(1)In this Act “childcare account” means an account which—
(a)is held by a person for the purpose of receiving top-up payments in respect of a qualifying child,
(b)is provided by a person or body within section 16(1),
(c)satisfies the requirements imposed by or under this Act, and
(d)has been opened in accordance with this Act.
(2)Each childcare account must be held in respect of one child only.
(3)Regulations may—
(a)impose other requirements which must be satisfied in relation to childcare accounts, and
(b)make provision about the way in which payments may be made into, or from, childcare accounts.
(4)Regulations may provide that a person of a specified description may, or may in specified circumstances, manage a childcare account on behalf of the account-holder.
(5)The provision that may be made by regulations under subsection (4) includes—
(a)provision enabling HMRC to appoint a person for the purpose of managing a childcare account on the account-holder's behalf, and
(b)provision specifying functions in relation to the management of a childcare account which persons, or persons of a specified description, may not perform on an account-holder's behalf.
(6)In subsections (4) and (5) “specified” means specified in the regulations.
(7)Where a contract is entered into by or on behalf of a person who is 16 or 17 years old in connection with a childcare account held by the person, the contract has effect as if the person had been 18 or over when it was entered into.
(8)If the Commissioners so consent, fees may be charged in connection with a childcare account by the account provider.
(9)But the account provider may not charge any fees merely for—
(a)providing a childcare account,
(b)enabling a qualifying payment to be made into a childcare account (see section 19), or
(c)enabling a payment to be made from a childcare account in respect of qualifying childcare for the child in respect of whom the account is held.
(10)In this Act—
(a)the “account-holder”, in relation to a childcare account, means the person who holds the childcare account, and
(b)the “account provider”, in relation to a childcare account, means the person or body who provides the childcare account.
Commencement Information
I1S. 15 partly in force at Royal Assent; s. 15 in force for specified purposes at Royal Assent, see s. 75(1)(c)
I2S. 15 in force at 14.11.2016 for the purposes of the trial by S.I. 2016/1083, reg. 2(c)
I3S. 15 in force at 21.4.2017 for specified purposes by S.I. 2017/578, reg. 2
I4S. 15 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
I5S. 15 in force at 14.7.2017 for specified purposes by S.I. 2017/750, reg. 2(1)(2)(c)
I6S. 15 in force at 24.11.2017 for specified purposes by S.I. 2017/1116, reg. 2
I7S. 15 in force at 15.1.2018 for specified purposes by S.I. 2018/27, reg. 2(1)(3)(4)
I8S. 15 in force at 14.2.2018 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2018/27, reg. 2(2)(3)