Cash ISAs are tax-advantageous savings accounts, where income tax isn’t payable on the interest earned. These individual savings accounts are limited to one per person each year and have a pre-determined savings limit, which can be a mix of cash and/or stocks and shares.
The financial year runs from April 6 to April 5. In this tax year, 2020-2021, the limit is £20,000.
Those who have put money in stocks and shares ISAs or any other form of ISA will find their cash ISA allowance reduced, as the total annual deposit limit is £20,000 across all ISA types.
It’s also possible to transfer money sat in other ISAs (deposited in previous years) to a new ISA while retaining the tax-free status. Transfers of this nature do not count towards the annual deposit limit.
The advantages
There is a wide range of cash ISAs to choose from, including fixed-rate bonds, regular savers and easy-access accounts. The main advantage is that tax savings can be significant with ISAs, especially for those who build up large holdings over several years. This can be particularly valuable for those who pay higher rates of tax.
Those who take out the most competitive ISA every year could save many thousands of pounds over the long term compared to those who save using non-tax-advantageous products. They are open to everyone over the age of 16 but there are also ‘Junior ISAs’ for children.
The disadvantages
Less positive aspects of cash ISAs are the capped allowance rates, which cannot be exceeded and the fact that not all accounts accept previous-year transfers.
Additionally, the accounts offering the highest interest rates sometimes only offer these for the current year’s allowance and you may need to be switch to more competitive products in later years. Take care, though, as you can only transfer ISAs between providers using their process.
If you withdraw it in a straight forward way to your current account, the money automatically loses its tax-free status and it will use up your allowance to deposit it into another ISA.
The current set-up isn’t as flexible as it could be either. For example, you can transfer cash ISAs into stocks-and-shares ISAs, but not always the reverse. Each provider has its own limitations and rules surrounding transfers.
Finding the right ISA
Use an online comparison site to find the best and latest deals – interest rates change each year and new products are launched all the time. Remember to review your ISA portfolio regularly too if you have several years worth of subscriptions, as the subsequent interest rate after the initial first-year promotional rate can be decidedly lower.
It can also be worth seeing professional help from a financial adviser with regards to your long-term planning goals and objectives and to understand whether a wholly cash ISA is right for you.
A financial adviser may advise that you create an investment portfolio which combines cash savings with an investment in bonds or property or perhaps a purchase of shares.
In conclusion
ISAs are a very useful savings product for those who wish to enjoy tax-free savings, especially for those who wish to avoid tax while saving and investing.
They are quick to set up and there is a wide range of different ISA types available, offering various interest rates and benefits. They can be a useful long-term savings vehicle and some people use them as an addition to their pension plans to build up a sizeable lump sum for the future.