Finance Act, 1976
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Provisions relating to duty on gaseous hydrocarbons in liquid form for motor vehicles. |
42.—(1) In this section— | |
“motor vehicle” has the meaning assigned to it by section 21 (15) of the Finance Act, 1935 , as amended by section 8 (6) of the Finance Act, 1942 , and section 17 of the Finance Act, 1949 ; | ||
“motor vehicle gas” means any gaseous hydrocarbons in liquid form chargeable with the duty of excise imposed by section 41 of this Act which are intended for use for combustion in the engine of a motor vehicle. | ||
(2) A rebate of the amount of the duty of excise imposed by section 41 of this Act less an amount calculated at the rate of £0·02 per gallon shall be allowed on gaseous hydrocarbons in liquid form on which the said duty of excise has been paid at the rate specified in subsection (1) (b) of that section and which are shown, to the satisfaction of the Revenue Commissioners, not to be motor vehicle gas. | ||
(3) Where a rebate under subsection (2) of this section is allowed on gaseous hydrocarbons in liquid form, the amount of any drawback which may be allowable under section 41 (2) of this Act shall be reduced by the amount of the rebate so allowed. | ||
(4) (a) There shall be charged, levied and paid on a licence granted by the Revenue Commissioners to be taken out annually by every person who sells or delivers on any premises motor vehicle gas chargeable with the duty imposed by section 41 of this Act at the rate specified in subsection (1) (b) of that section, a duty of excise (in this section referred to as the licence duty) of 25 pence, and where any such person so sells or delivers such gas on more than one premises, the licence duty shall be payable and the said licence shall be taken out annually by such person in respect of each of such premises separately. | ||
(b) The provisions of any statute and any instrument made under statute applying to licences granted under and to the duty of excise imposed by Paragraph 12 (12) of the Order of 1975 shall, with any necessary modifications, apply in relation to licences granted under and to the duty of excise imposed by this subsection as they apply to licences granted under and the duty imposed by the said Paragraph 12 (12). | ||
(5) (a) An officer of the Revenue Commissioners or member of the the Garda Síochána may examine and take samples of any gaseous hydrocarbons in liquid form kept in any tank or other container connected to the engine of a motor vehicle constructed or adapted to use gaseous hydrocarbons in liquid form for combustion in the engine thereof and may interrogate the owner of the vehicle, the person whose name is most recently entered in relation to the registration of the vehicle pursuant to the Roads Act, 1920 , and the person in charge of such vehicle in regard to such gaseous hydrocarbons and may require of those persons proof of payment of the duty of excise imposed by section 41 of this Act at the rate specified in subsection (1) (b) of that section on any such gaseous hydrocarbons and those persons shall give to the officer or member all information required of them that is in their possession or procurement. | ||
(b) For the purposes of exercising the powers conferred on him by paragraph (a) of this subsection, an officer of the Revenue Commissioners or a member of the Garda Síochána may, if he has reasonable grounds to suspect that a motor vehicle in respect of which an offence under this section is being committed is kept at any premises, enter and inspect the premises, other than a dwelling, at any time between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on any day, and bring onto the premises any motor vehicle being used by him in the course of his duties. | ||
(c) If following the interrogation provided for in paragraph (a) of this subsection proof of the payment of the duty mentioned therein is not produced, an officer of the Revenue Commissioners may, if he has reasonable grounds to suspect that the duty in question has not been paid, seize, as liable to forfeiture, the motor vehicle in which the gaseous hydrocarbons are kept. | ||
(d) When exercising any power conferred by this subsection, an officer of the Revenue Commissioners shall, if so requested by any person affected, produce to him the commission or deputation of the Revenue Commissioners appointing him to be such officer. | ||
(6) In any proceedings against a person for selling, delivering, using or keeping gaseous hydrocarbons in liquid form on which the duty imposed by section 41 of this Act has not been paid, or on which a rebate under subsection (2) of this section has been allowed, for combustion in the engine of a motor vehicle, it shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that the duty has not been paid or that the rebate has been allowed, as the case may be. | ||
(7) The Revenue Commissioners may make regulations for giving effect to the provisions of section 41 of this Act and this section and, in particular, for— | ||
(a) governing the production, sale, delivery, storage and use of gaseous hydrocarbons in liquid form, | ||
(b) requiring a person who stores, sells or uses gaseous hydrocarbons in liquid form to keep in such manner as may be prescribed by them, and to preserve for a specified period, any books, documents, accounts and records relating to the purchase, receipt, sale or disposal by him of such gaseous hydrocarbons and to allow any officer of the Revenue Commissioners to inspect and take copies of such books, documents, accounts and records, | ||
(c) requiring gaseous hydrocarbons in liquid form and containers for such gaseous hydrocarbons to be marked in such manner as they may specify in the regulations, | ||
(d) requiring information relating to the supply or use of gaseous hydrocarbons in liquid form and containers of such gaseous hydrocarbons to be given by producers of and dealers in such gaseous hydrocarbons and by any person who is an owner of, or who is for the time being in charge of, any motor vehicle constructed or adapted to use gaseous hydrocarbons in liquid form for combustion in the engine thereof. | ||
(8) No person shall— | ||
(a) use for combustion in the engine of a motor vehicle or keep in a tank or other container connected to the engine of a motor vehicle any gaseous hydrocarbons in liquid form on which the duty imposed by section 41 of this Act has not been paid or on which a rebate of duty under subsection (2) of this section has been allowed, or | ||
(b) purchase or receive from a person who is not the holder of a licence under subsection (4) of this section any motor vehicle gas. | ||
(9) Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with the provisions of this section or any regulation under this section or who resists, obstructs or impedes an officer of the Revenue Commissioners or a member of the Garda Síochána in the exercise of any power conferred on him by this section or any regulation under this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable, on conviction, to an excise penalty of £500 and the motor vehicle gas in respect of which the offence was committed shall be forfeited and, in the case of an offence involving a motor vehicle, if it is a second or subsequent offence by the person under this section, the vehicle shall be forfeited. | ||
(10) This section shall come into operation on such day as the Minister for Finance may appoint by order. |