Income Tax Act 1947 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 16 · Returns
65E. Section 65B notice may be subject to confidentiality duty
Feedback & supportWhere the Comptroller issues a notice to any person under section 65B and states that the notice must be kept confidential, the person (including an officer, employee or agent of the person) must not disclose any information relating to the notice to any other person.
Comptroller
“Comptroller” means the Comptroller of Income Tax appointed under section 3(1) and includes, for all purposes of this Act except the exercise of the powers conferred upon the Comptroller by sections 34F(9), 37L(7), 37M(5), 67(1)(a), 95, 96, 96A and 101, a Deputy Comptroller or an Assistant Comptroller so appointed;
Subsection (1) does not apply to the disclosure of any information relating to the notice to an advocate and solicitor for the purpose of seeking legal advice on the notice, if (and only if) the person who discloses the information informs the advocate and solicitor of the Comptroller’s requirement that the notice be kept confidential.
advocate and solicitor
“advocate and solicitor” means an advocate and solicitor within the meaning of the Legal Profession Act 1966;
The advocate and solicitor to whom information is disclosed in accordance with subsection (2) is subject to subsection (1) as if he or she is the person given the notice under subsection (1).
Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 and in default of payment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months.
The Comptroller may compound any offence under subsection (4).
A person who in good faith complies with subsection (1) is not treated as being in breach of any duty to disclose the information to any person, whether imposed by written law, rule of law, any contract or any rule of professional conduct; and no criminal or civil action for a breach of such duty shall lie against the firstmentioned person.