ISAs - What are they and how do ISAs work? (2024)

ISAs - What are they and how do ISAs work? (1)

What is an Individual Savings Account (ISA)?

An ISA, or Individual Savings Account, is a savings account that you never pay any tax on. It does come with one restriction, which is the amount of money you can save or invest in an ISA in a single tax year – also known as your annual ISA allowance. For the current tax year this allowance is £20,000.

It helps to think of an ISA as a protective box: the things you put inside are protected from tax and there are two basic types of ISA to choose from – Cash ISAs and Stocks & Shares ISAs.

What is a Cash ISA?

Cash ISAs are more like an ordinary savings account: you pay cash in and it earns interest, tax free.

What is a Stocks & Shares ISA?

The ISA for investments is called a Stocks and Shares ISA: rather than simply saving, you are investing in things like stocks and shares, bonds, gilts or commercial properties to help your savings grow over time and any interest or returns you get are tax free.

Stocks and Shares ISAs may have the potential for quicker or greater growth, but because they are based on the stock market there’s always a risk the amount of money in your ISA could go down as well as up, so you may get back less than you put in.

ISAs come in different shapes and sizes

In addition to the basic Cash ISA and Stocks & Shares ISA, different types have been created, to help people save for different things such as:

  • Lifetime ISA – to help you save towards your first home or your retirement
  • Junior ISA – to help you save for you children

To help you compare the different ISAs and choose the right kind, read our blog on choosing the best ISA for you.

How do ISAs work?

If you live in the UK and are over 16 years old, you’re entitled to save a certain amount of money in an ISA every year. This is called your ‘ISA allowance’.

Once your money is in an ISA it can’t be taxed, no matter how many years you have it in there. Take a look at our ‘Frequently Asked ISA questions’ blog for more details on how ISAs work.

What are the benefits of an ISA?

  • Your money will grow tax free
  • The annual allowance for the current tax year is £20,000
  • Your annual allowance starts afresh each new tax year
  • You can transfer existing ISAs into your new ISA
  • Children aged between 16 and 18 can hold both a Junior and a standard Cash ISA
  • Specific ISAs are available to help when saving towards your first home or retirement.

Find out more about how we can help you save with a Stocks & Shares ISA, a Lifetime ISA or a Junior ISA.

The content of this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. We do not offer financial advice. If you’re unsure as to the suitability of a product you should seek advice from a Financial Adviser. You may have to pay for this advice.

ISAs - What are they and how do ISAs work? (2024)

FAQs

What are ISAs and how do they work? ›

An ISA (individual savings account) is a tax-free savings or investment account that allows you to put your ISA allowance to work and maximize the potential returns you make on your money, by shielding it from income tax, tax on dividends and capital gains tax.

How do ISAs work Martin Lewis? ›

"Cash ISAs are simply savings accounts you don't pay tax on. You can put £20,000 in per tax year - so you put in £20,000 this tax year, and then the next tax year and the year after that - that's £60,000 in total [and] all of it would be tax free.

What is an ISA and why is it important? ›

An Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) is part of the abstract model of a computer that defines how the CPU is controlled by the software. The ISA acts as an interface between the hardware and the software, specifying both what the processor is capable of doing as well as how it gets done.

What do you mean by ISA? ›

ISA stands for Individual Savings Account. The main difference between an ISA and any other savings account is that it offers tax-free interest payments.

What is the purpose of the ISAs? ›

The International Standard on Auditing (ISA) is a framework of standards recognized worldwide by auditors, CPAs, accounting teachers and students, and more. Informally known as ISAs, these standards ensure auditing financial statements is done consistently and transparently.

How much money do you put in an ISA? ›

You can currently save up to £20,000 into an ISA each tax year (6 April to 5 April). This is called your annual ISA allowance. Lifetime ISAs work a little differently. With these, you can only save up to £4,000 each tax year, with the government adding a 25% bonus.

What are the disadvantages of an ISA account? ›

What are the pros and cons of cash ISAs?
  • Advantages: Tax-free savings, stable value, and the ability to transfer to better accounts.
  • Disadvantages: Interest rates may decrease, funds might be locked in fixed-rate ISAs, and not all accounts permit transfers, sometimes incurring exit fees.
Apr 26, 2024

Why is an ISA better than a savings account? ›

With an ISA you never have to worry about your interest exceeding the personal savings allowance. It will always be tax-free. Similarly, if you are saving for a long-term goal, then putting your money into an ISA means it remains sheltered from tax as it grows.

Can I put $20,000 in an ISA every year? ›

Putting money into an ISA

Every tax year you can save up to £20,000 in one account or split the allowance across multiple accounts. The tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April. You can only pay into one Lifetime ISA in a tax year. The maximum you can pay in is £4,000.

Can you take your money out of an ISA? ›

You can take your money out of an Individual Savings Account ( ISA ) at any time, without losing any tax benefits. Check the terms of your ISA to see if there are any rules or charges for making withdrawals. There are different rules for taking your money out of a Lifetime ISA.

Are ISA worth having? ›

For short-term goals such as an emergency fund or a holiday, ISAs and savings accounts can still be a good place to save up. For long-term savings such as retirement, however, you should consider investing to help your money grow over time.

What is ISA in the US? ›

The United States Army Intelligence Support Activity (USAISA), frequently shortened to Intelligence Support Activity (ISA), also known at various times as Mission Support Activity (MSA), Office of Military Support (OMS), Field Operations Group (FOG), Studies and Analysis Activity (SAA), Tactical Concept Activity, ...

Can I put $20,000 in a cash ISA every year? ›

Putting money into an ISA

Every tax year you can save up to £20,000 in one account or split the allowance across multiple accounts. The tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April. You can only pay into one Lifetime ISA in a tax year. The maximum you can pay in is £4,000.

Can I withdraw money from ISAs? ›

You can take your money out of an Individual Savings Account ( ISA ) at any time, without losing any tax benefits. Check the terms of your ISA to see if there are any rules or charges for making withdrawals. There are different rules for taking your money out of a Lifetime ISA.

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