IPTM7155 - Certificates for HMRC: power to require certificate in other cases: ICTA88/S552(4)

Even where the event and gain are not such that a certificate is required to be provided to HMRC under the normal rules, an officer may require an insurer to supply a copy of the chargeable event certificate which the insurer was required to send to the policyholder. In practice, the officer is not likely to invoke this power frequently since in enquiry cases the taxpayer will be the first person from whom HMRC will seek to obtain evidence in support of entries in the tax return, such as a copy of the chargeable event certificate.

The insurer has 30 days to provide the certificate from the date that it receives notice from the officer requiring the certificate to be sent.

It is sufficient to provide a copy of the information, rather than a copy of the precise certificate which the insurer sent to the policyholder.