Childcare Payments Act 2014

19 Payments into childcare accounts U.K.

(1) In this Act “qualifying payment” means any payment made into a childcare account, other than—

(a) a top-up payment, or

(b) a repayment of the whole or part of any payment made from the childcare account.

But for the purposes of paragraph (b) a withdrawal made by the account-holder is not to be regarded as a payment made from a childcare account.

(2) Any person (including the account-holder) may make a qualifying payment into a childcare account during an entitlement period, provided that—

(a) the account-holder has made a valid declaration of eligibility for the entitlement period, and

(b) the child in respect of whom the account is held is a qualifying child at the time of the payment.

This is subject to any provision made by or under this Act.

(3) More than one qualifying payment may be made into a childcare account during an entitlement period.

(4) But the sum of any qualifying payments made into a childcare account in an entitlement period must not exceed the relevant maximum for the entitlement period.

(5) The relevant maximum for an entitlement period [F1 is—

(a) in the case of a disabled child, £4,000, and

(b) in the case of any other child, £2,000.]

This is subject to subsection (6).

(6) Regulations may provide, or enable HMRC to provide, that in circumstances specified in the regulations the relevant maximum for an entitlement period is an amount—

(a) specified in, or determined in accordance with, the regulations, or

(b) determined by HMRC in accordance with powers conferred by the regulations.

(7) Regulations may amend subsection (5) so as to substitute a different amount or amounts for any amount for the time being specified there.

(8) For the purposes of subsection (4), any amount paid into a childcare account at any time during an entitlement period is to be disregarded if at a later time during the entitlement period an equivalent amount is withdrawn from the account by the account-holder.

(9) The account provider must notify HMRC of any qualifying payments made into a childcare account.

[F2 (10) In subsection (5) “disabled child” is to be read in accordance with regulations made under section 14(1).]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 19(5) substituted (1.6.2015) by The Childcare Payments Act 2014 (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/537), regs. 1, 2(2)

F2 S. 19(10) inserted (1.6.2015) by The Childcare Payments Act 2014 (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/537), regs. 1, 2(3)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 19 partly in force at Royal Assent; s. 19 in force for specified purposes at Royal Assent, see s. 75(1)(c)

I2 S. 19 in force at 14.11.2016 for the purposes of the trial by S.I. 2016/1083, reg. 2(c)

I3 S. 19 in force at 21.4.2017 for specified purposes by S.I. 2017/578, reg. 2

I4 S. 19 in force at 16.5.2017 so far as not already in force in respect of those recruited to participate in the trial by S.I. 2017/578, reg. 4

I5 S. 19 in force at 14.7.2017 for specified purposes by S.I. 2017/750, reg. 2(1)(2)(d)

I6 S. 19 in force at 24.11.2017 for specified purposes by S.I. 2017/1116, reg. 2

I7 S. 19 in force at 15.1.2018 for specified purposes by S.I. 2018/27, reg. 2(1)(3)(4)

I8 S. 19 in force at 14.2.2018 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2018/27, reg. 2(2)(3)