The Act Counteracting tax advantages Section 68 – Notice to taxpayer of proposed counteraction of tax advantage
99.This section sets out Revenue Scotland’s responsibility for notifying a taxpayer when it is intending to counteract a tax advantage in relation to the devolved taxes.
100.Subsection (1) provides that if a member of staff in Revenue Scotland (“a designated officer”) considers that a tax advantage has arisen from a tax avoidance arrangement that is artificial, and that the tax advantage should be counteracted, the designated officer must notify the taxpayer.
101.Subsection (2) specifies that a notification must include a statement of the tax avoidance arrangement and the tax advantage; an explanation of why the designated officer considers that a tax advantage has arisen to the taxpayer from a tax avoidance arrangement that is artificial; a statement of the counteraction that Revenue Scotland intends to take; and a statement of the period of time that the taxpayer has for making representations (45 days under subsection (4)).
102.Subsection (3) provides that a notice to a taxpayer may also describe the steps that the taxpayer can take to avoid the proposed counteraction.
103.Subsection (4) provides that when a taxpayer receives a notice under this section, they have 45 days in which to respond to the notice by making written representations. Subsection (5) gives the designated officer power to increase the number of days within which written representations may be made to more than 45 days, if the taxpayer makes a written request. Subsection (6) provides that the designated officer must take account of any representations made by the taxpayer in response to the notification given under subsection (1) and (2).