) above, the Documentary Evidence Act 1868 shall apply in relation to— as it applies in relation to the documents mentioned in that Act.
any document issued by the Commissioners;
any document issued before 1st April 1909, by the Commissioners of Customs or the Commissioners of Customs and the Commissioners of Inland Revenue jointly;
any document issued before that date in relation to the revenue of excise by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue,
That Act shall, as applied by subsection (2) above, have effect as if the persons mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c) of that subsection were included in the first column of the Schedule to that Act, and any of the Commissioners or any secretary or assistant secretary to the Commissioners were specified in the second column of that Schedule in connection with those persons.
A photograph of any document delivered to the Commissioners for any customs or excise purpose 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.
An averment in any process in proceedings under the customs and excise Acts— shall, until the contrary is proved, be sufficient evidence of the matter in question.
that those proceedings were instituted by the order of the Commissioners; or
that any person is or was a Commissioner, officer or constable, or a member of Her Majesty’s armed forces or coastguard; or
that any person is or was appointed or authorised by the Commissioners to discharge, or was engaged by the orders or with the concurrence of the Commissioners in the discharge of, any duty; or
that the Commissioners have or have not been satisfied as to any matter as to which they are required by any provision of those Acts to be satisfied; or
that any ship is a British ship; or
that any goods thrown overboard, staved or destroyed were so dealt with in order to prevent or avoid the seizure of those goods,
Where in any proceedings relating to customs or excise any question arises as to the place from which any goods have been brought or as to whether or not— then, where those proceedings are brought by or against the Commissioners, a law officer of the Crown or an officer, or against any other person in respect of anything purporting to have been done in pursuance of any power or duty conferred or imposed on him by or under the customs and excise Acts, the burden of proof shall lie upon the other party to the proceedings.
any duty has been paid or secured in respect of any goods; or
any goods or other things whatsoever are of the description or nature alleged in the information, writ or other process; or
any goods have been lawfully imported or lawfully unloaded from any ship, aircraft or railway vehicle; or
any goods have been lawfully loaded into any ship, aircraft or railway vehicle or lawfully exported or were lawfully waterborne; or
any goods were lawfully brought to any place for the purpose of being loaded into any ship, aircraft or railway vehicle or exported; or
any goods are or were subject to any prohibition of or restriction on their importation or exportation,
An officer of Revenue and Customs or other person authorised by the Commissioners may conduct criminal proceedings relating to an assigned matter before a court of summary jurisdiction in Scotland or Northern Ireland. .
Any person who has been admitted as a solicitor and is employed by the Commissioners may act as a solicitor in any proceedings in England, Wales or Northern Ireland relating to any assigned matter notwithstanding that he does not hold a current practising certificate.
In subsections (2), (3) and (4) below (which reproduce certain enactments not required as general provisions for the purposes of the enactments re-enacted in the Customs and Excise Acts 1979) “the outlying provisions of the customs and excise Acts” means—
the Betting and Gaming Duties Act 1972, as for the time being amended; and
all other provisions of the customs and excise Acts, as for the time being amended, which were passed before the commencement of this Act and are not re-enacted in the Customs and Excise Acts 1979.
It is hereby declared that any act or omission in respect of which a pecuniary penalty (however described) is imposed by any of the outlying provisions of the customs and excise Acts is an offence under that provision; and accordingly in this Part of this Act any reference to an offence under the customs and excise Acts includes a reference to such an act or omission.
Subject to any express provision made by the enactment in question, an offence under any of the outlying provisions of the customs and excise Acts—
where it is punishable with imprisonment for a term of 2 years, with or without a pecuniary penalty, shall be punishable either on summary conviction or on conviction on indictment;
in any other case, shall be punishable on summary conviction.
The maximum term of imprisonment which may be imposed on summary conviction in the sheriff court of an offence under any of the outlying provisions of the customs and excise Acts shall be 6 months.
Where, in Scotland, an offence under any of the outlying provisions of the customs and excise Acts is triable only summarily by virtue of subsection (3)(b) above, the penalty for the offence shall be that to which a person was liable on summary conviction of the offence immediately before 29th July 1977 (the date of the passing of the Criminal Law Act 1977) subject to any increase by virtue of section 289C(5) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 or Part IV of the Criminal Justice Act 1982.
Without prejudice to any express requirement as to security contained in the customs and excise Acts, the Commissioners may, if they see fit, require any person to give security (or further security) by bond, guarantee or otherwise for the observance of any condition in connection with customs or excise.
Any bond , guarantee or other security taken for the purposes of any assigned matter— ...
shall be taken on behalf of Her Majesty; and
shall be valid notwithstanding that it is entered into by a person under full age; and
may be cancelled at any time by or by order of the Commissioners.
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A person to whom this section applies, that is to say, a revenue trader and any person required by the Commissioners under the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 to give security in respect of any premises or place to be used for the examination of goods by an officer, shall—
provide and maintain such appliances and afford such other facilities reasonably necessary to enable an officer to take any account or make any examination or search or to perform any other of his duties on the premises of that trader or at the bonded premises or place as the Commissioners may direct;
keep any appliances so provided in a convenient place approved by the proper officer for that purpose; and
allow the proper officer at any time to use anything so provided and give him any assistance necessary for the performance of his duties.
Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of subsection (1) above shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale.
A person to whom this section applies shall provide and maintain any fitting required for the purpose of affixing any lock which the proper officer may require to affix to the premises of that person or any part thereof or to any vessel, utensil or other apparatus whatsoever kept thereon, and in default—
the fitting may be provided or any work necessary for its maintenance may be carried out by the proper officer, and any expenses so incurred shall be paid on demand by that person; and
if that person fails to pay those expenses on demand, he shall in addition be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale.
If any person to whom this section applies or any servant of his— he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 5 on the standard scale£20,000 and may be detained.
wilfully destroys or damages any such fitting as is mentioned in subsection (3) above or any lock or key provided for use therewith, or any label or seal placed on any such lock; or
improperly obtains access to any place or article secured by any such lock; or
has any such fitting or any article intended to be secured by means thereof so constructed that that intention is defeated,
The proper officer of Revenue and Customs may require any person entering or leaving the United Kingdom—
to produce the person's passport or travel documents for examination, or
to answer any questions put by the proper officer of Revenue and Customs about the person's journey.
In subsection (1) “passport” means—
a United Kingdom passport (within the meaning of the Immigration Act 1971),
a passport issued by or on behalf of the authorities of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom, or by or on behalf of an international organisation, or
a document that can be used (in some or all circumstances) instead of a passport.
Subsections (1) and (2) apply in relation to a transit air passenger arriving at the passenger's final destination in the United Kingdom as they apply in relation to a person entering the United Kingdom.
For the purposes of subsection (3) a transit air passenger is a person— and the passenger's final destination is the destination of the continued or resumed journey.
who has arrived by air in the United Kingdom; and
whose journey is continued or resumed by air to a destination in the United Kingdom which is not the place where the person is regarded for the purposes of this section as entering the United Kingdom;
Without prejudice to any other power conferred by the Customs and Excise Acts 1979, an officer may examine and take account of any goods— and may for that purpose open or unpack any container or require any container to be opened or unpacked and search it or anything in it. .
which are imported; or
which are in a warehouse or Queen’s warehouse; or
which are subject to the control of any officer of Revenue and Customs as a result of Part 1 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018; or
which have been loaded into any ship or aircraft at any place in the United Kingdom or the Isle of Man; or
which have been discharged from a Customs procedure under Part 1 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 so far as necessary for the purpose of verifying any Customs declaration or any document required to accompany it; or
which are declared for exportation or for use as stores; or
which are brought to any place in the United Kingdom for exportation or for shipment for exportation or as stores; or
which are in a free zone; or
in the case of which any claim for drawback, allowance, rebate, remission or repayment of duty is made;
Any examination of goods by an officer under the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 shall be made at such place as the Commissioners appoint for the purpose.
In the case of such goods as the Commissioners may direct, and subject to such conditions as they see fit to impose, an officer may permit goods to be skipped on the quay or bulked, sorted, lotted, packed or repacked before account is taken thereof.
Any opening, unpacking, weighing, measuring, repacking, bulking, sorting, lotting, marking, numbering, loading, unloading, carrying or landing of goods or their containers for the purposes of, or incidental to, the examination by an officer, removal or warehousing thereof shall be done, and any facilities or assistance required for any such examination shall be provided, by or at the expense of the proprietor of the goods ; but if an officer opens or unpacks any container, or searches it or anything in it, the Commissioners are to bear the expense of doing so.
If any imported goods which an officer has power under the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 to examine are without the authority of the proper officer removed from customs and excise charge before they have been examined, those goods shall be liable to forfeiture.
But, in the case of anything done for the purpose of verifying any Customs declaration or any document required to accompany it—
the reference in subsection (4) to the proprietor of the goods is a reference to the declarant, and
if, while the goods are being moved to a place for examination, an act which was not authorised by the Commissioners is, without reasonable excuse, done by any person in relation to the goods, the declarant is liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale.
If any goods falling within subsection (5) above are removed by a person with intent to defraud Her Majesty of any duty chargeable thereon or to evade any prohibition or restriction for the time being in force with respect thereto under or by virtue of any enactment, that person shall be guilty of an offence under this subsection and may be detained.
In subsection (4A) “the declarant”, in relation to a Customs declaration in respect of any goods, means—
the person who has made the declaration, or
the person on whose behalf it was made.
A person guilty of an offence under subsection (6) above shall be liable—
on summary conviction, to a penalty of the prescribed sum £20,000 or of three times the value of the goods, whichever is the greater, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to both; or
on conviction on indictment, to a penalty of any amount, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years, or to both.
Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this section, where by this section or by or under any other provision of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 an account is authorised or required to be taken of any goods for any purpose by an officer, the Commissioners may, with the consent of the proprietor of the goods, accept as the account of those goods for that purpose an account taken by such other person as may be approved in that behalf by both the Commissioners and the proprietor of the goods.
An officer may at any time take samples of any goods—
which he is empowered by the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 to examine; or
which are on premises where goods chargeable with any duty are manufactured, prepared or subjected to any process; or
which, being dutiable goods, are held by any person as stock for his business or as materials for manufacture or processing.
Where an officer takes from any vessel, pipe or utensil on the premises of a revenue trader to whom this subsection applies, a sample of any product of, or of any materials for, the manufacture of that trader—
the trader may, if he wishes, stir up and mix together the contents of that vessel, pipe or utensil before the sample is taken; and
the sample taken by the officer shall be deemed to be representative of the whole contents of that vessel, pipe or utensil.
Any sample taken under this section shall be disposed of and accounted for in such manner as the Commissioners may direct.
The revenue traders to whom subsection (2) applies are persons who produce alcoholic products or vaping products.
Where any sample is taken under this section from any goods chargeable with a duty of excise after that duty has been paid, other than— and the sample so taken is to be retained, the officer taking it shall, if so required by the person in possession of the goods, pay for the sample on behalf of the Commissioners such sum as reasonably represents the wholesale value thereof.
a sample taken when goods are imported; or
a sample taken from goods in respect of which a claim for drawback, allowance, rebate, remission or repayment of that duty is being made,
The powers conferred by this section are exercisable by an officer having a writ of assistance if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that anything liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts—
is kept or concealed in any building or place, and
is likely to be removed, destroyed or lost before a search warrant can be obtained and executed.
The powers are—
to enter the building or place at any time, whether by day or night, on any day, and search for, seize, and detain or remove any such thing, and
so far as is necessary for the purpose of such entry, search, seizure, detention or removal, to break open any door, window or container and force and remove any other impediment or obstruction.
An officer shall not exercise the power of entry conferred by this section by night unless accompanied by a constable.
A writ of assistance shall continue in force during the reign in which it is issued and for six months thereafter.
Where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that any still, vessel, utensil, spirits or materials for the manufacture of spirits is or are unlawfully kept or deposited in any building or place, subsections (3) and (4) above shall apply in relation to any constable as they would apply in relation to an officer.
A writ of assistance shall continue in force during the reign in which it is issued and for 6 months thereafter.
Where any thing conveyed by a pipe-line is chargeable with a duty of customs and excise which has not been paid, an officer may enter any land adjacent to the pipe-line in order to get to the pipe-line for the purpose of exercising in relation to that thing any power conferred by or under the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 or by or under Part 1 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 or to get from the pipe-line after an exercise of any such power. This section does not extend to Northern Ireland.
This section applies if, for the purpose of verifying any Customs declaration or any document required to accompany it—
goods are examined under section 159, or
a sample of any goods is taken under section 160.
The declarant is entitled to be present or represented when the goods are examined or the sample is taken.
The Commissioners may require the declarant to be present or represented when the goods are examined or the sample is taken, and a person who, without reasonable excuse, contravenes or fails to comply with a direction under this subsection is liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale.
Once any goods have been examined or a sample from them has been taken (“the examined or sampled goods”), the Commissioners are entitled to regard the examined or sampled goods as representative of all the goods (“the declared goods”) in respect of which the declaration is made.
But if the declarant proves to the satisfaction of the Commissioners that the examined or sampled goods do not represent all the declared goods, the declarant may require the Commissioners to re-examine any of the declared goods or take a further sample from them.
If the declared goods are no longer under the control of the Commissioners, they may refuse the request if they are not satisfied that the declared goods have remained in the same condition as they were in when they ceased to be under the control of the Commissioners.
In this section “the declarant”, in relation to a Customs declaration in respect of any goods, means—
the person who has made the declaration, or
the person on whose behalf it was made.
Without prejudice to any other power conferred by the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 or Part 1 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018, where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that any vehicle ... is or may be carrying any goods which are— any officer or constable or member of Her Majesty’s armed forces or coastguard may stop and search that vehicle ....
chargeable with any duty which has not been paid or secured; or
in the course of being unlawfully removed from or to any place; or
otherwise liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts,
If when so required by any such officer, constable or member the person in charge of any such vehicle ... refuses to stop or to permit the vehicle ... to be searched, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale.
The officer, constable or member may use reasonable force if necessary for the purpose of exercising the power in subsection (1).
... The power to stop and search in subsection (1) above shall not be available in respect of aircraft which are airborne.
Where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that any person to whom this section applies (referred to in this section as “the suspect”) is carrying any article— an officer may exercise the powers conferred by subsection (2) below and, if the suspect is not under arrest, may detain him for so long as may be necessary for the exercise of those powers and (where applicable) the exercise of the rights conferred by subsection (3) below.
which is chargeable with any duty which has not been paid or secured; or
with respect to the importation or exportation of which any prohibition or restriction is for the time being in force under or by virtue of any enactment.
The officer may require the suspect— as the officer may consider necessary or expedient; but no such requirement may be imposed under paragraph (b) above without the officer informing the suspect of the effect of subsection (3) below.
to permit such a search of any article which he has with him; and
subject to subsection (3) below, to submit to such searches of his person, whether rub-down, strip or intimate,
If the suspect is required to submit to a search of his person, he may require to be taken— and the justice or superior shall consider the grounds for suspicion and direct accordingly whether the suspect is to submit to the search.
except in the case of a rub-down search, before a justice of the peace or a superior of the officer concerned; and
in the excepted case, before such a superior;
This section applies to the following persons, namely—
any person who is on board or has landed from any ship or aircraft;
any person entering or about to leave the United Kingdom;
any person within the dock area of a port;
any person at a regulated aerodrome;
any person in, entering or leaving any approved wharf or temporary storage facility which is not in a port;
any person in, entering or leaving a railway customs area;
in Northern Ireland, any person travelling from or to any place which is on or beyond the boundary.
any person who is on board a railway vehicle which—
is in a railway customs area,
has entered the United Kingdom but has not yet arrived at a railway customs area in the course of its journey, or
has left a railway customs area and has not yet left the United Kingdom in the course of its journey;
any person in, entering or leaving a free zone;
A rub-down or strip search shall not be carried out except by a person of the same sex as the suspect; and an intimate search shall not be carried out except by a suitably qualified person.
In this section— “suitably qualified person” means a registered medical practitioner or a registered nurse.
“rub-down search” means any search which is neither an intimate search nor a strip search;
“strip search” means any search which is not an intimate search but which involves the removal of an article of clothing which—
is being worn (wholly or partly) on the trunk; and
is being so worn either next to the skin or next to an article of underwear;
Notwithstanding anything in subsection (4) of section 48 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1987 (detention and questioning by customs officers), detention of the suspect under subsection (1) above shall not prevent his subsequent detention under subsection (1) of that section.
If a justice of the peace is satisfied by information upon oath given by an officer that there are reasonable grounds to suspect that anything liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts is kept or concealed in any building or place, he may by warrant under his hand authorise any officer, and any person accompanying an officer, to enter and search the building or place named in the warrant.
An officer or other person so authorised has power—
to enter the building or place at any time, whether by day or night, on any day, and search for, seize, and detain or remove any such thing, and
so far as is necessary for the purpose of such entry, search, seizure, detention or removal, to break open any door, window or container and force and remove any other impediment or obstruction.
The power in subsection (2)(a) includes power to search for and remove documents relating to any such thing (including documents about title, storage and movement).
Where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that any still, vessel, utensil, spirits or materials for the manufacture of spirits or vaping products is or are unlawfully kept or deposited in any building or place, subsections (1), (2) and (2A) above apply in relation to any constable as they would apply in relation to an officer.
The powers conferred by a warrant under this section are exercisable until the end of the period of one month beginning with the day on which the warrant is issued.
A person other than a constable shall not exercise the power of entry conferred by this section by night unless accompanied by a constable.
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If any person requests an officer or a person appointed by the Commissioners to transact any business relating to an assigned matter with him on behalf of another person, the officer or person so appointed may refuse to transact that business with him unless written authority from that other person is produced in such form as the Commissioners may direct.
Subject to subsection (1) above, anything required by the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 to be done by the importer or exporter of any goods may, except where the Commissioners otherwise require, be done on his behalf by an agent.
For the purposes of import duty, this section has effect only to the extent that alternative provision has not been made by Part 1 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 (see, in particular, section 21 of that Act).
Without prejudice to any other power conferred by the Customs and Excise Acts 1979, where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that a person in the United Kingdom (referred to in this section as “the suspect”) has with him, or at the place where he is, any goods to which this section applies, an officer may—
require the suspect to permit a search of any article that he has with him or at that place, and
if the suspect is not under arrest, detain him (and any such article) for so long as may be necessary to carry out the search.
The goods to which this section applies are alcoholic products, vaping products, or tobacco products, which are—
chargeable with any duty of excise, and
liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts.
Notwithstanding anything in subsection (4) of section 24 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 (detention and questioning by customs officers), detention of the suspect under subsection (1) above shall not prevent his subsequent detention under subsection (1) of that section.
The provisions of this Act which fall within subsection (2) (search powers for officers of Revenue and Customs etc.) apply in accordance with subsection (3)—
for the purposes of searching for cash—
which is recoverable property or is intended by any person for use in unlawful conduct; and
the amount of which is not less than the minimum amount;
for the purposes of searching for cash to ensure compliance with the Cash Control Regulation; or
for purposes connected to any such purposes.
The provisions of this Act which fall within this subsection are—
section 28(1) (powers of access etc.);
section 77(1) and (2) (information powers);
section 159(1) to (4) (powers to examine and take account of goods); and
section 164 (power to search persons including intimate searches).
Those provisions apply for the purposes mentioned in subsection (1) as if—
any reference in them to goods included a reference to cash; and
in section 164(1)—
the reference to an article were a reference to cash; and
paragraphs (a) and (b) were omitted.
The Treasury may by regulations provide for—
any provision of this Act to apply with modifications for the purposes of the provisions applied by subsections (1) to (3), or
any other enactment to apply, with or without modifications, for the purposes of the provisions so applied.
This section does not limit the scope of any powers that exist apart from this section (whether under this Act or otherwise).
In this section—
This section applies if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that a person to whom section 164 applies is carrying an electronic device storing child sexual abuse images.
If this section applies, an officer may—
scan the information stored on the device using technology approved by the Secretary of State for the purpose of ascertaining whether information stored on an electronic device includes child sexual abuse images,
require the person to permit the scan, and
require the person to take such steps as appear necessary to allow the scan to be performed.
In this section—
“child sexual abuse image” means—
in relation to Scotland, an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child;
If any person either knowingly or recklessly— being a document or statement produced or made for any purpose of any assigned matter, which is untrue in any material particular, he shall be guilty of an offence under this subsection and may be detained; and any goods in relation to which the document or statement was made shall be liable to forfeiture.
makes or signs, or causes to be made or signed, or delivers or causes to be delivered to the Commissioners or an officer, any declaration, notice, certificate or other document whatsoever; or
makes any statement in answer to any question put to him by an officer which he is required by or under any enactment to answer,
Without prejudice to subsection (4) below, a person who commits an offence under subsection (1) above shall be liable—
on summary conviction, to a penalty of the prescribed sum£20,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to both; or
on conviction on indictment, to a penalty of any amount, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, or to both.
If any person— being a document or statement produced or made for any purpose of any assigned matter, which is untrue in any material particular, then, without prejudice to subsection (4) below, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of level 4 on the standard scale.
makes or signs, or causes to be made or signed, or delivers or causes to be delivered to the Commissioners or an officer, any declaration, notice, certificate or other document whatsoever; or
makes any statement in answer to any question put to him by an officer which he is required by or under any enactment to answer.
Where by reason of any such document or statement as is mentioned in subsection (1) or (3) above the full amount of any duty payable is not paid or any overpayment is made in respect of any drawback, allowance, rebate or repayment of duty, the amount of the duty unpaid or of the overpayment shall be recoverable as a debt due to the Crown or may be summarily recovered as a civil debt.
An amount of excise duty, or the amount of an overpayment in respect of any drawback, allowance, rebate or repayment of any excise duty, shall not be recoverable as mentioned in subsection (4) above unless the Commissioners have assessed the amount of the duty or of the overpayment as being excise duty due from the person mentioned in subsection (1) or (3) above and notified him or his representative accordingly.
If any person— he shall be guilty of an offence under this section and may be detained.
counterfeits or falsifies any document which is required by or under any enactment relating to an assigned matter or which is used in the transaction of any business relating to an assigned matter; or
knowingly accepts, receives or uses any such document so counterfeited or falsified; or
alters any such document after it is officially issued; or
counterfeits any seal, signature, initials or other mark of, or used by, any officer for the verification of such a document or for the security of goods or for any other purpose relating to an assigned matter,
A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—
on summary conviction, to a penalty of the prescribed sum£20,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to both; or
on conviction on indictment, to a penalty of any amount, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, or to both.
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If any person required by or under the customs and excise Acts to provide scales for any purpose of those Acts provides, uses or permits to be used any scales which are false or unjust he shall be guilty of an offence under this section.
Where any article is or is to be weighed, counted, gauged or measured for the purposes of the taking of an account or the making of an examination by an officer, then if— does anything whereby the officer is or might be prevented from, or hindered or deceived in, taking a true and just account or making a due examination, he shall be guilty of an offence under this section. This subsection applies whether the thing is done before, during or after the weighing, counting, gauging or measuring of the article in question.
any such person as is mentioned in subsection (1) above ; or
any person by whom or on whose behalf the article is weighed, counted, gauged or measured,
Any person committing an offence under this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of £200 and any false or unjust scales, and any article in connection with which the offence was committed, shall be liable to forfeiture.
In this section " scales" includes weights, measures and weighing or measuring machines or instruments.
Without prejudice to any other provision of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979, if any person— and does so with intent to defraud Her Majesty of any duty payable on the goods or to evade any such prohibition or restriction with respect to the goods he shall be guilty of an offence under this section and may be detained.
knowingly acquires possession of any of the following goods, that is to say—
goods which have been unlawfully removed from a warehouse or Queen’s warehouse;
goods which are chargeable with a duty which has not been paid;
goods with respect to the importation or exportation of which any prohibition or restriction is for the time being in force under or by virtue of any enactment; or
is in any way knowingly concerned in carrying, removing, depositing, harbouring, keeping or concealing or in any manner dealing with any such goods,
Without prejudice to any other provision of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979, if any person is, in relation to any goods, in any way knowingly concerned in any fraudulent evasion or attempt at evasion— he shall be guilty of an offence under this section and may be detained.
of any duty chargeable on the goods;
of any prohibition or restriction for the time being in force with respect to the goods under or by virtue of any enactment; or
of any provision of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979, or Part 1 or section 40A or 40B of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018, applicable to the goods,
Subject to subsection (4), (4A) or (4B) below, a person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—
on summary conviction, to a penalty of the prescribed sum £20,000 or of three times the value of the goods, whichever is the greater, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to both; or
on conviction on indictment, to a penalty of any amount, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years, or to both.
In the case of an offence under this section in connection with prohibition or restriction on importation or exportation having effect by virtue of section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, subsection (3) above shall have effect subject to the modifications specified in Schedule 1 to this Act.
In any case where a person would, apart from this subsection, be guilty of— he shall not be guilty of the offence mentioned in paragraph (a) of this subsection.
an offence under this section in connection with a prohibition or restriction; and
a corresponding offence under the enactment or other instrument imposing the prohibition or restriction, being an offence for which a fine or other penalty is expressly provided by that enactment or other instrument,
In the case of— subsection (3)(b) above shall have effect as if for the words “imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years” there were substituted the words “ imprisonment for life ”.
an offence under subsection (1) or (2) above committed in Great Britain in connection with a prohibition or restriction on the importation or exportation of any weapon or ammunition that is of a kind mentioned in section 5(1)(a), (ab), (aba), (ac), (ad), (ae), (af) , (ag), (ba) or (c) or (1A)(a) of the Firearms Act 1968, or
any such offence committed in Northern Ireland in connection with a prohibition or restriction on the importation or exportation of any weapon or ammunition that is of a kind mentioned in Article 6(1)(a), (ab), (ac), (ad), (ae) or (c) or (1A)(a) Article 45(1)(a), , (aa) (b), (c), (d), (e), (ea), (fa) or (g) or (2)(a) of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004, ...
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In any case where a person would, apart from this subsection, be guilty of— (b)a corresponding offence under the enactment or other instrument imposing the prohibition or restriction, being an offence for which a fine or other penalty is expressly provided by that enactment or other instrument, he shall not be guilty of the offence mentioned in paragraph (a) of this subsection.
Where any person is guilty of an offence under this section, the goods in respect of which the offence was committed shall be liable to forfeiture.
Where— that person shall be liable to that punishment for each such offence, contravention or failure of which he is so convicted.
by any provision of any enactment relating to an assigned matter a punishment is prescribed for any offence thereunder or for any contravention of or failure to comply with any regulation, direction, condition or requirement made, given or imposed thereunder; and
any person is convicted in the same proceedings of more than one such offence, contravention or failure,
In this Act the “prescribed sum”, in relation to the penalty provided for an offence, means— and in subsection (1)(a) above, the reference to a provision by which a punishment is prescribed includes a reference to a provision which makes a person liable to a penalty of the prescribed sum within the meaning of this subsection.
if the offence was committed in England or Wales, the prescribed sum within the meaning of section 32 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (£1,000 or other sum substituted by order under section 143(1) of that Act);
if the offence was committed in Scotland, the prescribed sum within the meaning of subsection (8) of section 225 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (£5,000 or other sum substituted by order under subsection (4) of that section);
if the offence was committed in Northern Ireland, the prescribed sum within the meaning of Article 4 of the Fines and Penalties (Northern Ireland) Order 1984 (£1,000 or other sum substituted by order under Article 17 of that Order);
Where a penalty for an offence under any enactment relating to an assigned matter is required to be fixed by reference to the value of any goods, that value shall be taken as the price which those goods might reasonably be expected to have fetched, after payment of any duty or tax chargeable thereon, if they had been sold in the open market at or about the date of the commission of the offence for which the penalty is imposed.
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Where an offence under any enactment relating to an assigned matter which has been committed by a body coporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate or any person purporting to act in any such capacity, he as well as the body corporate shall be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. In this subsection “director”, in relation to any body corporate established by or under any enactment for the purpose of carrying on under national ownership any industry or part of an industry or undertaking, being a body corporate whose affairs are managed by the members thereof, means a member of that body corporate.
Where in any proceedings for an offence under the customs and excise Acts any question arises as to the duty or the rate thereof chargeable on any imported goods, and it is not possible to ascertain the time at which a liability to import duty is incurred or the relevant excise duty point, that duty or rate shall be determined as if the time when the proceedings were commenced was the time at which the liability to import duty was incurred or, as the case may be, as if the time when the proceedings were commenced was the relevant excise duty point.
Subsection (4) shall not apply to an offence which relates to a matter listed in Schedule 1 to the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (former Inland Revenue matters).
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If any person is knowingly concerned in the taking of any steps with a view to the fraudulent evasion, whether by himself or another, of any duty of excise on any goods, he shall be liable—
on summary conviction, to a penalty of the prescribed sum £20,000 or of three times the amount of the duty, whichever is the greater, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both; and
on conviction on indictment, to a penalty of any amount or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years or to both.
Where any person is guilty of an offence under this section, the goods in respect of which the offence was committed shall be liable to forfeiture.
The Commissioners may by regulations make provision for the purpose of monitoring, or controlling, the movement of goods that pose, or might pose, a risk to—
public health or public safety,
national security, or
the environment (including the health of animals or plants).
The Commissioners may by regulations make provision for the purpose of implementing any international obligation of the United Kingdom relating to the movement of goods.
Regulations under subsection (1) or (2) may, in particular, include provision—
requiring records to be kept or information to be provided,
requiring declarations to be made,
requiring or authorising persons or vehicles to be searched,
requiring or authorising samples of goods to be taken,
requiring or authorising goods to be examined, sealed, locked, marked, seized, detained or disposed of, or
otherwise imposing restrictions or prohibitions with respect to the movement of goods.
A reference in this section to the movement of goods is to their movement into or out of the United Kingdom or within the United Kingdom, and includes a reference to their loading or unloading.
In this section “international obligation of the United Kingdom” includes any obligation of the United Kingdom that arises under an international agreement or arrangement to which the United Kingdom is a party (whenever the United Kingdom becomes a party to it).
The power to make regulations under subsection (2) in relation to an international obligation arising under an international agreement or arrangement is capable of being exercised before the international agreement or arrangement comes into effect.
Regulations under section 166A may include provision—
disapplying or simplifying specified requirements imposed by the relevant legislation in relation to things required or authorised to be done by authorised economic operators, or
requiring the Commissioners or the Treasury to have regard to the status of a person as an authorised economic operator when considering whether or not, or how, to exercise any power or other function for the purposes of the relevant legislation.
In this section—
Regulations made by virtue of this section may, in particular—
specify the criteria to be applied in determining whether or not any person should be an authorised economic operator;
specify those criteria by reference to professional standards of competence (as set by any specified person) or by reference to anything else (including the judgment of any person as to suitability);
make provision for a person's status as an authorised economic operator to be subject to compliance with conditions specified in the regulations or in the authorisation;
establish different classes of authorised economic operator.
Regulations under section 166A may—
confer a discretion;
authorise fees to be charged in respect of the exercise of a function of the Commissioners, the Treasury or another public body;
make provision for enforcement, including provision about civil sanctions;
make provision for reviews or appeals in relation to decisions made in the exercise of a function of the Commissioners, the Treasury or another public body;
make different provision for different cases or circumstances or for different areas;
make supplementary, incidental, consequential, transitional, transitory or saving provision.
Regulations under section 166A may provide for requirements of an administrative nature relating to— to be specified by a public notice.
any requirement or condition imposed by the regulations, or
any declaration or application for which provision is made by the regulations,
The requirements that may be specified by virtue of subsection (2) include—
requirements about keeping records and other evidence;
requirements about the submission of evidence;
requirements about the form and content of anything that must or may be provided;
requirements about the manner in which, and the time within which, any such thing is to be provided.
Regulations under section 166A may not—
impose or vary the amount of any duty or other form of taxation, or
establish a public authority.
Regulations under section 166A may not include— unless the provision is merely incidental to, or consequential on, provision that would be outside that legislative competence.
provision that would be within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament if it were included in an Act of that Parliament,
provision that would be within the legislative competence of Senedd Cymru if it were included in an Act of Senedd Cymru, or
provision that would be within the legislative competence of the Northern Ireland Assembly if it were included in an Act of that Assembly,
A power to make regulations under section 166A may be exercised by modifying any enactment.
In this section—
Any power to make regulations under this Act shall be exercisable by statutory instrument.
Subject to subsections (3) and (4) below, a statutory instrument containing regulations made under this Act shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
A statutory instrument containing regulations made under section 5, 20, 20B, 22, 25, 26(1ZA), 35A or 64 above shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the House of Commons.
A statutory instrument containing (whether alone or with other provision) regulations under section 166A that amend (or repeal or revoke)— may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before each House of Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House.
an Act of Parliament,
an Act of the Scottish Parliament,
an Act or Measure of Senedd Cymru, or
Northern Ireland legislation,
Directions given under any provision of this Act may make different provision for different circumstances and may be varied or revoked by subsequent directions thereunder.
For the purposes of the customs and excise Acts, subject to section 6(2) and (3) of the Customs and Excise Duties (General Reliefs) Act 1979 and subsection (2) below, goods removed into the United Kingdom from the Isle of Man shall be deemed not to be imported into the United Kingdom.
Subsection (1) above shall not apply to the removal of—
any explosives within the meaning of the Explosives Act 1875 on the unloading or landing of which any restriction is for the time being in force under or by virtue of that Act; or
copies of copyright works to which section 22 of the Copyright Act 1956 applies.
For the purposes of the customs and excise Acts, subject to subsection (4) below, goods removed from the United Kingdom to the Isle of Man shall be deemed not to be exported from the United Kingdom.
Any enactment relating to the allowance of drawback of any excise duty on the exportation from the United Kingdom of any goods shall have effect, subject to such conditions and modifications as the Commissioners may by regulations prescribe, as if the removal of such goods to the Isle of Man were the exportation of the goods.
In the application of this Act to Scotland—
any reference to costs shall be construed as a reference to expenses;
any provision that any amount shall be recoverable summarily as a civil debt shall be construed as if the word “summarily” were omitted;
any reference to a plaintiff shall be construed as a reference to a pursuer;
any reference to a magistrates’ court shall be construed as a reference to the sheriff court.
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Subject to the following provisions of this section, and save as expressly provided in section 102 above, the provisions of this Act relating to excise shall not apply in relation to the excise duties on licences to kill game and on licences to deal in game (which, by virtue of the Order in Council made under section 6 of the Finance Act 1908, are leviable by local, authorities).
The Treasury may by order provide that, subject to such modifications, if any, as may be specified in the order, any provision of this Act so specified which confers or imposes powers, duties or liabilities with respect to excise duties and to the issue and cancellation of excise licences on which those duties are imposed and to other matters relating to excise duties and licences shall have effect in relation to a local authority and their officers with respect to the duties and licences referred to in subsection (1) above as they have effect in relation to the Commissioners and officers with respect to other excise duties and licences; and those provisions and, subject as aforesaid, any provisions relating to punishments and penalties in connection therewith shall have effect accordingly.
Any order under this section shall be made by statutory instrument and may amend the Order in Council made under section 6 of the Finance Act 1908.
Notwithstanding anything in section 145 above as applied under subsection (2) above, a local authority may authorise the bringing by any constable of proceedings, or any particular proceedings, for an offence under this or any other Act relating to the duties referred to in subsection (1) above.
A document purporting to be a copy of a resolution authorising the bringing of proceedings in accordance with subsection (4) above and to be signed by an officer of the local authority shall be evidence, until the contrary is shown, that the bringing of the proceedings was duly authorised.
This section extends to England and Wales only.
The enactments specified in Schedule 4 to this Act shall be amended in accordance with the provisions of that Schedule.
The enactments specified in Schedule 6 to this Act are hereby repealed to the extent specified in the third column of that Schedule.
The saving and transitional provisions contained in Schedule 7 to this Act shall have effect.
The provisions of Schedules 4, 5 and 7 to this Act shall not be taken as prejudicing the operation of sections 15 to 17 of the Interpretation Act 1978 (which relate to the effect of repeals).
This Act may be cited as the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.
This Act, the Customs and Excise Duties (General Reliefs) Act 1979, ... the Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 1979 ... and the Tobacco Products Duty Act 1979 may be cited together as the Customs and Excise Acts 1979.
This Act shall come into operation on 1st April 1979.
The Commissioners may by regulations require every revenue trader—
to keep such records as may be prescribed in the regulations; and
to preserve those records for such period not exceeding six years as may be prescribed in the regulations or for such lesser period as the Commissioners may specify in writing (and different lesser periods may be specified for different cases) .
Regulations under this section—
may make different provision for different cases; and
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.
A duty imposed by this section to preserve records may be discharged— subject to any conditions or exceptions specified in writing by the Commissioners.
by preserving them in any form and by any means, or
by preserving the information contained in them in any form and by any means,
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Every revenue trader shall—
furnish to the Commissioners, within such time and in such form as they may reasonably require, such information relating to— as they may reasonably specify; and
any goods or services supplied by or to him in the course or furtherance of a business, or
any goods in the importation or exportation of which he is concerned in the course or furtherance of a business, or
any transaction or activity effected or taking place in the course or furtherance of a business,
upon demand made by an officer, produce or cause to be produced for inspection by that officer— any documents relating to the goods or services or to the supply, importation or exportation or to the transaction or activity.
at the principal place of business of the revenue trader or at such other place as the officer may reasonably require, and
at such time as the officer may reasonably require,
Where, by virtue of subsection (1) above, an officer has power to require the production of any documents from a revenue trader—
he shall have the like power to require production of the documents concerned from any other person who appears to the officer to be in possession of them; but
if that other person claims a lien on any document produced by him, the production shall be without prejudice to the lien.
For the purposes of this section, the documents relating to the supply of goods or services, or the importation or exportation of goods, in the course or furtherance of any business , or to any transaction or activity effected or taking place in the course or furtherance of any business,shall be taken to include— relating to that business.
any profit and loss account and balance sheet, and
any records required to be kept by virtue of section 118A above,
An officer may take copies of, or make extracts from, any document produced under subsection (1) or (2) above.
If it appears to an officer to be necessary to do so, he may, at a reasonable time and for a reasonable period, remove any document produced under subsection (1) or (2) above and shall, on request, provide a receipt for any document so removed.
Where a lien is claimed on a document produced under subsection (2) above, the removal of the document under subsection (5) above shall not be regarded as breaking the lien.
Where a document removed by an officer under subsection (5) 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.
Where any documents removed under the powers conferred by this section 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.
An officer may by notice in writing require a person to provide documents if—
they are reasonably required by the officer for the purpose of protecting, securing, collecting or managing revenues derived from duties of excise, and
the officer has reasonable cause to believe that the person is in possession or control of them.
An officer may not give a notice under this section without the approval of the tribunal.
An application for approval may be made without notice (except as required under subsection (4)).
The tribunal may not give its approval unless—
it is satisfied that, in the circumstances, the officer proposing to give the notice is justified in doing so,
the person to whom the notice is to be given has been told that the documents are required and given a reasonable opportunity to make representations to an officer, and
the tribunal has been given a summary of any representations made by that person.
Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (4) do not apply to the extent that the tribunal is satisfied that taking the action specified in those paragraphs might prejudice the protection, security, collection or management of revenues derived from duties of excise.
A decision of the tribunal under this section is final (despite the provisions of sections 11 and 13 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007).
The following provisions of Schedule 36 to the Finance Act 2008 apply to a notice under this section as they apply to an information notice—
paragraphs 7 and 8 (complying with notices and producing copies of documents),
paragraphs 15 and 16 (powers to copy and remove documents),
Part 4 (restrictions on powers) except paragraphs 21, 21A and 28, and
Part 9 (miscellaneous provisions and interpretation) so far as relevant to the provisions listed above.
The powers in this section apply to information as they apply to documents (and “documents” is to be read accordingly).
Nothing in this section affects or limits section 118B.
This section applies to premises if an officer has reasonable cause to believe that—
the premises are used in connection with the supply, importation or exportation of goods of a class or description chargeable with a duty of excise, and
any such goods, or documents relating to any such goods, are on the premises.
The officer may at any reasonable time enter and inspect the premises and inspect—
any goods found on the premises, and
any documents found on the premises that appear to the officer to relate to the supply, importation or exportation of goods of a class or description chargeable to duty of excise.
For the purposes of this section—
it does not matter if the premises are used partly for a purpose mentioned in subsection (1)(a) and partly for other purposes (including as a dwelling), but
the officer may not enter or inspect any part of the premises that is used solely as a dwelling.
Premises used to hold or store goods in connection with their supply, importation or exportation are taken to be premises used in connection with the supply, importation or exportation of goods, regardless of who owns or occupies the premises.
Subsection (2) applies to premises if an officer has reasonable cause to believe that—
section 10 gaming is taking place, has taken place or is about to take place on the premises, or
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.
The officer may at any reasonable time enter and inspect the premises and inspect—
accounts, records and other documents in the custody or control of any relevant person, and
any relevant equipment.
Subsection (1) does not permit an officer to enter or inspect a particular part of premises if—
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
the part is used solely as a dwelling.
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—
to open relevant equipment, and
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.
A “relevant person” is—
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
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.
“Relevant equipment” is—
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
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.
In this section—
“section 10 gaming” means gaming to which section 10 of the Finance Act 1997 applies, and
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.
Subsection (2) applies to premises if an officer has reasonable cause to believe that—
betting facilities are being provided, have been provided or are to be provided there,
a totalisator is being operated, has been operated or is to be operated there, or
any business in respect of which a person is or may become liable to remote gaming duty is being carried on, has been carried on or is to be carried on there.
The officer may at any reasonable time enter and inspect the premises and inspect—
accounts, records and other documents in the custody or control of a relevant person, and
any relevant equipment.
Subsection (1) does not permit an officer to enter or inspect a particular part of premises if—
the officer has no reasonable cause to believe that paragraph (a), (b) or (as the case may be) (c) of that subsection is satisfied with respect to that particular part, and
that part is used only as a dwelling.
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—
to open any relevant equipment, and
to carry out any other operation that may be necessary to enable the officer to ascertain whether any general betting duty, pool betting duty or remote gaming duty is payable in respect of it and, if so, how much.
A “relevant person” is a person—
who by virtue of being a bookmaker, being treated by section 133 of the Finance Act 2014 as a bookmaker or providing facilities for making bets is liable to general betting duty,
who by virtue of being a bookmaker is liable to pool betting duty,
who by virtue of entering into arrangements for chargeable persons to participate in remote gaming is liable to remote gaming duty, or
who is reasonably suspected by the officer of being, having been or being about to become liable as mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c).
“Relevant equipment” is equipment that is being, or that the officer reasonably suspects of having been or of being intended to be, used on the premises for or in connection with any activity that constitutes betting or gaming for the purposes of Part 3 of the Finance Act 2014 (see sections 150, 183 and 188).
Expressions used in this section and Part 3 of the Finance Act 2014 have the same meanings in this section as in that Part.
If an officer, in the course of exercising a power under section 118BB , 118BC or 118BCA, finds reason to believe that the premises are owned or used by a revenue trader (within the meaning of section 112), the officer may also exercise any power that the officer could have exercised under section 112 if the officer had entered the premises under that section.
Subsections (4) to (8) of section 118B apply to documents inspected under section 118BB , 118BC or 118BCA, as they apply to documents produced under section 118B.
The powers under sections 118BB , 118BC and 118BCA include power—
to mark items that have been inspected, and anything containing such items, for the purpose of indicating that they have been inspected, and
to obtain and record information (whether electronically or otherwise) relating to the premises, items and documents that have been inspected.
For the purpose of exercising any powers under the customs and excise Acts an officer may at any reasonable time enter premises used in connection with the carrying on of a business.
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If a justice of the peace or, in Scotland, a justice (within the meaning of section 307 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995) is satisfied on information on oath— he may issue a warrant in writing authorising, subject to subsections (6) and (7) below, any officer to enter those premises, if necessary by force, at any time within the period of one month beginning with the date of the issue of the warrant and search them.
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, ...
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Any officer who enters premises under the authority of a warrant under subsection (3) above may— but no woman or girl shall be searched by virtue of this subsection except by a woman.
take with him such other persons as appear to him to be necessary;
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 ...; and
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;
In subsections (3) and (4) above “a fraud offence” means an offence under any provision of section 167(1), 168 or 170 below ....
The powers conferred by a warrant under this section shall not be exercisable—
by more than such number of officers as may be specified in the warrant; nor
outside such times of day as may be so specified; nor
if the warrant so provides, otherwise than in the presence of a constable in uniform.
An officer seeking to exercise the powers conferred by a warrant under this section or, if there is more than one such officer, that one of them who is in charge of the search shall provide a copy of the warrant endorsed with his name as follows—
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;
if at the time the occupier is not present but a person who appears to the officer to be in charge of the premises is present, the copy shall be supplied to that person; and
if neither paragraph (a) nor paragraph (b) above applies, the copy shall be left in a prominent place on the premises.
Where, on an application by an officer, a justice of the peace or, in Scotland, a justice (within the meaning of section 307 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995) is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing— he may make an order under this section.
that an offence in connection with a duty of excise is being, has been or is about to be committed, and
that any recorded information (including any document of any nature whatsoever) which may be required as evidence for the purpose of any proceedings in respect of such an offence is in the possession of any person,
An order under this section is an order that the person who appears to the justice to be in possession of the recorded information to which the application relates shall— not later than the end of the period of seven days beginning with the date of the order or the end of such longer period as the order may specify.
give an officer access to it, and
permit an officer to remove and take away any of it which he reasonably considers necessary,
The reference in subsection (2)(a) above to giving an officer access to the recorded information to which the application relates includes a reference to permitting the officer to take copies of it or to make extracts from it.
Where the recorded information consists of information stored in any electronic form , an order under this section shall have effect as an order to produce the information in a form in which it is visible and legible or from which it can readily be produced in a visible and legible form and, if the officer wishes to remove it, in a form in which it can be removed.
This section is without prejudice to sections 118B to 118C above.
An officer who removes anything in the exercise of a power conferred by or under section 118C or 118D above shall, if so requested by a person showing himself— provide that person with a record of what he removed.
to be the occupier of premises from which it was removed, or
to have had custody or control of it immediately before the removal,
The officer shall provide the record within a reasonable time from the making of the request for it.
Subject to subsection (7) below, if a request for permission to be granted access to anything which— 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 officer.
has been removed by an officer, and
is retained by the Commissioners for the purposes of investigating an offence,
Subject to subsection (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—
allow the person who made the request access to it under the supervision of an officer for the purpose of photographing it or copying it, or
photograph or copy it, or cause it to be photographed or copied.
Where anything is photographed or copied under subsection (4)(b) above, the photograph or copy shall be supplied to the person who made the request.
The photograph or copy shall be supplied within a reasonable time from the making of the request.
There is no duty under this section to grant 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—
that investigation;
the investigation of an offence other than the offence for the purposes of the investigation of which the thing was removed; or
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.
Any reference in this section to the officer in overall charge of the investigation is a reference to the person whose name and address are endorsed on the warrant or order concerned as being the officer so in charge.
Where, on an application made as mentioned in subsection (2) below, the appropriate judicial authority is satisfied that a person has failed to comply with a requirement imposed by section 118E 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.
An application under subsection (1) above shall be made—
in the case of a failure to comply with any of the requirements imposed by subsections (1) and (2) of section 118E 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
in any other case, by the person who has such custody or control.
In this section “the appropriate judicial authority” means—
in England and Wales, a magistrates’ court;
in Scotland, the sheriff; and
in Northern Ireland, a court of summary jurisdiction, as defined in Article 2(2)(a) of the Magistrates’ Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981.
Any application for an order under this section—
in England and Wales, shall be made by way of complaint; or
in Northern Ireland, shall be made by way of civil proceedings on complaint.
Sections 21 and 42(2) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 (rules and orders regulating procedure of courts etc and assignment of business to particular courts) shall apply as if any reference in those provisions to any enactment included a reference to this section.
If any person fails to comply with any requirement imposed under section 118A(1) , 118B , 118BC(4) or 118BCA(4) above, his failure to comply shall attract a penalty under section 9 of the Finance Act 1994 (civil penalties) and, in the case of any failure to keep records, shall also attract daily penalties.
Part 7 of Schedule 36 to the Finance Act 2008 (penalties) applies to a person who fails to comply with a notice under section 118BA as it applies to a person who fails to comply with an information notice.
Part 8 of that Schedule (offences) applies in relation to documents that are or are likely to be the subject of a notice under section 118BA as it applies in relation to documents that are or are likely to be the subject of an information notice (with the reference to approval of the tribunal in accordance with paragraph 3 or 5 of that Schedule being read as a reference to approval of the tribunal in accordance with section 118BA of this Act).
Sections 50(5), 68(4) and 170(4).
shall be liable—
shall be liable—
In this Schedule Class A drug, Class B drug , “Class C drug” and “temporary class drug” have the same meanings as in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
Section 126(3).
Where under subsection (1) of the principal section imported goods of any class or desciption are chargeable with a duty of excise in respect of any article contained in the goods as a part or ingredient of them and it appears to the Treasury on the recommendation of the Commissioners that to charge the duty according to the quantity of the article used in the manufacture or preparation of the goods (as provided by the principal section) is inconvenient and of no material advantage to the revenue or to importers of goods of that class or description, then the Treasury may by order give a direction in relation to goods of that class or description under and in accordance with this paragraph. An order under this paragraph may direct that in the case of goods of the class or description to which it applies the duty chargeable shall be calculated in such of the following ways as may be provided by the order, that is to say— If it appears to the Treasury on the recommendation of the Commissioners that, in the case of goods of any class or description, the net amounts payable in the absence of any direction under this paragraph are insignificant, the order may direct that any such goods shall be treated for the purpose of the duty as not containing the article in respect of which the duty is chargeable. If it appears to the Treasury on the recommendation of the Commissioners that goods of any class or description are substantially of the same nature and use as if they consisted wholly of the article in respect of which the duty is chargeable, the order may direct that any such goods shall be treated for the purpose of the duty as consisting wholly of that article. In making an order under this paragraph the Treasury shall have regard to the quantity and (where material) the type or quality of the article in question appearing to them, on the advice of the Commissioners, to be ordinarily used in the manufacture or preparation of goods of the class or description to which the order applies which are imported into the United Kingdom.
Where a direction given by virtue of paragraph 1 above is in force as regards goods of any class or description and any article contained in them, and goods of that class or description are imported into the United Kingdom containing a quantity of that article such as, in the opinion of the Commissioners, to suggest that advantage is being taken of the direction for the purpose of evading duty on the article, the Commissioners may, notwithstanding the direction, require that on those goods the duty in question shall be calculated as if they consisted wholly of that article or (if the Commissioners see fit) shall be calculated according to the quantity of the article actually contained in the goods.
Nothing in paragraphs 1 and 2 above shall affect the powers of the Treasury under subsection (2) of the principal section; and any goods as regards which a direction under that subsection is for the time being in force shall be deemed to be excepted from any order under paragraph 1 above.
Where a direction is given by virtue of paragraph 1 above as regards imported goods of any class or description, the Treasury may by order provide that for the purpose of allowing any drawback of excise duties there shall, in such cases and subject to such conditions (if any) as may be specified in the order, be treated as paid on imported goods of that class or description the same duties as would be chargeable apart from the direction.
Where, in the case of imported goods of any class or description which contain as a part or ingredient any article chargeable with a duty of excise, drawback of the duty may be allowed in respect of the article according to the quantity contained in the goods or the quantity used in their preparation or manufacture, and it appears to the Treasury on the recommendation of the Commissioners that to allow the drawback according to that quantity is inconvenient and of no material advantage to the revenue or to the persons entitled to the drawback, then the Treasury may by order give the like directions as to the manner in which the drawback is to be calculated, or in which the goods are to be treated for the purposes of the drawback, as by virtue of paragraph 1 above they may give in relation to charging duty. For the purposes of this paragraph, the reference in paragraph 1(5) above to goods imported into the United Kingdom shall be taken as a reference to goods in the case of which the drawback may be allowed.
Where any order under paragraph 1 or 5 above directs that, for the purpose of any duty or of any drawback, goods are to be treated as not containing or as consisting wholly of a particular article, the goods shall be so treated also for the purpose of determining whether any other duty is chargeable or any other drawback may be allowed, as the case may be; but any duty or drawback which is charged or allowed shall, notwithstanding the direction, be calculated by reference to the actual quantity and value of the goods and, except for the duty or drawback to which the direction relates, by reference to their actual composition.
Where a resolution passed by the House of Commons has statutory effect under the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1968 in relation to any duty of excise charged on imported goods, and any provision about the duty contained in an order under paragraph 1 above is expressed to be made in view of the resolution, then that provision may be varied or revoked retrospectively by an order made not later than one month after the resolution ceases to have statutory effect, and that order may include provision for repayment of any duty overpaid or for other matters arising from its having retrospective effect; but no such order shall have retrospective effect for the purpose of increasing the duty chargeable on any goods.
The power to make orders under this Schedule shall be exercisable by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the House of Commons.
In this Schedule the principal section means section 126 of this Act.
Sections 139, 143 and 145.
The Commissioners shall, except as provided in sub-paragraph (2) below, give notice of the seizure of any thing as liable to forfeiture and of the grounds therefor to any person who to their knowledge was at the time of the seizure the owner or one of the owners thereof. Notice need not be given under this paragraph if the seizure was made in the presence of—
Notice under paragraph 1 above shall be given in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly served on the person concerned—
if delivered to him personally; or
if addressed to him and left or forwarded by post to him at his usual or last known place of abode or business or, in the case of a body corporate, at their registered or principal office; or
where he has no address within the United Kingdom or the Isle of Man, or his address is unknown, by publication of notice of the seizure in the London, Edinburgh or Belfast Gazette.
Any person claiming that any thing seized as liable to forfeiture is not so liable shall, within one month of the date of the notice of seizure or, where no such notice has been served on him, within one month of the date of the seizure, give notice of his claim in writing to the Commissioners at any office of customs and excise.
Any notice under paragraph 3 above shall specify the name and address of the claimant and, in the case of a claimant who is outside the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man, shall specify the name and address of a solicitor in the United Kingdom who is authorised to accept service of process and to act on behalf of the claimant. Service of process upon a solicitor so specified shall be deemed to be proper service upon the claimant.
If on the expiration of the relevant period under paragraph 3 above for the giving of notice of claim in respect of any thing no such notice has been given to the Commissioners, or if, in the case of any such notice given, any requirement of paragraph 4 above is not complied with, the thing in question shall be deemed to have been duly condemned as forfeited.
Where notice of claim in respect of any thing is duly given in accordance with paragraphs 3 and 4 above, the Commissioners shall take proceedings for the condemnation of that thing by the court, and if the court finds that the thing was at the time of seizure liable to forfeiture the court shall condemn it as forfeited.
Where any thing is in accordance with either of paragraphs 5 or 6 above condemned or deemed to have been condemned as forfeited, then, without prejudice to any delivery up or sale of the thing by the Commissioners under paragraph 16 below, the forfeiture shall have effect as from the date when the liability to forfeiture arose.
Proceedings for condemnation shall be civil proceedings and may be instituted—
in England or Wales either in the High Court or in a magistrates’ court;
in Scotland either in the Court of Session or in the sheriff court;
in Northern Ireland either in the High Court or in a court of summary jurisdiction.
Proceedings for the condemnation of any thing instituted in a magistrates’ court in England or Wales, in the sheriff court in Scotland or in a court of summary jurisdiction in Northern Ireland may be so instituted—
in any such court having jurisdiction in the place where any offence in connection with that thing was committed or where any proceedings for such an offence are instituted; or
in any such court having jurisdiction in the place where the claimant resides or, if the claimant has specified a solicitor under paragraph 4 above, in the place where that solicitor has his office; or
in any such court having jurisdiction in the place where that thing was found, detained or seized or to which it is first brought after being found, detained or seized.
In any proceedings for condemnation instituted in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, the claimant or his solicitor shall make oath that the thing seized was, or was to the best of his knowledge and belief, the property of the claimant at the time of the seizure. In any such proceedings instituted in the High Court, the claimant shall give such security for the costs of the proceedings as may be determined by the Court. If any requirement of this paragraph is not complied with, the court shall give judgment for the Commissioners.
In the case of any proceedings for condemnation instituted in a magistrates’ court in England or Wales, without prejudice to any right to require the statement of a case for the opinion of the High Court, either party may appeal against the decision of that court to the Crown Court. In the case of any proceedings for condemnation instituted in a court of summary jurisdiction in Northern Ireland, without prejudice to any right to require the statement of a case for the opinion of the High Court, either party may appeal against the decision of that court to the county court.
Where an appeal, including an appeal by way of case stated, has been made against the decision of the court in any proceedings for the condemnation of any thing, that thing shall, pending the final determination of the matter, be left with the Commissioners or at any convenient office of customs and excise.
In any proceedings arising out of the seizure of any thing, the fact, form and manner of the seizure shall be taken to have been as set forth in the process without any further evidence thereof, unless the contrary is proved.
In any proceedings, the condemnation by a court of any thing as forfeited may be proved by the production either of the order or certificate of condemnation or of a certified copy thereof purporting to be signed by an officer of the court by which the order or certificate was made or granted.
For the purposes of any claim to, or proceedings for the condemnation of, any thing, where that thing is at the time of seizure the property of a body corporate, of two or more partners or of any number of persons exceeding five, the oath required by paragraph 10 above to be taken and any other thing required by this Schedule or by any rules of the court to be done by, or by any person authorised by, the claimant or owner may be taken or done by, or by any other person authorised by, the following persons respectively, that is to say—
where the owner is a body corporate, the secretary or some duly authorised officer of that body;
where the owners are in partnership, any one of those owners;
where the owners are any number of persons exceeding five not being in partnership, any two of those persons on behalf of themselves and their co-owners.
Where any thing has been seized as liable to forfeiture the Commissioners may at any time if they see fit and notwithstanding that the thing has not yet been condemned, or is not yet deemed to have been condemned, as forfeited—
deliver it up to any claimant upon his paying to the Commissioners such sum as they think proper, being a sum not exceeding that which in their opinion represents the value of the thing, including any duty or tax chargeable thereon which has not been paid;
if the thing seized is a living creature or is in the opinion of the Commissioners of a perishable nature, sell or destroy it.
If, where any thing is delivered up, sold or destroyed under paragraph 16 above, it is held in proceedings taken under this Schedule that the thing was not liable to forfeiture at the time of its seizure, the Commissioners shall, subject to any deduction allowed under sub-paragraph (2) below, on demand by the claimant tender to him— Where the amount to be tendered under sub-paragraph (1)(a), (b) or (c) above includes any sum on account of any duty or tax chargeable on the thing which had not been paid before its seizure the Commissioners may deduct so much of that amount as represents that duty or tax. If the claimant accepts any amount tendered to him under sub-paragraph (1) above, he shall not be entitled to maintain any action on account of the seizure, detention, sale or destruction of the thing. For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(c) above, the market value of any thing at the time of its seizure shall be taken to be such amount as the Commissioners and the claimant may agree or, in default of agreement, as may be determined by a referee appointed by the Lord Chancellor (not being an official of any government department or an office-holder in, or a member of the staff of, the Scottish Administration), whose decision shall be final and conclusive; and the procedure on any reference to a referee shall be such as may be determined by the referee. The Lord Chancellor may make an appointment under sub-paragraph (4) only with the concurrence— The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales may nominate a judicial office holder (as defined in section 109(4) of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005) to exercise his functions under this paragraph. The Lord President of the Court of Session may nominate a judge of the Court of Session who is a member of the First or Second Division of the Inner House of that Court to exercise his functions under this paragraph. The Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland may nominate any of the following to exercise his functions under this paragraph—
This paragraph applies where a thing is seized as liable to forfeiture and, with the agreement of a person within sub-paragraph (2) (“the responsible person”), the thing remains at the place where it is first seized. A person is within this sub-paragraph if the person is— Where the thing is deemed to be seized as liable to forfeiture under paragraph 2(3) of Schedule 2A— If the responsible person fails to prevent the unauthorised removal or disposal of the thing from the place where it is seized, that failure attracts a penalty under section 9 of the Finance Act 1994 (civil penalties). The removal or disposal of the thing is unauthorised unless it is done with the permission of a proper officer of Revenue and Customs. Where any duty of excise is payable in respect of the thing— If no duty of excise is payable in respect of the thing, that section has effect as if the penalty provided for by subsection (2)(b) of that section were whichever is the greater of—
This paragraph applies where— The Commissioners may seize as liable to forfeiture goods of equivalent value to the thing from the revenue trader's stock. For the purposes of this paragraph, a revenue trader's premises include any premises used to hold or store anything for the purposes of the revenue trader's trade, regardless of who owns or occupies the premises.
Section 177(1).
Save where the context otherwise requires, any reference in, or in any instrument made under, any enactment relating to customs or excise passed before 1st April 1909 to any of the persons mentioned in column 1 of the following Table shall be construed as a reference to the persons respectively specified in relation thereto in column 2. Original reference To be construed as reference to— Commissioners of Customs Commissioners of Inland Revenue Commissioners of Customs and Excise. Commissioners of Excise Solicitor for the Customs Solicitor for the Customs and Excise. Solicitor of Inland Revenue Secretary for the Customs Secretary to the Commissioners of Customs and Excise. Secretary of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue Accountant and Comptroller General of Customs Accountant and Comptroller General of the Customs and Excise. Accountant and Comptroller General of Inland Revenue Collector of Customs Collector of Inland Revenue Collector of Customs and Excise. Collector of Excise Officer of Customs Officer of Inland Revenue Officer of Customs and Excise. Officer of Excise
In section 2 of the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964, after subsection (5) there shall be inserted the following subsection—
In section 3 of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1968, after subsection (2) there shall be inserted the following subsection—
then—
In section 1 of the Consular Relations Act 1968, after subsection (8) there shall be inserted the following subsection—
In section 5 of the Consular Relations Act 1968, after subsection (1) there shall be inserted the following subsection—
In section 12(1)(b) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, after the words “the Customs and Excise Act 1952” there shall be inserted the words “ or under section 50, 68 or 170 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 ”.
In section 17 of the Finance Act 1972, for subsection (2) there shall be substituted the following subsection—
In section 27 of the Finance Act 1972, for subsection (1) (as originally enacted) there shall be substituted the following subsection—
In the enactments specified in the following Table, for so much of the provision in column 1 as is specified in column 2 there shall be substituted the words in column 3. TABLE Part I Enactments of the Parliament of the United Kingdom Section or Schedule Words or provision replaced Replacement ... Naval Prize Act 1864 c. 25 Section 47. duties of Customs. duties chargeable on imported goods (whether of customs or excise). the Customs (twice). customs or excise. Sections 48 and 48A. relating to the Customs. relating to customs or excise. Section 49. duties of Customs. duties (whether of customs or excise) chargeable on imported goods. Explosives Act 1875 c. 17 Section 40(9)(e). the Customs (twice). customs or excise. Section 43. the Customs (twice). customs or excise. . . . . . . . . . . . . Stamp Duties Management Act 1891 c. 38 Section 23. duty of excise. duty of excise other than a duty of excise chargeable on goods imported into the United Kingdom. . . . . . . . . . Foreign Prison-Made Goods Act 1897 c. 63 Section 1 (as originally enacted). From the beginning to following. The importation of the following goods is prohibited. Revenue Act 1898 c. 46 Section 1 (as originally enacted). From the beginning to following. The importation of the following articles is prohibited. Finance Act 1901 c. 7 Section 10. customs import duty (in three places). customs duty. . . . . . . . . . . . . ... ... Diseases of Fish Act 1937 c. 33 Section 1(2). the Customs Acts. the enactments for the time being in force relating to customs or excise. Trade Marks Act 1938 c. 22 Section 64A(5). section 11 of the Customs and Excise Act 1952. section 17 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. customs. duties (whether of customs or excise) charged on imported goods Import, Export and Customs Powers (Defence) Act 1939 c. 69 Sections 1(4) and 3(1). enactments relating to customs. enactments for the time being in force relating to customs or excise. Section 1(5) (as originally enacted). section eleven of the Customs and Inland Revenue Act 1879. section 145 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. Section 9(2). Customs Consolidation Act 1876, and the enactments amending that Act. Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. ... ... ... . . . . . Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Act 1949 c. 43 Section 24(5). the Customs Consolidation Act 1876. section 35 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. ... ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... ... Food and Drugs (Scotland) Act 1956 c. 30 Section 58(1) (in the definition of importation). the Customs and Excise Act 1952. the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. ... ... ... ... ... ... Isle of Man Act 1958 c. 11 Section 2(4). duties of customs (in four places). duties of customs or excise. Dog Licences Act 1959 c. 55 Section 15(1). From section three hundred and thirteen to dog licences). section 176(2) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (which makes provision for the application of certain provisions of that Act to game licences and duties thereon and is applied by section 16(5) below). Section 16(5). From the beginning to the said section three hundred and thirteen. Subsections (1) to (3) of section 176 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (which make provision for the application of certain provisions of that Act to game licences and duties thereon), and any order made by the Treasury under that section,. From duties transferred under section six to the said Act of 1908. duties on licences to kill and to deal in game and to local authorities and their officers with respect to those duties and licences, and the reference in the said subsection (3) to the Order in Council made under section 6 of the Finance Act 1908. Finance Act 1961 c. 36 Section 37(3). the Customs and Excise Act 1952. the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964 c. 81 Section 7(1)(b). customs duties. duties (whether of customs or excise) chargeable on imported goods. ... ... ... Finance Act 1966 c. 18 Section 2(13)(b). section 11 of the Act of 1952. section 17 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. Section 53(2). From Customs and Excise Act 1952 to that Act. Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. Schedule 1, paragraph 4. Act of 1952. Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. that Act. the Customs and Excise Acts 1979. section 270. section 135. section 271(1). section 136(1) and (2). section 301(2). section 167(4). Plant Health Act 1967 c. 8 Section 2(2). the Customs and Excise Act 1952. the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. Finance Act 1967 c. 54 Section 7(8)(b). sections 281 and 287 of the Act of 1952. sections 145 and 151 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. the excise Acts (twice). the customs and excise Acts. Section 45(3)(a). From Customs and Excise Act 1952 to that Act. Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1968 c. 2 Section 3(3). the excise Acts. the revenue trade provisions of the customs and excise Acts. Section 3(5). the Customs and Excise Act 1952. the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. Section 4. duty of customs or excise. duty of excise. Consular Relations Act 1968 c. 18 Section 8(1). From customs duty to which are. duty (whether of customs or excise) paid on imported hydrocarbon oil (within the meaning of the Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 1979) or value added tax paid on the importation of such oil which is. Section 8(1)(b). they. it. customs duty. duty. Firearms Act 1968 c. 27 Section 45(2)(b). enactments relating to customs. enactments for the time being in force relating to customs or excise. . . . . . . . . . . . . International Organisations Act 1968 c. 48 Section 9. customs duty. duty. Schedule 1, paragraphs 3(1), 4, 9, 10, 16 and 17. customs duties. duties (whether of customs or excise). Schedule 1, paragraphs 6 and 12. From customs duty to which are. duty (whether of customs or excise) paid on imported hydrocarbon oil (within the meaning of the Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 1979) or value added tax paid on the importation of such oil which is. ... ... ... Medicines Act 1968 c. 67 Section 116(1). section 44 of the Customs and Excise Act 1952. section 49 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. Section 116(2). section 56 of the Customs and Excise Act 1952. section 68 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act 1969 c. 16 . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . . . .. . . .. . . . . . .. . . .. . . .. Finance Act 1969 c. 32 Section 61(3)(a). the Customs and Excise Act 1952. the Customs and Excise Acts 1979. . . . . . . . . . . . . Vehicles (Excise) Act 1971 c. 10 . . .. . . .. . . ... . . . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . . . .. . . .. Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 c. 38 Section 22(a)(ii). the Customs and Excise Act 1952, that is to say sections 45(1), 56(2) and 304. the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, that is to say, sections 50(1) to (4), 68(2) and (3) and 170. ... ... ... Diplomatic and Other Privileges Act 1971 c. 64 Section 1(1). From customs duty to 1971). duty (whether of customs or excise) paid on imported hydrocarbon oil (within the meaning of the Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 1979) or value added tax paid on the importation of such oil. Section 1(1)(b). customs duty. duty. ... ... ... ... ... ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . .. Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 c. 37 Schedule 3, paragraph 2(2). the Customs and Excise Act 1952. the Customs and Excise Acts 1979. Merchant Shipping Act 1974 c. 43 Section 2(9) (in the definition of importer). customs purposes. customs or excise purposes. Schedule 4, paragraph 1(3). Section 53 of the Customs and Excise Act 1952. Section 65 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. Schedule 4, paragraph 2(1)(c). customs Acts which relate to duties of customs. enactments for the time being in force relating to duties (whether of customs or excise) chargeable on goods imported into the United Kingdom. Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 c. 51 Schedule 4, paragraph 6. Schedule 7 to the Customs and Excise Act 1952. Schedule 3 to the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. Paragraph (a). (a) paragraphs 1(2) and 5 shall be omitted;. Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 c. 66 Section 63(2). section 16 of the Customs and Excise Act 1952. section 22 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976 c. 72 Section 1(8). the Customs and Excise Act 1952. the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. Section 4(8). section 45 or 304 of the Customs and Excise Act 1952. section 50 or 170 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. Section 5(4) (in the definition of airport). From customs airport to 1952. customs and excise airport as mentioned in section 21(7) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. Section 5(4) (in the definition of port). section 13(1). section 19(1). Finance Act 1977 c. 36 Section 10(5). made by the Commissioners. made by statutory instrument by the Commissioners which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament. Section 59(3)(a). the Customs and Excise Act 1952. such of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 as the provision in question requires. Finance Act 1978 c. 42 Section 80(3)(a). the Customs and Excise Act 1952. the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. Part IIEnactments of the Parliament of Northern Ireland ... ... ... Diseases of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 1958 c. 13 Section 52(2) (in the definition of the Customs Acts). the Customs and Excise Act 1952. the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. ... ... ... ... ... ... Plant Health Act (Northern Ireland) 1967 c. 28 Section 2(2). the Customs and Excise Act 1952. the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. Miscellaneous Transferred Excise Duties Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 c. 11 Section 73. the Customs and Excise Act 1952. the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.
Section 177(2).
In section 1(3)(a) of the Purchase Tax Act 1963 (in this Schedule referred to as “the 1963 Act”) for the words “section 11 of the Customs and Excise Act 1952” there shall be substituted the words “ section 17 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 ”.
In section 25 of the 1963 Act the amendments specified in this paragraph shall be made. In subsection (1)— In subsection (2)— In subsection (3)— In subsection (4), for the words “Section 46 of the Custom and Excise Act 1952” there shall be substituted the words “ Section 51 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 ”.
In section 34 of the 1963 Act the amendments specified in this paragraph shall be made. In subsection (1) for the words “the Customs and Excise Act 1952” and “the said Act of 1952” there shall be substituted the words “ the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 ”. In subsection (2)— For subsection (3) there shall be substituted the following subsection—
In Schedule 2 to the 1963 Act, in paragraph 2 (b) for the words “duties of customs” there shall be substituted the words “ duties (whether of customs or excise) ”.
In section 10(2)(b) of the Finance Act 1964— for the words “subsection (1) above” there shall be substituted the words “ section 1(4) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 ” ; and for the words “section 307 of the Act of 1952” there shall be substituted the words “ section 1(1) of that Act ”.
for the words " subsection (1) above " there shall be substituted the words " section 1(4) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 "; and
for the words " section 307 of the Act of 1952 " there shall be substituted the words " section 1(1) of that Act ".
In section 9(1) of the Finance Act 1967 for the words “the Act of 1952” there shall be substituted the words “ the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 ”.
Section 177(3).
Chapter Short Title Extent of Repeal 15 & 16 Geo. 6 & 1 Eliz. 2. c. 44. The Customs and Excise Act 1952. Parts I, II, III, IX, X, XI and XII except the following provisions, that is to say— sections 35 to 37, 41 to 43, 237, 241 to 243, 263(3) to (5), in the proviso to section 271(3), paragraph (i), section 272, so much of section 307(1) as is repealed by the Alcoholic Liquor Duties Act 1979, sections 309(1), (3) and (4) and 310 and section 315(c) and (d). Schedule 7. Schedule 10, except paragraph 15. 1 & 2 Eliz. 2. c. 34. The Finance Act 1953. Sections 33(1) and 35(2). 5 & 6 Eliz. 2. c.49. The Finance Act 1957. Sections 5 and 42(2)(a). Schedule 2. 6 & 7 Eliz. 2. c. 11. The Isle of Man Act 1958. In section 2(1), the words from "shall not be paid" to "but". 6 & 7 Eliz. 2. c. 56. The Finance Act 1958. Section 40(2)(b). 7 & 8 Eliz. 2. c. 58. The Finance Act 1959. Section 37(2)(a). 8 & 9 Eliz. 2. c. 44. The Finance Act 1960. In section 79, subsections (2) and (3)(a) and, in subsection (6), the words from "or any tobacco dealer's licence" onwards. 9 & 10 Eliz. 2. c. 36. The Finance Act 1961. Sections 11 and 37(2). 10 & 11 Eliz. 2. c. 44. The Finance Act 1962. In section 34, in subsection (2) the words from "Part I" to " 1952 and ". 10 & 11 Eliz. 2. c. 58. The Pipe-lines Act 1962. Section 56. 1963 c. 25. The Finance Act 1963. Section 7. In section 73, subsection (3) and, in subsection (4), the words from " Part I" to " 1952 and ". 1964 c. 49. The Finance Act 1964. Sections 10(1) and 26(2) and (3). 1966 c. 18. The Finance Act 1966. Sections 10 and 11. In Schedule 2, paragraph 1, except the words from "section 107(1)" to " spirits)". 1967 c. 54. The Finance Act 1967. Section 3. In section 4(5), paragraph (a)(i) and (v). In section 5, in subsection (1), paragraphs (a) and (b) and subsection (2). In Schedule 6, paragraphs 5, 6, and 12. In Schedule 9, paragraph 7. 1967 c. 80. The Criminal Justice Act 1967. Section 93(4). In section 106(2)(b)the words "and (4)". 1968 c. 44. The Finance Act 1968. Sections 6 and 61(3). 1968 c. 59. The Hovercraft Act 1968. In the Schedule, paragraph 4(c). 1969 c. 39. The Age of Majority (Scotland) Act 1969. In Schedule 1, the entry relating to the Customs and Excise Act 1952. 1969 c. 46. The Family Law Reform Act 1969. In Schedule 1, the entry relating to the Customs and Excise Act 1952. 1970 c. 24. The Finance Act 1970. Section 5. Section 7(5) and (8). Section 36(3). In Schedule 2, paragraph 5. 1971 c. 12. The Hydrocarbon Oil (Customs & Excise) Act 1971. Section 22. In Schedule 6, paragraph 1. 1971 c. 23. The Courts Act 1971. In Schedule 9, the entry relating to the Customs and Excise Act 1952. 1971 c. 38. The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Section 26. 1971 c. 68. The Finance Act 1971. Section 11. In section 69(3), the words from "sections 3" to "1952". Schedule 1. 1972 c. 25. The Betting and Gaming Duties Act 1972. In Schedule 2, paragraph 7. In Schedule 4, paragraph 10. 1972 c. 41. The Finance Act 1972. Section 17(5). Section 55(4). Section 134(3)(a). 1972 c. 68. The European Communities Act 1972. Section 5(4) and (7) to (9). In Schedule 4, paragraph 2. 1973 c. 51. The Finance Act 1973. Section 2. Section 59(3)(a). 1974 c. 30. The Finance Act 1974. Section 1(7) and (8). In section 57(3)(a), the words from "except so far" to "1952 and". 1975 c. 7. The Finance Act 1975. Section 4. 1975 c. 45. The Finance (No. 2) Act 1975. Section 1(7) and (8). Sections 8 and 16. In section 75, in subsection (2), the words from "and in Part I" onwards and subsection (3)(a). In Schedule 3, paragraphs 1,14, 23, 39 to 41, 43 and, in paragraph 44, sub-paragraph (c). In Schedule 6, paragraphs 1 to 4. 1976 c. 40. The Finance Act 1976. Section 15. Section 132(3)(a). In Schedule 3, paragraphs 2 to 4 and 6. 1977 c. 36. The Finance Act 1977. Sections 8 and 9. In Schedule 6, paragraph 21. 1977 c. 45. The Criminal Law Act 1977. In Schedule 5, in paragraph 1, sub-paragraphs (1)(a) and (2)(c). 1978 c. 42. The Finance Act 1978. Sections 3 to 5 and 79. In Schedule 12, paragraphs 7(1), 11 to 14, 16 to 19 (except paragraph 19(7)(d)) and 21 to 24.
1954 c. 8 (N.I.). The Excise (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 1954. Sections 1 and 3. 1969 c. 28 (N.I.). The Age of Majority Act (Northern Ireland) 1969. In Schedule 1, the entry relating to the Customs and Excise Act 1952.
Section 177(4).
Notwithstanding the repeal by this Act of section 258 of the Customs and Excise Act 1952, of paragraph 5 of Schedule 2 to the Finance Act 1970, and of paragraph 2(8) of Schedule 4 to the European Communities Act 1972, that section (together with Schedule 6) as it had effect immediately before the entry date within the meaning of the said Act of 1972, shall continue to have effect for cases in which the value of goods falls to be determined as at a time before that date.
Notwithstanding the repeal by this Act of subsections (2) and (5) of section 283 of the Customs and Excise Act 1952, those subsections shall continue to have effect in relation to offences under Part I of, and paragraph 22 of Schedule 7 to, the Finance Act 1972; and, accordingly, in section 38(8) of, and paragraph 22(5) of Schedule 7 to, that Act (as amended by Schedule 4 to this Act) the reference in that section and in that paragraph to sections 145 to 155 of this Act shall be construed as including a reference to the said section 283(2) and (5).
Notwithstanding the repeal by this Act of section 308(3) of the Customs and Excise Act 1952, section 277 of the Customs Consolidation Act 1876 does not apply in relation to any Act passed after 1st January 1953.
The repeal by this Act of section 5(4) of the European Communities Act 1972 (which, so far as it relates to enactments contained in this Act, is re-enacted by section 1(7) of this Act) shall not affect the application of any law not contained in this Act which relates to customs duties.
The repeal by this Act of any enactment already repealed by section 75(5) of the Finance (No. 2) Act 1975 and specified in Part I of Schedule 14 to that Act shall not affect the operation of the saving in paragraph 2 in that Part in relation to that enactment.
The repeal by this Act of section 8(4) of the Finance (No. 2) Act 1975 and the repeal by any of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 of any provision of Part I of Schedule 3 to that Act shall not affect the right to any drawback or other relief under any enactment amended by that provision in respect of customs duty charged before the end of 1975.
Any such reference as is specified in paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to the Finance (No. 2) Act 1975 (customs duty, excise duty and associated references), being a reference in— shall continue to be construed as provided by that paragraph notwithstanding the repeal of that paragraph by this Act.
any instrument of a legislative character made under the customs and excise Acts which was in force at the end of 1975; or
any local and personal or private Act which was then in force,
Any such reference as is specified in sub-paragraph (2), (6) or (8) of paragraph 19 of Schedule 12 to the Finance Act 1978 (customs Acts, excise Acts, excise trade, excise trader, customs airport and customs station), being a reference in— shall continue to be construed as provided by the said sub-paragraph (2), (6) or (8), as the case may be, notwithstanding the repeal of that sub-paragraph by this Act.
any instrument in force immediately before the commencement of this Act; or
any local and personal or private Act then in force,
Any provision of this Act relating to anything done or required or authorised to be done under or in pursuance of the Customs and Excise Acts 1979 shall have effect as if any reference to those Acts included a reference to the Customs and Excise Act 1952. Any provision of this Act relating to anything done or required or authorised to be done under, in pursuance of or by reference to that provision or any other provision of this Act shall have effect as if any reference to that provision, or that other provision, as the case may be, included a reference to the corresponding provision of the enactments repealed by this Act.
Any functions which, immediately before the commencement of this Act, fall to be performed on behalf of any other person by the Commissioners or by officers or by any person appointed by the Commissioners shall continue to be so performed by them unless and until other arrangements are made, notwithstanding that those functions are not expressly mentioned in this Act.
The repeal by this Act of subsection (4) of section 316 of the Customs and Excise Act 1952 shall not affect any such right or privilege as is referred to in that subsection. Where by any enactment, grant or other instrument, any right or privilege not relating to customs or excise has at any time been granted by reference to the then existing limits of any port or approved wharf appointed or approved for the purposes of customs and excise, then, subject to any provision contained in that instrument, nothing in any order made or other thing done under section 19 or 20 of this Act shall affect that right or privilege.
Section 139(5A)
In this Schedule, references (however expressed) to a thing being detained are references to a thing being detained as liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts.
This paragraph applies where a thing is detained. The thing may be detained for 30 days beginning with the day on which the thing is first detained. The thing is deemed to be seized as liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts if its detention ceases to be authorised under this paragraph.
The Commissioners must take reasonable steps to give written notice of the detention of any thing, and of the grounds for the detention, to any person who to their knowledge was, at the time of the detention, the owner or one of the owners of the thing. But notice need not be given under sub-paragraph (1) if the detention occurred in the presence of—
This paragraph applies where a thing is detained and, with the agreement of a person within sub-paragraph (2) (“the responsible person”), the thing remains at the place where it is first detained (rather than being removed and detained elsewhere). A person is within this sub-paragraph if the person is— If the responsible person fails to prevent the unauthorised removal or disposal of the thing from the place where it is detained, that failure attracts a penalty under section 9 of the Finance Act 1994 (civil penalties). The removal or disposal of the thing is unauthorised unless it is done with the permission of a proper officer of Revenue and Customs. Where any duty of excise is payable in respect of the thing— If no duty of excise is payable in respect of the thing, that section has effect as if the penalty provided for by subsection (2)(b) of that section were whichever is the greater of—
This paragraph applies where— The Commissioners may seize, as liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts, goods of equivalent value to the thing, from the revenue trader's stock. For the purposes of this paragraph, a revenue trader's premises include any premises used to hold or store anything for the purposes of the revenue trader's trade, regardless of who owns or occupies the premises.