The maximum amount that may be deducted or set off in any year of assessment by virtue of section 639(1) shall be 17.5 per cent. of the individual’s net relevant earnings for that year.

In the case of an individual whose age at the beginning of the year of assessment is within a range specified in the first column of the following table, subsection (1) above shall have effect with the substitution for 17.5 per cent. of the relevant percentage specified in the second column.

Without prejudice to subsection (1) above, the maximum amount that may be deducted or set off in any year of assessment in respect of contributions paid by an individual to secure benefits satisfying the conditions in section 637(1) shall be 5 per cent. of the individual’s net relevant earnings for that year.

Where personal pension arrangements are made by an employee whose employer makes contributions under the arrangements, the maximum amount that may be deducted or set off in any year of assessment shall be reduced by the amount of the employer’s contributions in the year.

Any minimum contributions treated by virtue of section 649(3) as paid by the individual in respect of whom they are paid shall be disregarded for the purposes of this section.