190Annual limit for relief
(1)The maximum amount of relief to which an individual is entitled under section 188 (relief for contributions) for a tax year is (subject as follows) the amount of the individual’s relevant UK earnings which are chargeable to income tax for the tax year.
(2)If the amount of the individual’s relevant UK earnings which are chargeable to income tax for the tax year is less than the basic amount, the maximum amount of relief to which the individual is entitled under section 188 for the tax year is increased by the difference between—
(a)the amount of the individual’s relevant UK earnings which are so chargeable, and
(b)the basic amount,
(so that, if the individual has no relevant UK earnings which are so chargeable, the maximum amount of such relief is the basic amount).
(3)Subsection (2) is subject to section 191(7) (limit on methods of giving relief to which individual is entitled by virtue of subsection (2)).
(4)“The basic amount” is £3,600 or such greater amount as the Treasury may by order specify.
(5)Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply in relation to any amount of relief to which an individual is entitled under section 188 in respect of any amount recovered by the individual’s employer under regulations made under—
(a)section 8(3) of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 (c. 48) (recovery of minimum payments), or
(b)section 4(3) of the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Act 1993 (c. 49) (corresponding provision for Northern Ireland).