Section 31 — Finance Act 2003: Time limits for demands for penalties

Time limits for demands for penalties 31 1 A demand notice may not be given—

a in the case of a penalty under section 25, more than 20 years after the conduct giving rise to the liability to the penalty ceased, or b in the case of a penalty under section 26, more than 3 years after the conduct giving rise to the liability to the penalty ceased.

2 A demand notice may not be given more than 2 years after there has come to the knowledge of the Commissioners evidence of facts sufficient in the opinion of the Commissioners to justify the giving of the demand notice.

3 A demand notice—

a may be given in respect of a penalty to which a person was liable under section 25 or 26 immediately before his death, but b in the case of a penalty to which the deceased was so liable under section 25, may not be given more than 3 years after his death.