ISA allowance 2026/27
Track how much of your £20,000 allowance you have used across cash, stocks & shares and Lifetime ISAs — and understand why this tax year is different from the ones after it.
Open the ISA tracker →This is the last year of the £20,000 cash ISA for under-65s. From 6 April 2027 the cash ISA limit falls to £12,000 a year for anyone under 65. The overall £20,000 allowance stays — the other £8,000 can still go into a stocks & shares ISA — and savers aged 65+ keep the full £20,000 cash limit. If you hold savings in cash and want them sheltered, the 2026/27 allowance matters more than usual, because next year you will not be able to shelter as much of it in cash.
How much ISA allowance is left
Runs in your browser. Nothing is sent anywhere, and there is nothing to sign up to.
| Used so far | — |
|---|---|
| Allowance left | — |
| Lifetime ISA left (£4,000 cap) | — |
| Government bonus on LISA | — |
| To use it all by 5 April | — |
The limits at a glance
| Account | 2026/27 limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Overall ISA allowance | £20,000 | Across all your ISAs combined |
| Cash ISA | £20,000 | Falls to £12,000 for under-65s from April 2027 |
| Stocks & shares ISA | £20,000 | Within the overall allowance |
| Lifetime ISA | £4,000 | Counts toward the £20,000; 25% government bonus |
| Junior ISA | £9,000 | Separate — does not use your allowance |
Three rules people get wrong
1. The allowance does not roll over
It is use-it-or-lose-it. Anything uncontributed by 5 April 2027 is gone. This is why ISA activity spikes every March — and why leaving it to the last week risks missing transfer and processing deadlines.
2. The Lifetime ISA is inside the £20,000, not on top
Put £4,000 into a LISA and you have £16,000 of overall allowance left. The 25% bonus — up to £1,000 a year — makes it the highest guaranteed return available for a first home deposit, but the 25% withdrawal charge for taking money out for anything else (before 60) means you get back less than you put in. It is a commitment, not a savings account.
The rules that decide whether a LISA works for you: you must be 18 to 39 to open one and can pay in until you are 50; the home must cost £450,000 or less and be your first; and the account must have been open at least 12 months before you use it to buy. If your likely first home costs more than £450,000 — common in parts of London and the South East — the bonus can become a penalty. Source: gov.uk/lifetime-isa.
3. Paying in and then withdrawing still uses allowance
Unless your ISA is a flexible ISA, money you withdraw does not restore your allowance. Deposit £15,000, withdraw £10,000, and you can still only add £5,000 more this year. Flexible ISAs let you replace withdrawals within the same tax year — but not all providers offer them, and it is worth checking before you move money.
Worked example: where £20,000 could go
| Destination | Amount | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Lifetime ISA | £4,000 | +£1,000 government bonus |
| Cash ISA | £8,000 | Tax-free interest, instant access |
| Stocks & shares ISA | £8,000 | Tax-free growth and dividends |
| Total contributed | £20,000 | +£1,000 bonus on top |
An illustration of how the sub-limits interact — not a recommendation. The right split depends on your goals, timescale and appetite for risk.
Your savings balances are personal information. The tracker runs entirely in your browser — no account, no server copy, nothing stored anywhere but your own device.
Common questions
What is the ISA allowance for 2026/27?
£20,000 across all your ISAs combined, for contributions between 6 April 2026 and 5 April 2027.
What changes in April 2027?
The cash ISA limit for under-65s falls to £12,000. The overall £20,000 stays, with the balance available for stocks & shares. Savers 65 and over keep the full £20,000 cash limit.
Is ISA interest really tax-free?
Yes — interest, dividends and gains inside an ISA are free of UK income tax and capital gains tax, and do not use up your personal savings allowance.
Is this financial advice?
No. It explains the rules and helps you track your own numbers. Whether cash or investments are right for you depends on your circumstances — free impartial guidance is available from MoneyHelper.
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