(1) A credit information provider shall verify the Tax Registration Number of an individual who carries on activities otherwise than as an employee against an original or copy of a Tax Clearance Certificate issued by the Revenue Commissioners to the individual and currently in force.

(2) If the individual who carries on activities otherwise than as an employee is a partnership and a single Tax Clearance Certificate was issued by the Revenue Commissioners to the partnership, the partnership's Tax Registration Number shall be verified against an original or copy of that Tax Clearance Certificate.

(3) If an individual who carries on activities otherwise than as an employee does not possess the documents specified in paragraph (1) or, as appropriate, paragraph (2) the credit information provider may verify the information against any other tax reference documentation issued by the Revenue Commissioners or other relevant tax authority in respect of that tax type.

(4) In determining the reliability of the document referred to in paragraph (3) the credit information provider shall have regard to the following:

(a) the nature of the body by whom the document was issued;

(b) the nature of the document;

(c) whether it might reasonably be expected that the document was issued following checks on the identity of the person.