Taxes Management Act 1970 section 34

Ordinary time limit of 4 years

Section 34 establishes the standard 4-year time limit within which HMRC may raise an assessment to income tax or capital gains tax.

• HMRC has 4 years from the end of the relevant tax year to make an assessment to income tax or capital gains tax
• Other provisions in the Taxes Acts may allow a longer assessment period for specific types of cases
• Any objection that an assessment is out of time can only be raised through a formal appeal against that assessment
• This time limit applies to HMRC assessments only and does not cover self-assessments