Saturday, 30 May 2026
ISAs
Cash ISAs, Stocks & Shares ISAs, Lifetime ISAs — how they work, what the limits are, and which one makes sense for you.
8 articles
isas
The best easy-access cash ISAs in 2026 pay up to around 4.75% AER, all tax-free. Smaller and newer banks often top the tables, and watching for bonus rates that expire and using comparison sites helps you avoid being stuck on a poor deal.
isas
Any UK resident aged 18 or over can open a stocks and shares ISA, students included. It lets you invest tax-free, but the value can fall as well as rise, so it suits money you won't need for several years rather than next term's rent.
isas
A cash ISA keeps your money safe and pays interest tax-free, ideal for short-term goals. A stocks and shares ISA can grow more over time but can also fall in value. The right choice depends on your timeline and appetite for risk.
isas
Because ISA interest is tax-free, it doesn't count as taxable income — and student loan repayments are based only on taxable earnings. So money you earn inside an ISA never raises your repayments, making ISAs a tidy option for graduates saving on the side.
isas
You can put up to £20,000 into ISAs in the 2026/27 tax year. You can split it across different ISA types, though the Lifetime ISA has a £4,000 sub-limit. Any unused allowance is lost when the tax year ends on 5 April 2027.
isas
From April 2027, savers under 65 will only be able to put £12,000 a year into a cash ISA, down from £20,000. The total ISA allowance stays at £20,000, but the rest must go into investments. Until then, the full £20,000 cash limit still applies.
lifetime isa
A Lifetime ISA tops up your savings with a 25% government bonus, worth up to £1,000 a year, if you use it for a first home under £450,000 or for retirement. For young savers building a deposit, it's often the single best-value account available.
isas
An ISA is a tax-free wrapper around savings or investments — you pay no income or capital gains tax on what you earn inside it. You can put up to £20,000 a year across the different ISA types, and there are four main kinds to know.