ISA Allowance Tracker 2025/26
Track how much of your £20,000 ISA allowance you have used and how much remains for the 2025/26 tax year (6 April 2025 to 5 April 2026). Enter your contributions across Cash ISA, Stocks & Shares ISA, LISA, and IFISA to see your remaining allowance, LISA bonus, and monthly savings target.
Your 2025/26 ISA Contributions
How the £20,000 ISA Allowance Works in 2025/26
Every UK resident aged 18 or over has an annual ISA allowance of £20,000 for the 2025/26 tax year (6 April 2025 to 5 April 2026). An ISA — Individual Savings Account — lets you save or invest money without paying income tax on interest or capital gains tax on investment growth. The £20,000 limit has remained unchanged since 2017/18. You can spread your allowance across four main ISA types: Cash ISA, Stocks and Shares ISA, Innovative Finance ISA (IFISA), and Lifetime ISA (LISA), in any combination. Since April 2024, HMRC allows you to subscribe to multiple ISAs of the same type in a single tax year — for example, you can now hold two Cash ISAs with two different providers simultaneously. Any unused allowance cannot be carried forward to the following tax year, so it is worth planning contributions before 5 April 2026.
Lifetime ISA Bonus: How to Claim the 25% Government Top-Up
The Lifetime ISA is one of the most generous savings vehicles available to eligible UK savers. If you are aged 18 to 39, you can open a LISA and contribute up to £4,000 per year. HMRC adds a 25% government bonus on top, up to a maximum of £1,000 per year. This means a £4,000 contribution becomes £5,000 inside your LISA. The bonus is paid monthly by HMRC. You can use your LISA to buy your first home (property valued at £450,000 or under) or withdraw the funds from age 60 for retirement. If you withdraw for any other reason before age 60, a 25% withdrawal charge applies — this effectively claws back the entire government bonus and a small portion of your own money. Opened between ages 18 and 39, the LISA can be contributed to up to age 50. Your £4,000 LISA contribution counts toward your overall £20,000 ISA annual allowance.
Junior ISA: Saving for Children Tax-Free
A Junior ISA (JISA) is a separate tax-free savings account for children under 18. For 2025/26, the JISA allowance is £9,000. This is entirely separate from the adult ISA allowance — contributing to a child's JISA has no impact on the parent's own £20,000 annual limit. Parents, guardians, or anyone else can contribute to a JISA on behalf of the child, as long as the total does not exceed £9,000 in the tax year. The child cannot access the funds until they turn 18, at which point the JISA automatically converts into an adult ISA. Both Cash JISAs and Stocks and Shares JISAs are available. Starting a JISA early and investing regularly can compound to a substantial nest egg by the time the child reaches adulthood.
ISA Types at a Glance: Which Is Right for You?
Choosing the right ISA depends on your goals, timeline, and tax situation. Cash ISAs are ideal for short-term savings where capital protection matters — interest is paid tax-free. Stocks and Shares ISAs are suited to long-term wealth building, as dividends and capital gains are sheltered from tax. The IFISA allows lending through peer-to-peer platforms with tax-free interest, but carries higher risk. The Lifetime ISA offers the highest effective return through the 25% government bonus, but is restricted to first-home purchase or retirement after 60. In all cases, your combined contributions must not exceed £20,000 per tax year. Below is a quick comparison of all ISA types for 2025/26.
| ISA Type | Annual Limit | Tax Benefit | Key Restriction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash ISA | Up to £20,000 total | 0% tax on interest | None (rates vary by provider) |
| Stocks & Shares ISA | Up to £20,000 total | 0% CGT, 0% dividend tax | Investment risk applies |
| Innovative Finance ISA | Up to £20,000 total | 0% tax on P2P interest | Higher risk, not FSCS protected |
| Lifetime ISA (LISA) | Max £4,000/year | 25% gov't bonus (max £1,000) | Ages 18-39 only; first home or retirement 60+ |
| Junior ISA (JISA) | £9,000 (separate allowance) | 0% tax on growth/interest | Under-18s only; locked until 18 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ISA allowance for 2025/26?
The ISA allowance for the 2025/26 tax year is £20,000 per person. This limit has been unchanged since 2017/18. You can split this £20,000 across multiple ISA types — Cash ISA, Stocks and Shares ISA, Innovative Finance ISA, and Lifetime ISA — in any combination, as long as the total does not exceed £20,000. The Lifetime ISA has its own sub-limit of £4,000 per year.
Can I have multiple ISAs in the same tax year?
Yes. From April 2024, HMRC changed the rules to allow you to subscribe to multiple ISAs of the same type in the same tax year. For example, you can now open and contribute to two different Cash ISAs with two different providers in the same year. Previously, you could only subscribe to one ISA of each type per tax year. The overall £20,000 limit still applies across all your ISAs.
How does the Lifetime ISA bonus work?
The government adds a 25% bonus to your Lifetime ISA contributions, up to a maximum bonus of £1,000 per year (on £4,000 contributed). The bonus is paid monthly by HMRC directly into your LISA. You must be aged 18 to 39 to open a LISA. The funds can be used to buy your first home (property price must be £450,000 or under) or withdrawn from age 60 for retirement. Withdrawing for any other reason incurs a 25% government charge, which effectively claws back the bonus plus a small penalty on your own contributions.
Does the Junior ISA count toward the adult £20,000 allowance?
No. The Junior ISA allowance is completely separate from the adult ISA allowance. For 2025/26, the JISA allowance is £9,000 per child. Parents or guardians can contribute to a JISA on behalf of a child under 18, and this has no effect on the adult ISA allowance. The child cannot access the JISA funds until they turn 18, at which point the JISA automatically becomes an adult ISA.
What happens if I exceed the £20,000 ISA allowance?
If you accidentally pay in more than £20,000 across your ISAs in a single tax year, HMRC will be notified by your ISA providers. HMRC will contact you to rectify the overpayment. The excess amount will generally be removed from your ISA and you may have to pay tax on any growth or income earned on the excess. It is important to track your contributions carefully across all providers to avoid exceeding the annual limit.
When does the 2025/26 ISA tax year end?
The 2025/26 tax year ends on 5 April 2026. Any unused ISA allowance cannot be carried over to the next tax year — it is lost. A new £20,000 ISA allowance becomes available on 6 April 2026 for the 2026/27 tax year. If you want to maximise your ISA allowance, you must make contributions before midnight on 5 April 2026.