Clause 15 - Payments by Commissioners in case of error or delay
Finance Bill
Public Bill Committees, 26 April 2001, 6:30 pm
Miss Melanie Johnson (Economic Secretary, HM Treasury; Welwyn Hatfield, Labour)
The clause and the schedule provide for the payment of compensatory interests where excise duty has been overpaid or underpaid as a result of an error by Customs and Excise or where the payment of a claim to excise duty has been unduly delayed. It also provides for the repayment of excise duty or compensatory interest to persons or businesses incorrectly refused authorisation, approval or entitlement to goods relieved of excise duty.
The measure brings excise duties into line with other duties and taxes administered by Customs and Excise by providing a statutory requirement to pay compensatory interest. The difference is that provisions for tribunals to take measures have existed in the past, but there will now be a statutory requirement. Traders in excise goods have welcomed the measure and I hope that the Committee will support it.