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Section 38 Duty to keep and preserve records: cases where a tax return is requiredF12I1

England and Wales

C1(1)

A person who is required to make a tax return must—

(a)

keep any records that may be needed to enable the person to F1demonstrate that the tax return is correct and complete, and

F2(b)

preserve any records that may be needed for that purpose.

(2)

The records must be preserved until the end of the later of the relevant F3date and the date on which—

(a)

an enquiry into the tax return is completed (see section 50), or

(b)

if there is no enquiry, F4the enquiry period ends (see section 43(1A)).

F5(3)

The ““relevant date”” is the sixth anniversary of whichever is the later of—

(a)

the filing date, and

(b)

if the return has been made and subsequently amended under section 41, the date on which notice of amendment is given under that section.

(3A)

But if WRA specifies an earlier date under this subsection, the “"relevant date”” means the date specified.

(4)

Different F6dates may be specified for different purposes under subsection F7(3A).

F8(5)

In this Chapter, “"records”” includes supporting documents (for example, accounts, books, deeds, contracts, vouchers and receipts).

F9(6)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F10(7)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F11(8)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1

Words in s. 38(1)(a) substituted (1.4.2018) by Land Transaction Tax and Anti-avoidance of Devolved Taxes (Wales) Act 2017 (anaw 1), s. 81(2)(3), Sch. 23 para. 5(a)(i); S.I. 2018/34, art. 3

F2

S. 38(1)(b) substituted (1.4.2018) by Land Transaction Tax and Anti-avoidance of Devolved Taxes (Wales) Act 2017 (anaw 1), s. 81(2)(3), Sch. 23 para. 5(a)(ii); S.I. 2018/34, art. 3

F3

Word in s. 38(2) substituted (1.4.2018) by Land Transaction Tax and Anti-avoidance of Devolved Taxes (Wales) Act 2017 (anaw 1), s. 81(2)(3), Sch. 23 para. 5(b)(i); S.I. 2018/34, art. 3

F4

Words in s. 38(2)(b) substituted (1.4.2018) by Land Transaction Tax and Anti-avoidance of Devolved Taxes (Wales) Act 2017 (anaw 1), s. 81(2)(3), Sch. 23 para. 5(b)(ii); S.I. 2018/34, art. 3

F5

S. 38(3)(3A) substituted for s. 38(3) (1.4.2018) by Land Transaction Tax and Anti-avoidance of Devolved Taxes (Wales) Act 2017 (anaw 1), s. 81(2)(3), Sch. 23 para. 5(c); S.I. 2018/34, art. 3

F6

Word in s. 38(4) substituted (1.4.2018) by Land Transaction Tax and Anti-avoidance of Devolved Taxes (Wales) Act 2017 (anaw 1), s. 81(2)(3), Sch. 23 para. 5(d)(i); S.I. 2018/34, art. 3

F7

Word in s. 38(4) substituted (1.4.2018) by Land Transaction Tax and Anti-avoidance of Devolved Taxes (Wales) Act 2017 (anaw 1), s. 81(2)(3), Sch. 23 para. 5(d)(ii); S.I. 2018/34, art. 3

F8

S. 38(5) substituted (1.4.2018) by Land Transaction Tax and Anti-avoidance of Devolved Taxes (Wales) Act 2017 (anaw 1), s. 81(2)(3), Sch. 23 para. 5(e); S.I. 2018/34, art. 3

F9

S. 38(6) omitted (1.4.2018) by virtue of Land Transaction Tax and Anti-avoidance of Devolved Taxes (Wales) Act 2017 (anaw 1), s. 81(2)(3), Sch. 23 para. 5(f); S.I. 2018/34, art. 3

F10

S. 38(7) omitted (1.4.2018) by virtue of Land Transaction Tax and Anti-avoidance of Devolved Taxes (Wales) Act 2017 (anaw 1), s. 81(2)(3), Sch. 23 para. 5(f); S.I. 2018/34, art. 3

F11

S. 38(8) omitted (1.4.2018) by virtue of Land Transaction Tax and Anti-avoidance of Devolved Taxes (Wales) Act 2017 (anaw 1), s. 81(2)(3), Sch. 23 para. 5(f); S.I. 2018/34, art. 3

F12

S. 38 heading substituted (1.4.2018) by Land Transaction Tax and Anti-avoidance of Devolved Taxes (Wales) Act 2017 (anaw 1), s. 81(2)(3), Sch. 23 para. 5(g); S.I. 2018/34, art. 3

Modifications

C1

S. 38(1) modified (1.4.2018) by Landfill Disposals Tax (Wales) Act 2017 (anaw 3), ss. 21(8), 43(3), 97(2); S.I. 2018/35, art. 3

Commencement

I1

S. 38 in force at 1.4.2018 by S.I. 2018/33, art. 3

Notes on the whole Act

Textual amendments

F1

Word in Act substituted (19.9.2025) by Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Act 2025 (asc 5), s. 67(1), Sch. 2 para. 21

Notes on Chapter 2

Textual amendments

F1

Word in Pt. 3 Ch. 2 heading omitted (1.4.2018) by virtue of Land Transaction Tax and Anti-avoidance of Devolved Taxes (Wales) Act 2017 (anaw 1), s. 81(2)(3), Sch. 23 para. 4; S.I. 2018/34, art. 3