Finance Act 2011

Administrative penalties for contravention of Community Customs Code.

54.— (1) In this section—

“declaration” means any declaration, return or statement required to be made by a person in accordance with the Community Customs Code and includes a declaration made by an electronic data-processing technique;

“duties of Customs” means import duties and export duties as defined in the Community Customs Code;

“supporting documents” means the documents—

(a) required under the Community Customs Code to support a declaration, and

(b) where the declaration is made by an electronic data-processing technique, which are required to be in the possession of the person making the declaration;

“Community Customs Code” means the Community Customs Code established by Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2913/92 of 12 October 1992 1 together with the Regulations amending or implementing that Council Regulation.

(1) (a) A person who fails to comply with a duty, obligation, requirement or condition imposed under the Community Customs Code which relates to Article 38 or 101 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2913/92 of 12 October 1992 is liable to a penalty of €500 in respect of each such failure.

(b) A person who fails to comply with a duty, obligation, requirement or condition imposed under the Community Customs Code which relates to a declaration, then where the person, in respect of each such failure—

(i) does not make the declaration, he or she is liable to a penalty of €2,000,

(ii) does not make the declaration within the time limit specified under the Community Customs Code, he or she is liable to a penalty of €250 for each month or part of a month during which the return remains outstanding, subject to a maximum penalty of €2,000,

(iii) makes an incorrect or incomplete declaration, he or she is liable to a penalty of €100,

(iv) makes a declaration using an electronic data-processing technique while not in possession of the required supporting documents, he or she is liable to a penalty of €100.

(c) Except where paragraph (a) or (b) applies, a person who fails to comply with a duty, obligation, requirement or condition imposed under the Community Customs Code is liable to a penalty of €250 in respect of each such failure.

(2) Where the person referred to in subsection (2) is a body of persons and they fail to comply with a duty, obligation, requirement or condition imposed under the Community Customs Code, then the person acting in the capacity of secretary to such body is liable to a separate penalty of an equivalent amount to that stated in the subsection in respect of each such failure.

(3) Any penalty payable under this section is deemed to be a debt due to the Minister for Finance for the benefit of the Central Fund and shall be payable to the Revenue Commissioners.

(4) In relation to any penalty payable under this section, Chapter 3A of Part 47 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 shall apply and the European Communities (Customs Appeals) Regulations 1995 ( S.I. No. 355 of 1995 ) shall not apply.

(5) Nothing in this section shall be read so as to prevent any action or proceedings being otherwise brought for the collection or recovery of duties of Customs.

(6) This section shall be construed as one with the Customs Acts.

1 OJ No. L302, 19.10.1992, p.1