258.Subsection (1) provides that a person who is required to give information in accordance with a notice under section 61 or an information notice under section 63 commits an offence if the person fails, without reasonable excuse, to provide the required information. A person might have a reasonable excuse for the failure if, for example, the person was out of the country or hospitalised during the period within which the notice required the information to be given. However, this will be a matter for the court to determine.
259.In accordance with subsection (2), this offence is punishable, following summary conviction, by a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale, which is currently £1,000.
260.Subsection (3) provides that a person who is required to give information under section 61 or 63 commits an offence if they knowingly or recklessly give information which is false or misleading in a material respect, either knowing that it is false or misleading or being reckless as to whether it is so. A person who is found guilty of this offence, in either the Magistrates’ Court or the Crown Court, is subject to a fine.
Commentary on Sections Overview of Part 4 Section 64 - Penalties in connection with notices requiring information