CH250500 - How to do a compliance check: using FA08/Sch36 inspection powers: introduction and scope
Source: gov.uk (2025-12-05)


This page and chapter are under review as the relevant content is also published in the technical guidance chapters of the Compliance Handbook (https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/compliance-handbook), within Compliance checks factsheets (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hm-revenue-and-customs-compliance-checks-factsheets) and in Compliance checks guidance (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hmrc-compliance-checks-help-and-support). If you use particular pages regularly, please email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) to let us know the specific content you find useful.

If your compliance check is into an excise duty, see CH201100 (https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/compliance-handbook/ch201100), you will use powers under CEMA79. (This content has been withheld because of exemptions in the Freedom of Information Act 2000)

An inspection under the powers provided by Sch36, FA08 can only be done when it is a reasonable and proportionate response to address the identified tax risk or risks, see CH21360 (https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/compliance-handbook/ch21360).

The person must be given at least 7 days’ notice of the inspection, unless (either):
- they have agreed a time and date with you in advance,
- an authorised officer has agreed that there is a reasonable requirement not to do so, for example, the nature of the risk requires an unannounced visit, see CH254000 (https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/compliance-handbook/ch254000)
You must respect the person’s right to privacy provided by the Human Rights Act, see CH21340 (https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/compliance-handbook/ch21340).

You may not enter or inspect any parts of premises that are used solely as a dwelling, unless (either):
- your inspection is for the purposes of valuation, see CH256000 (https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/compliance-handbook/ch256000),
- parts of a person’s home fall into the definition of business premises that you may need to enter for the purposes of inspecting the business premises part and statutory records or business assets on the premises, see CH25180 (https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/compliance-handbook/ch25180)
Visits not using Sch36 powers

If a visit is for reasons other than an inspection under Schedule 36, for example
- the person or their agent has asked you to attend their premises for a meeting
- you need to establish the existence of and/ or identity of a ghost, see CH21680 (https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/compliance-handbook/ch21680)
- you need to visit to ask for information from or about a missing trader
- you need to examine documents produced in response to an information notice
then the inspection visit booking or authorisation arrangements will not apply. You can arrange the visit informally, or, if necessary, arrive unannounced.

When visiting under these circumstances, you must not let the person think you are using information or inspection powers. You need to tell them that you are seeking information informally. If the person does not want to cooperate on that basis, you will have to issue an information notice, see CH220000 (https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/compliance-handbook/ch220000).

If, other than visiting for a meeting, the occupier invites you onto the premises to inspect the premises, assets, property, goods or records, you must inform them that you have no legal right to carry out an inspection without first giving them at least 7 days’ notice. Although, with their written agreement, you can do the inspection there and then if it is convenient. The written agreement can be recorded in your notebook.