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How much can I put in an ISA?

For anyone aged 18 or over who wants to save or invest tax free in an ISA.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

In the 2026 to 2027 tax year, the maximum you can save in ISAs is £20,000. There are 4 types: cash, stocks and shares, innovative finance, and Lifetime ISA.

  • You must be 18 or over and UK resident.
  • For a Lifetime ISA you must also be under 40.
  • You can't hold an ISA jointly.
  • Children can have a Junior ISA.

Key facts

  • £20,000 a year
  • 4 types
  • 18 or over

ISA allowances for 2026/27

The tax year runs from 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027. These are the most you can pay in during that year.

AccountYearly limit 2026/27Notes
All your adult ISAs together£20,000Shared across cash, stocks and shares, innovative finance and Lifetime ISAs
Lifetime ISA£4,000Counts towards the £20,000. Only one Lifetime ISA a year
Junior ISA£9,000Separate limit, for children under 18

How splitting the £20,000 works

You can put the whole £20,000 into one ISA, or split it. You can also pay into more than one ISA of the same type in a year.

Example 1: Priya puts £15,000 in a cash ISA, £2,000 in a stocks and shares ISA and £3,000 in an innovative finance ISA. Total: £20,000. She has used her full allowance.

Example 2: Tom, aged 30, pays £4,000 into a Lifetime ISA. The government adds a 25% bonus of £1,000 (25% of £4,000). He still has £16,000 of his allowance left for other ISAs (£20,000 minus £4,000).

Lifetime ISA rules

  • You must make your first payment before you are 40.
  • You can pay in up to £4,000 a year until you are 50.
  • The bonus is 25%, up to £1,000 a year.
  • You can take money out without a charge to buy your first home costing £450,000 or less (at least 12 months after your first payment in), from age 60, or if you are terminally ill with less than 12 months to live.
  • Otherwise there is a 25% withdrawal charge.

Taking money out

You can take money out of an ISA at any time without losing the tax benefits. Check your provider's terms for any charges.

What happens to your allowance depends on whether your ISA is flexible:

Flexible ISANot flexible
Pay in £10,000, then take out £3,000You can still pay in £13,000 this yearYou can still pay in £10,000 this year

With a flexible ISA, you can put money back in during the same tax year without using more allowance. Ask your provider if your ISA is flexible.

What is changing from April 2027

From 6 April 2027 the government is cutting the amount you can put into cash ISAs to £12,000 a year if you are under 65. The overall £20,000 limit stays. People aged 65 and over can still put up to £20,000 a year into cash ISAs. Nothing changes for 2026/27.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

ISA rules are the same across the whole UK.

Related guides

Where these figures come from

Get it done

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How to open an ISA

Common questions

Is the cash ISA allowance changing?

From 6 April 2027, the most you can put into cash ISAs will fall to £12,000 a year if you are under 65. The overall £20,000 limit stays the same.

Can I pay into more than one cash ISA in a year?

Yes, you can pay into more than one ISA of the same type in a tax year, as long as you stay within your £20,000 allowance.

Does taking money out of an ISA give me back my allowance?

Only if your ISA is flexible, which lets you put the money back in the same tax year. With other ISAs, money you take out still counts towards your allowance.

How much can I put in a Junior ISA?

In the 2026 to 2027 tax year, the Junior ISA limit is £9,000.

Official sources

  1. 1.Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs)www.gov.uk/individual-savings-accounts
  2. 2.How ISAs workwww.gov.uk/individual-savings-accounts/how-isas-work
  3. 3.Withdrawing your money from an ISAwww.gov.uk/individual-savings-accounts/withdrawing-your-money
  4. 4.Junior Individual Savings Accountswww.gov.uk/junior-individual-savings-accounts
  5. 5.Cash ISA limit reductionwww.gov.uk/government/publications/reduction-in-the-cash-individual-savings-account-isa-limit/cash-individual-savings-account-isa-limit-reduction

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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