Do you want to pay less tax on your investments? If so, an ISA could be the answer. There are lots of different types of ISAs that are suitable for different savers and investors.
It’s possible to invest up to £20,000 per tax year across a range of ISAs. The process of opening the various types of ISAs is relatively simple and often does not involve significant costs. This makes ISAs accessible to a wide range of savers and investors.
Here, we take a look at the different types of ISAs you should consider.
What types of ISAs are there?
There are lots of different types of ISAs:
- Cash ISA – a simple type of cash savings account.
- Stocks and shares ISA – a way to invest in stocks, shares or funds with no tax payable on capital growth.
- Innovative Finance ISA – designed for investors to use to invest in peer-to-peer loans.
- Lifetime ISA – a savings account that the government tops up with a 25% bonus.
- Junior ISA – designed for parents who want to invest for their children.
Let’s break each one down.
Cash ISA
A cash ISA is one of the most popular and simplest types of ISA, and any interest income received within it is tax free. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme covers up to £85,000 of cash savings in a cash ISA.
Stocks and shares ISA
A stocks and shares ISA is another very popular type of ISA. That’s because a stocks and shares ISA offers a simple way to invest in a wide range of stocks. Amounts invested through these ISAs are not subject to capital gains tax or dividend tax. The cost of holding a stocks and shares ISA is typically relatively low.
A stocks and shares ISA could offer significant long-term return potential as shares tend to grow in value at a faster rate than cash savings over time.
Some people also use a stocks and shares ISA to save for retirement. However, don’t forget that traditional pensions still offer many advantages. You’ll get tax relief on contributions plus employer contributions if you pay into a workplace pension.
To learn more, check out our top stocks and shares ISAs in the UK.
Great for frequent investors or those who prefer funds
Hargreaves Lansdown Stocks and Shares ISA *
| Trading Commission | £5.95 – £11.95‡ |
| Account Management Fee | Up to 0.45%† |
- Pros & Cons
- Fees & Charges
Pros
- Plenty of investing resources and research material
- Cheap trading costs for active investors and free fund dealing
- Low platform fees for smaller portfolios
- £100 of free trades for new and existing clients.
Cons
- Expensive fees for fewer trades
- Structure of fees can be complicated
- Limited trading tools
Monthly subscription fee: £0
Equities custody charge: 0.45% (capped at £45/year)
Fund management charge:
On the first £0 to £250,000 = 0.45%,
On the value between £250,000 to £1m = 0.25%,
On the value between £1m and £2m = 0.1%,
On the value over £2m = free
UK shares & ETFs: £11.95 (for 0-9 trades in previous month), £8.95 (for 10-19 trades in previous month), £5.95 (for 20+ trades in previous month)
US shares & ETFs: £11.95 (for 0-9 trades in previous month), £8.95 (for 10-19 trades in previous month), £5.95 (for 20+ trades in previous month)
EU shares & ETFs: £11.95 (for 0-9 trades in previous month), £8.95 (for 10-19 trades in previous month), £5.95 (for 20+ trades in previous month)
Fund trades: £0
Spot + FX fees: 1%
Telephone dealing charge: 1% of trade value (£20 min/£50 max)
Innovative finance ISA
An Innovative Finance ISA (IFISA) provides an opportunity for you to engage in peer-to-peer lending (where the capital is lent to private borrowers) and crowdfunding (where a project is funded through a large number of small contributions).
Although the returns on investments within an innovative finance ISA have the potential to be higher than those within a cash ISA, there is no protection from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
Furthermore, the price paid for crowdfunded investments may be relatively high – especially when compared with the price of listed company shares.
Lifetime ISA
A Lifetime ISA (LISA) can be opened by anyone over the age of 18 and under 40. Up to £4,000 can be invested in a LISA per year (which forms part of the £20,000 overall ISA allowance), and the government pays a bonus of 25% on all amounts invested. The government bonus can be worth up to £33,000 in an individual’s lifetime, since contributions can be made up to age 50.
Withdrawals can be made at any time to fund an individual’s first home purchase. Otherwise, any withdrawals before the age of 60 will incur a 25% penalty.
Lifetime ISAs are best suited to individuals who can invest their money over a long period.
Junior ISA
A Junior ISA (JISA) can be opened by a parent or legal guardian for a child under 18. The money can be invested in stocks and shares through an investment ISA, or can be held as cash by opening the ISA via a bank or building society. It is also possible to have a mixture of cash savings and stocks within a Junior ISA.
Up to £9,000 can be invested per year in a Junior ISA. The young person can take control of the Junior ISA from the age of 16 and can withdraw some or all of the money when they are 18.
Which type of ISA is right for you?
Identifying the type of ISA that is right for you is a personal decision. They all offer significant tax advantages.
Here’s a good rule of thumb based on the average person:
- If you need the cash in your account soon, your best option is probably a cash ISA.
- If you’re planning to invest over years, a stocks and shares ISA will likely give you the best returns.
The content in this article is provided for information purposes only. It is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of tax advice. Readers are responsible for carrying out their own due diligence and for obtaining professional advice before making any investment decisions.