
1 

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Distraint by Authorised Officers (Fees, Costs and Charges) Regulations 1999 and shall come into force on 20th April 1999.
(2) In these Regulations—
(a) “authorised officer” means an officer of the Secretary of State authorised by him for the purposes of section 121A of the Social Security Administration Act 1992;
(b) “close possession” means physical possession by the distrainor or a person acting on his behalf of the goods and chattels distrained;
(c) “total sum certified” means the total amount of any contributions, or interest or penalty in respect of contributions, which an authorised officer certifies a person is liable to pay to the Secretary of State in accordance with section 118(1) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992;
(d) “walking possession” means possession in accordance with an agreement between the distrainor and the distrainee whereby, in consideration of the distrainor not remaining in close possession, the distrainee undertakes not to dispose of the goods distrained or any part thereof, or permit their removal by any person not authorised by the distrainor to remove them.
2 
The fees chargeable on or in connection with the levying of distress and the costs and charges recoverable where distress has been levied shall be those specified in the Schedule to these Regulations, but subject to any provision of that Schedule.
3 
The fees, costs and charges specified in the Schedule to these Regulations shall be deducted by the authorised officer from the sums received on or in connection with the levying of distress or where distress has been levied.
4 

(1) In the case of dispute as to any fees chargeable, or costs and charges recoverable under the Schedule to these Regulations, the amount of those fees, costs and charges shall be taxed.
(2) Such a taxation shall be carried out by the district judge of the county court for the district in which the distress is or is intended to be levied, and he may give such directions as to the costs of the taxation as he thinks fit.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Social Security.
Stephen C. Timms
Minister of State,
Department of Social Security
25th March 1999
SCHEDULE
Regulation 2


Action taken Fees, Costs and Charges
On or in connection with the levying of distress Fees
For making a visit to premises with a view to levying distress (whether the levy is made or not). A sum not exceeding £12.50.
Levying distress where the total sum certified is £100 or less. £12.50.
Levying distress where the total sum certified is more than £100. 12½ per cent. on the first £100 of the amount to be recovered;4 per cent. on the next £400;2½ per cent. on the next £1,500;1 per cent. on the next £8,000;¼ per cent. on any additional sum.
Where distress has been levied Costs and Charges

1 
Where close possession is taken. £4.50 for the day of levy only.
Where walking possession is taken. 45p per day, payable for the day the distress is levied and up to 14 days thereafter.

2 
Removal and storage of goods The reasonable costs and charges of removal and storage.

3 
Appraisement The reasonable fees, charges and expenses of the person appraising.

4 
Where the sale is held on the auctioneer’s premises, for the auctioneer’s commission (to include all out-of-pocket expenses, other than charges for advertising, removal and storage). 15 per cent. on the sum realised plus the reasonable costs of advertising, removal and storage.
Where the sale is held on the debtor’s premises, for the auctioneer’s commission (not to include out-of-pocket expenses or charges for advertising). 7½ per cent. on the sum realised plus out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred and the reasonable costs of advertising.

1. In any case where close possession is taken, an individual left in possession must provide his own board.
2. For the purpose of calculating any percentage fees, costs and charges, a fraction of £1 is to be reckoned as £1, but any fraction of a penny in the total amount so calculated is to be disregarded.
3. In addition to any amount authorised by this Schedule in respect of the supply of goods or services on which value added tax is chargeable there may be added a sum equivalent to the value added tax at the appropriate rate on that amount.