475A Relief for postgraduate fees.

(1) In this section—

“academic year” means, in relation to an approved course, a year of study commencing on a date not earlier than 1 August in a year of assessment;

“appropriate percentage” means, in relation to a year of assessment, a percentage equal to the standard rate of tax for that year;

“approved college” means, in relation to a year of assessment, a college or institution in the State that—

(a) provides courses to which a scheme approved by the Minister under the Local Authorities (Higher Education) Grants Acts, 1968 to 1992, applies, or

(b) operates in accordance with a code of standards which from time to time may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, be laid down by the Minister,

and which the Minister approves for the purposes of this section;

“approved course” means—

(a) a postgraduate course of study leading to a postgraduate award, based on a thesis or on the results of an examination, in an approved college—

(i) of not less than one academic year, but not more than 4 academic years, in duration,

(ii) that requires an individual, undertaking the course, to have been conferred with a degree or an equivalent qualification, and

(iii) that, in the case of a course provided by a college to which paragraph (b) of the definition of “approved college” relates, the Minister, having regard to a code of standards which from time to time may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, be laid down by the Minister in relation to the quality of education to be offered on such approved course, approves for the purposes of this section,

or

(b) a postgraduate course of study leading to a postgraduate award, based on a thesis or on the results of an examination, in a qualifying college—

(i) of not less than one academic year, but not more than 4 academic years, in duration, and

(ii) that requires an individual, undertaking the course, to have been conferred with a degree or an equivalent qualification;

“dependant”, in relation to an individual, means a spouse or child of the individual or a person in respect of whom the individual is or was the legal guardian;

“Minister” means the Minister for Education and Science;

“qualifying college” means any university or similar institution of higher education in a Member State of the European Union (other than the State), including such a university or similar institution of higher education that provides distance education, and that is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds of that or any other Member State of the European Union (including the State);

“qualifying fees”, in relation to an approved course and an academic year, means—

(a) in the case of an approved college, the amount of fees chargeable in respect of tuition to be provided in relation to that course in that year and which, in relation to a course to which paragraph (a)(iii) of the definition of “approved course” relates, the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, approves for the purposes of this section, and

(b) in the case of a qualifying college, so much of the amount of fees chargeable in respect of tuition to be provided in relation to that course in that year as is equal to the amount of fees determined by the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, to be the qualifying fees for the purposes of this section in relation to the class of approved course specified in the determination to which the particular course concerned belongs.

(2) Subject to this section, where an individual for a year of assessment proves that he or she has, on his or her own behalf or on behalf of his or her dependant, made a payment in respect of qualifying fees in respect of an approved course for the academic year in relation to that course commencing in that year of assessment, the income tax to be charged on the individual for that year of assessment, other than in accordance with section 16(2), shall be reduced by an amount which is the lesser of—

(a) the amount equal to the appropriate percentage of the aggregate of all such payments proved to be so made, and

(b) the amount which reduces that income tax to nil.

(3) In the case of an individual who is a married person assessed to tax for a year of assessment in accordance with section 1017, any payment in respect of qualifying fees made by the individual’s spouse shall, except where section 1023 applies, be deemed to have been made by the individual.

(4) For the purposes of this section, a payment in respect of qualifying fees shall be regarded as not having been made in so far as any sum in respect of, or by reference to, such fees has been or is to be received, directly or indirectly, by the individual, or, as the case may be, his or her dependant, from any source whatever by means of grant, scholarship or otherwise.

(5) (a) Where the Minister is satisfied that an approved college, within the meaning of paragraph (b) of the definition of “approved college”, or an approved course in that college, no longer meets the appropriate code of standards laid down, the Minister may by notice in writing given to the approved college withdraw, with effect from the year of assessment following the year of assessment in which the notice is given, the approval of that college or course, as the case may be, for the purposes of this section.

(b) Where the Minister withdraws the approval of any college or course for the purposes of this section, notice of its withdrawal shall be published as soon as may be in Iris Oifigiúil.

(6) Any claim for relief under this section made by an individual in respect of fees paid to a qualifying college shall be accompanied by a statement in writing made by the qualifying college concerned stating each of the following, namely—

(a) that the college is a qualifying college for the purposes of this section,

(b) the details of the course undertaken by the individual or his or her dependant,

(c) the duration of the course, and

(d) the amount of the fees paid in respect of the course.

(7) Where for the purposes of this section any question arises as to whether—

(a) a college is an approved college or is a qualifying college, or

(b) a course of study is an approved course,

the Revenue Commissioners may consult with the Minister.

(8) On or before 1 July in each year of assessment, the Minister shall furnish the Revenue Commissioners with full details of—

(a) all colleges and courses in respect of which approval has been granted and not withdrawn for the purposes of this section, and

(b) the amount of the qualifying fees in respect of each such course for the academic year commencing in that year of assessment.