AH3960 - Appeals Handbook: Appeals against penalties: after the hearing

Put a typed note of the hearing in the appellant’s file. The note should show at the head the names of all the parties present at the hearing, including the Commissioners and their Clerk.

No later than three working days after the hearing, the penalty determination should be amended in accordance with the Commissioners' decision (or the charge released for collection) (see AH3965).

If there is a means problem give the Network Unit full details.

Send a brief report of the result of the penalty appeal hearing to Central Policy: Tax Administration & Advice (Stockport).

If the Commissioners set aside any penalty determined you will need to consider whether an appeal should be made to the High Court or the Court of Session. See AH1500 and subsequent paragraphs for guidance on appealing against a decision of the General Commissioners and AH1850 and subsequent paragraphs for guidance on appealing against a decision of the Special Commissioners. The Head Office section to which a report should be made is Central Policy: Tax Administration & Advice (Stockport).

As with other appeals, HMRC can only appeal to the High Court on a point of law. HMRC cannot appeal to the High Court against the amount of any penalty decided by the Commissioners. On the other hand, as far as the taxpayer is concerned, the terms of Section 100B(3) TMA 1970 allow him, as "the person liable to the penalty" to appeal on liability and quantum in addition to any appeal on a point of law.