Section 71 | Construction of sections 60 to 70.

(1)For the purpose of any provision of sections 59 60 to 70 which refers to a reasonable excuse for any conduct—^F1

(a)an insufficiency of funds to pay any VAT due is not a reasonable excuse; and

(b)where reliance is placed on any other person to perform any task, neither the fact of that reliance nor any dilatoriness or inaccuracy on the part of the person relied upon is a reasonable excuse.

(2)In relation to a prescribed accounting period, any reference in sections 59 60 to 69 to credit for input tax includes a reference to any sum which, in a return for that period, is claimed as a deduction from VAT due.^F2