Finance Act, 1992

Treatment of losses.

114.—(1) The Commissioners may, in respect of the duties of excise imposed by the provisions referred to in section 104 and, subject to compliance with such conditions as may be prescribed, remit in the prescribed manner, such duties on excisable products under a duty-suspension arrangement which are shown to their satisfaction to have been lost—

(a) during production, processing or holding in the State or transportation to a destination in the State, or

(b) in the course of transportation to the State,

and that such loss was—

(i) due to fortuitous events or force majeure, or

(ii) a loss inherent in the nature of the excisable products in the course of their production, processing, holding or transportation.

(2) Losses, other than those referred to in subsection (1), and any shortages of excisable products under a duty-suspension arrangement shall, unless it is shown to the satisfaction of the Commissioners that the losses or shortages occurred outside the State, be liable to excise duty at the rate in operation at the time such losses or shortages occurred, as established to the satisfaction of an officer, or at the time such losses or shortages came to the notice of an officer, and duty shall be payable immediately and shall be charged, levied and paid in the prescribed manner by the person authorised to produce, process, hold, transport, deliver or receive (as the case may be) such excisable products.

(3) Any person who, in connection with a claim for remission of excise duty under this section, delivers any incorrect return, statement or accounts or furnishes any incorrect information or who contravenes or fails to comply with any regulations under this section shall, without prejudice to any other penalty to which he may be liable, be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty, under the law relating to customs or the law relating to excise (as the case may be), of £1,000, and any excise duty remitted shall be payable immediately by the said person.