Finance Act 1989

[F1 54 Relief. U.K.

(1) This section applies where—

(a) on or after 6th April 1990 an individual makes a payment in respect of a premium under a contract of private medical insurance (whenever issued),

(b) the contract meets the requirement in subsection (2) below as to the person or persons insured,

(c) at the time the payment is made the contract is an eligible contract,

(d) the individual making the payment does not make it out of resources provided by another person for the purpose of enabling it to be made, and

(e) the individual making the payment is not entitled to claim any relief or deduction in respect of it under any other provision of the Tax Acts.

(2) The requirement mentioned in subsection (1)(b) above is that the contract insures—

(a) an individual who at the time the payment is made is aged 60 or over and resident in the United Kingdom,

(b) individuals each of whom at that time is aged 60 or over and resident in the United Kingdom, or

(c) two individuals who are married to each other at that time, at least one of whom is aged 60 or over at that time, and each of whom is resident in the United Kingdom at that time.

[F2 (2A) In a case where—

(a) a payment is made in respect of a premium under a contract at a time when the contract meets the requirement in subsection (2) above by virtue of paragraph (c) of that subsection, and

(b) a payment is made under the same contract at a time after one of the individuals has died and when the contract does not (apart from this subsection) meet the requirement in subsection (2) above by virtue only of the fact that the surviving spouse is not aged 60 or over at the time,

for the purposes of subsection (2) above in its application to the contract the surviving spouse shall be deemed to be aged 60 or over at the time mentioned in paragraph (b) above.]

(3) If the payment is made by an individual who at the time it is made is resident in the United Kingdom (whether or not he is the individual or one of the individuals insured by the contract) [F3 the individual shall be entitled to relief under this subsection in respect of the payment; and (except where subsections (4) to (6) below apply) relief under this subsection shall be given—

(a) in accordance with subsections (3A) to (3C) below, and

(b) only on a claim made for the purpose.]

[F4 (3A) Where an individual is entitled to relief under subsection (3) above in respect of one or more payments made in a given year of assessment, the amount of his liability for that year of assessment to income tax on his total income shall be the amount to which he would be liable apart from this section less whichever is the smaller of—

(a) the amount found under subsection (3B) below, and

(b) the amount which reduces his liability to nil.

(3B) The amount referred to in subsection (3A)(a) above is an amount found by—

(a) taking the amount of the payment referred to in subsection (3A) above or (as the case may be) the aggregate amount of the payments there referred to, and

(b) finding an amount equal to tax on the amount taken under paragraph (a) above at the basic rate for the year of assessment concerned.

(3C) In determining for the purposes of subsection (3A) above the amount of incomers on would be liable apart from this section, no account shall be taken of—

(a) any income tax reduction under Chapter I of Part VII of the Taxes Act 1988 or under section 347B of that Act;

(b) any income tax reduction under section 353(1A) of the Taxes Act 1988;

(c) any relief by way of a reduction of liability to tax which is given in accordance with any arrangements having effect by virtue of section 788 of the Taxes Act 1988 or by way of a credit under section 790(1) of that Act;

(d) any tax at the basic rate on so much of that person’s income as is income the income tax on which he is entitled to charge against any other person or to deduct, retain or satisfy out of any payment.]

(4) In such cases and subject to such conditions as the Board may specify in regulations, relief under subsection (3) above shall be given in accordance with subsections (5) and (6) below.

(5) An individual who is entitled to such relief in respect of a payment may deduct and retain out of it an amount equal to income tax on it at the basic rate for the year of assessment in which it is made.

(6) The person to whom the payment is made—

(a) shall accept the amount paid after deduction in discharge of the individual’s liability to the same extent as if the deduction had not been made, and

(b) may, on making a claim [F5 in accordance with regulations], recover from the Board an amount equal to the amount deducted.

(7) The Treasury may make regulations providing that in circumstances prescribed in the regulations—

(a) an individual who has made a payment in respect of a premium under a contract of private medical insurance shall cease to be and be treated as not having been entitled to relief under subsection (3) above; and

(b) he or the person to whom the payment was made (depending on the terms of the regulations) shall account to the Board for tax from which relief has been given on the basis that the individual was so entitled.

(8) Regulations under subsection (7) above may include provision adapting or modifying the effect of any enactment relating to income tax in order to secure the performance of any obligation imposed under paragraph (b) of that subsection.

(9) In this section—

(a) references to a premium, in relation to a contract of insurance, are to any amount payable under the contract to the insurer, and

(b) references to an individual who is resident in the United Kingdom at anytime include references to an individual who is at that time performing duties which are treated by virtue of section 132(4)(a) of the Taxes Act 1988 as performed in the United Kingdom.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 54-57 repealed (31.1.1997 with effect as mentioned in Sch. 8 Pt. II(2), note of the amending Act) by 1997 c. 58, s. 52, Sch. 8 Pt. II(2) (with s. 3(3))

F2 S. 54(2A) inserted (3.5.1994 with effect as mentioned in Sch. 10 para. 4(2) of the amending Act) by 1994 c. 9, s. 83, Sch. 10 para. 4(1)

F3 Words and paras. (a)(b) substituted for words in s. 54(3) (3.5.1994 with effect in relation to payments on or after 6.4.1994) by 1994 c. 9, s. 83, Sch. 10 para. 2(2)(4)

F4 S. 54(3A)-(3C) inserted (3.5.1994 with effect in relation to payments on or after 6.4.1994) by 1994 c. 9, s. 83, Sch. 10 para. 2(3)(4)

F5 Words in s. 54(6)(b) inserted (29.4.1996) by 1996 c. 8, s. 129(2)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 54 restricted (31.7.1997 with effect for the year 1997-1998 and subsequent years of assessment) by 1997 c. 58, s. 17(1)-(5) (with s. 3(3))

C2 For regulations see S.I. 1989/2387andS.I. 1989/2389 (in Part III Vol. 5under “Private medicalinsurance”)