{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/finance-act-1994/section-17",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/finance-act-1994/section-17.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1994/9",
  "legislation_title": "Finance Act 1994",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/finance-act-1994",
  "path": "section/17",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "17",
  "heading": "Interpretation.",
  "text": "(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, expressions used in this Chapter and in the Management Act have the same meanings in this Chapter as in that Act.\n(2) In this Chapter—\n“appeal tribunal” shall be construed in accordance with section 7(3) above;\n“conduct” includes any act, omission or statement;\n“contravention” includes a failure to comply, and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;\n...\n“HMRC” means Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs;\n“the Management Act” means the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979;\n“relevant duty” means any customs duty or agricultural levy of the European Union or any duty of excise; and\n“subordinate legislation” has the same meaning as in the Interpretation Act 1978.\n(3) For the purposes of this Chapter a contravention consisting in a failure to do something at or before a particular time shall be taken to continue after that time until the thing is done, and references in this Chapter to the remedying of such a contravention shall be construed accordingly.\n(4) References in this Chapter to a duty of excise do not include references to vehicle excise duty.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 17(2) omitted (13.9.2018 for specified purposes, 31.12.2020 in so far as not already in force) by virtue of Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 (c. 22), s. 57(1)(a), Sch. 7 para. 144(a) (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2020/1449, reg. 3 and 2020 c. 26, Sch. 2 para. 7(7)-(9)); S.I. 2020/1642, reg. 4(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 17(2) inserted (1.4.2009) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions and Revenue and Customs Appeals Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/56), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 204"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 17(2) substituted (13.9.2018 for specified purposes, 31.12.2020 in so far as not already in force) by Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 (c. 22), s. 57(1)(a), Sch. 7 para. 144(b) (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2020/1449, reg. 3 and 2020 c. 26, Sch. 2 para. 7(7)-(9)); S.I. 2020/1642, reg. 4(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in Act substituted (22.4.2011) by The Treaty of Lisbon (Changes in Terminology) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1043), arts. 2, 3, 4 (with art. 3(2)(3), 4(2), 6(4)(5))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Word in s. 17(4) substituted (1.9.1994 subject to transitional provisions in Sch. 4 of the amending Act) by 1994 c. 22, ss. 63, 66(1), Sch. 3 para. 32 (with s. 57(4))"
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M1",
      "text": "1979 c. 2."
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M2",
      "text": "1978 c. 30."
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "Pt. 1 Ch. 2 modified (29.10.2020 for specified purposes, 31.12.2020 in so far as not already in force) by S.I. 2018/1248, reg. 29B(8)(a) (as inserted by The Customs (Transitional Arrangements) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1088), regs. 1(2)(4), 3(5); S.I. 2020/1643, reg. 2, Sch.)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "Pt. 1 Ch. 2 modified (31.12.2020) by The Customs (Managed Transition Procedure) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/487), regs. 1(2)(3), 8(7)(a) (with reg. 11); S.I. 2020/1643, reg. 2, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C3",
      "text": "Pt. 1 applied (with modifications) (31.12.2020) by The Customs Miscellaneous Non-fiscal Provisions and Amendments etc. (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1624), regs. 1(2), 7"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C4",
      "text": "Pt. 1 continued (31.12.2020) by The Customs (Transitional) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1449), regs. 1(2), 3(1)(b); S.I. 2020/1643, reg. 2, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C5",
      "text": "Pt. 1 applied (with modifications) (17.12.2020 for specified purposes, 31.12.2020 in so far as not already in force) by 2018 c. 22, Sch. 7 para. 158(5) (as inserted by Taxation (Post-transition Period) Act 2020 (c. 26), s. 11(1)(e), Sch. 1 para. 10(6) (with Sch. 2 para. 7(7)-(9)); S.I. 2020/1642, reg. 9)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C6",
      "text": "Pt. 1 Ch. 2 modified (31.12.2020) by The Customs (Managed Transition Procedure) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/487), regs. 1(2)(3), 3(7)(a) (with reg. 7); S.I. 2020/1643, reg. 2, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 17 wholly in force at 1.1.1995; s. 17 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 19(1); s. 17 in force for certain purposes at 1.11.1994 by S.I. 1994/2679, art. 2, Sch.; s. 17 in force at 1.1.1995 insofar as not already in force by S.I. 1994/2679, art. 3"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1994/9/section/17",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:34:21.412655+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}