{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/finance-act-2009/schedule-55/paragraph-16",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/finance-act-2009/schedule-55/paragraph-16.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2009/10",
  "legislation_title": "Finance Act 2009",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/finance-act-2009",
  "path": "schedule/55/paragraph/16",
  "kind": "paragraph",
  "number": "16",
  "heading": null,
  "text": "(1) If HMRC think it right because of special circumstances, they may reduce a penalty under any paragraph of this Schedule.\n(2) In sub-paragraph (1) “special circumstances” does not include—\n(a) ability to pay, or\n(b) the fact that a potential loss of revenue from one taxpayer is balanced by a potential over-payment by another.\n(3) In sub-paragraph (1) the reference to reducing a penalty includes a reference to—\n(a) staying a penalty, and\n(b) agreeing a compromise in relation to proceedings for a penalty.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "Sch. 55 para. 16 applied (6.4.2022) by The Pension (Non-Taxable Payments Following Death) (Real Time Information) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/506), regs. 1, 7(3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Sch. 55 para. 16 in force at 1.4.2011 for specified purposes and 6.4.2011 for specified purposes by S.I. 2011/702, art. 2 (with art. 1(2))"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I2",
      "text": "Sch. 55 para. 16 in force at 6.10.2011 for specified purposes by S.I. 2011/2391, art. 2(b) (with art. 3(1)(2))"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I3",
      "text": "Sch. 55 para. 16 in force at 17.7.2013 for specified purposes by 2013 c. 29, Sch. 34 para. 7(2)Sch. 55 para. 16 in force at 6.10.2014 for specified purposes and 6.3.2015 for specified purposes by S.I. 2014/2395, art. 2(1)(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I4",
      "text": "Sch. 55 para. 16 in force at 6.4.2018 for specified purposes by S.I. 2018/468, art. 2(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I5",
      "text": "Sch. 55 para. 16 in force at 12.2.2019 for specified purposes by 2019 c. 1, Sch. 2 para. 29(3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I6",
      "text": "Sch. 55 para. 16 in force at 1.4.2022 for specified purposes by S.I. 2021/1409, reg. 2(b)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "inserted",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2015/11",
      "affecting_title": "Finance Act 2015"
    },
    {
      "type": "word substituted",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2015/11",
      "affecting_title": "Finance Act 2015"
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    {
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      "affecting_title": "Finance Act 2015"
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      "affecting_title": "Finance Act 2015"
    },
    {
      "type": "words substituted",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2014/26",
      "affecting_title": "Finance Act 2014"
    },
    {
      "type": "words substituted",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2014/26",
      "affecting_title": "Finance Act 2014"
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    {
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  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/10/schedule/55/paragraph/16",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:11:08.872832+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."
}