Finance Act, 1920

Deduction in respect of children

21.(1) If the claimant proves that he has living at the commencement of the year of assessment any child who is either under the age of sixteen years or who, if over the age of sixteen years at the commencement of that year, is receiving full time instruction at any university, college, school, or other educational establishment, he shall, subject tot he provisions of this section, be entitled in respect of one child to a deduction of thirty-six pounds and in respect of each subsequent child to a deduction of twenty-seven pounds.

The expression “child” in this provision includes a step-child and an illegitimate child whose parents have married each other after his birth.

(2) If the claimant proves that for the year of assessment he has the custody of and maintains at his own expense any child who is under the age of sixteen years at the commencement of that year, or who, if over the age of sixteen years at the commencement of that year, is receiving such full-time instruction as aforesaid, and that neither he nor any other individual is entitled to a deduction in respect of the same child under the foregoing provisions of this section or under any of the other provisions of this Part of this Act, or, if any other individual is entitled to such a deductiion, that that other individual has relinquished his claim thereto, he shall be entitled in respect of the child to the same deduction as if the child were a child of his.

(3) No deduction shall be allowed under this section in respect of any child who is entitled in his own right to an income exceeding forty pounds a year:

Provided that in calculating the income of the child for the purposes of the foregoing provision no account shall be taken of any income to which the child is entitled as the holder of a scholarship, bursary, or other similar educational endowment.

(4) If any question arises as to whether any person is entitled to an allowance under this section in respect of a child who is over the age of sixteen years, as being a child who is receiving such full-time instruction as aforesaid, the Commissioners of Inaldn Revenue may, on the request of the Income Tax Commissioners concerned, consult the Board of Education.

In the application of this subsection to Scotland and Ireland the Scottish Education Department and the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland shall respectively be substituted for the Board of Education.