Cash ISA limit change: £12,000 from 6 April 2027

From 6 April 2027, if you're under 65 you can only pay £12,000 a year into cash ISAs. The overall ISA allowance stays at £20,000, so the other £8,000 can go into a stocks and shares ISA, an innovative finance ISA or a Lifetime ISA. If you're 65 or over, you can still put the full £20,000 into cash.

Not financial advice. This page explains the rules; it doesn't tell you where to put your money. Check GOV.UK and your ISA provider, or speak to a regulated adviser.

What changes, in plain English

	Now (2026 to 2027 tax year)	From 6 April 2027
Overall ISA allowance	£20,000	£20,000 (no change)
Cash ISA limit, under 65	Up to £20,000	£12,000
Cash ISA limit, 65 or over	Up to £20,000	£20,000
Lifetime ISA limit	£4,000 (counts towards the £20,000)	£4,000 (no change)

Who counts as "65 or over": you get the £20,000 cash limit from the start of the tax year in which you turn 65. The law says you're 64 or under if you're 64 or under at the end of the tax year (5 April).
No moving money back into cash: if you're under 65, from 6 April 2027 you won't be able to transfer from a stocks and shares or innovative finance ISA into a cash ISA. Cash ISA to stocks and shares is still allowed.
Cash held inside a stocks and shares ISA: from 6 April 2027 a 22% charge applies to interest paid on it. Your ISA manager pays it, not you.
Unused allowance doesn't carry over to the next tax year.
Withdrawals: taking money out only frees up allowance again in the same tax year if your ISA is "flexible". Ask your provider.

Sources: GOV.UK: Cash ISA limit reduction (17 Sept 2026) · GOV.UK: ISA reform 2027 factsheet · The Individual Savings Account (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2026 · GOV.UK: How ISAs work · GOV.UK: Withdrawing your money

How much can I still put in a cash ISA?

Enter what you've paid in during the tax year (not interest, and not money transferred from earlier years' ISAs). Nothing you type leaves this browser tab.

Tax year

Will you be 65 or older on 5 April at the end of that tax year? No, I'll be 64 or younger Yes, 65 or older

Paid into cash ISAs so far (£)

Paid into stocks and shares ISAs (£)

Paid into innovative finance ISAs (£)

Paid into a Lifetime ISA (£, max £4,000)

Facts on this page last checked against GOV.UK and legislation.gov.uk on 24 October 2026.

Not confirmed: GOV.UK's saver guidance doesn't yet say whether paying into a cash Lifetime ISA counts towards the £12,000 cash limit. The regulations apply the £12,000 to "cash accounts", which reads as cash ISAs only, but we haven't counted a Lifetime ISA either way beyond the £20,000 overall limit. Check with your provider. Junior ISAs are separate and not covered here.