The ISA allowance for 2026/27 is £20,000 per person. This is the maximum you can contribute across all your ISAs between 6 April 2026 and 5 April 2027. Interest, dividends and investment gains earned within an ISA are completely free from UK income tax and capital gains tax — and you never need to declare them on your tax return.
What is the ISA allowance?
The ISA allowance is the maximum amount you can save or invest in Individual Savings Accounts in a single tax year. The UK government sets this limit each year. For 2026/27, the allowance is £20,000 — unchanged from the previous four years.
The allowance is personal — each UK resident gets their own £20,000. Married couples and civil partners each have their own separate allowance, meaning a couple can shelter up to £40,000 per year across their combined ISAs.
ISA allowances for 2026/27 at a glance
| ISA Type | 2026/27 Allowance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cash ISA | Up to £20,000 | Reduces to £12,000 for under-65s from April 2027 |
| Stocks and Shares ISA | Up to £20,000 | Shared with other ISA types |
| Lifetime ISA (LISA) | Up to £4,000 | Counts within the £20,000 total. Ages 18–39 only |
| Innovative Finance ISA | Up to £20,000 | Shared with other ISA types |
| Junior ISA | £9,000 per child | Separate from adult allowance |
How can I split my ISA allowance?
You can divide your £20,000 allowance across different ISA types in any combination you choose, as long as the total doesn’t exceed £20,000. For example:
- £10,000 in a Cash ISA and £10,000 in a Stocks and Shares ISA
- £4,000 in a Lifetime ISA and £16,000 in a Cash ISA
- The full £20,000 in a single Stocks and Shares ISA
Since April 2024, you can also pay into multiple ISAs of the same type in one tax year — so you could hold a Cash ISA with two different providers simultaneously, as long as your combined contributions stay within £20,000.
The big change coming in April 2027
This is the last tax year in which under-65s can put the full £20,000 into a Cash ISA. From 6 April 2027, the government is reducing the Cash ISA limit for under-65s to £12,000. The overall £20,000 allowance remains — but more of it will need to go into investment-based ISAs if you want to use your full allowance.
Savers aged 65 and over are unaffected — their Cash ISA limit stays at £20,000.
For a full breakdown of what this means and how to prepare, see our guide to the Cash ISA allowance cut 2027.
What happens if I don’t use my ISA allowance?
Your ISA allowance resets every 6 April. Any unused allowance from the previous tax year is lost — it doesn’t carry over. If you have money sitting in a taxable savings account and haven’t used your ISA allowance, moving it into an ISA before 5 April protects your future interest from tax.
When should I open or top up my ISA?
The earlier in the tax year you contribute, the longer your money benefits from tax-free growth. Contributing in April rather than March means up to 11 extra months of tax-free interest or investment returns. Over many years, this difference compounds meaningfully.
That said, any contribution before 5 April counts — don’t let perfect timing stop you from using your allowance at all.
ISA allowance vs Personal Savings Allowance — what’s the difference?
These are two separate tax-free benefits that work alongside each other. The Personal Savings Allowance (PSA) lets you earn up to £1,000 in interest tax-free outside an ISA (£500 for higher-rate taxpayers; £0 for additional-rate taxpayers). The ISA allowance is on top of this — any interest earned inside an ISA doesn’t count toward your PSA at all.
For most people with modest savings, the PSA covers their interest without needing an ISA. But as interest rates have risen, more savers are finding their PSA isn’t enough — making a Cash ISA increasingly attractive.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ISA allowance for 2026/27?
The ISA allowance for 2026/27 is £20,000 per person. This applies across all ISA types — Cash, Stocks and Shares, and Innovative Finance ISAs. The Lifetime ISA has a sub-limit of £4,000, which counts within your overall £20,000 allowance.
Can I put £20,000 in a Cash ISA in 2026/27?
Yes — for 2026/27, the full £20,000 can go into a Cash ISA. This is the last tax year in which under-65s can do this. From April 2027, the Cash ISA limit for under-65s reduces to £12,000.
Can married couples share their ISA allowance?
No — ISA allowances are individual. But each partner has their own £20,000 allowance, meaning a couple can collectively shelter up to £40,000 per year across their ISAs.
Does the ISA allowance roll over?
No. Any unused ISA allowance at the end of the tax year (5 April) is permanently lost. It does not carry forward into the next tax year.
Do ISA transfers count toward my allowance?
No. Transferring money between ISA providers — or between ISA types — does not count toward your annual allowance. Only new contributions count.