Junior ISA insights
Junior ISAs are tax-free savings accounts for children. They can be opened by parents or legal guardians on behalf of a child and anyone can pay in. The child will get access to the money when they turn 18.
What is a junior ISA (JISA)?
A junior ISA is a tax-free savings account for children. It can be opened by a parent or legal guardian on behalf of a child and anyone can pay in. The child will get access to the money when they turn 18.
Junior ISAs are available in either cash or stocks and shares. The main difference is how they make money: cash junior ISAs earn interest, while stocks and shares junior ISAs are invested in the stock market.
Children can have either or both but only £9,000 can be paid into a child's Junior ISA each tax year, even if they have more than one.
Find out more about opening a junior ISA:
What is a junior ISA?
A junior ISA is a tax-free savings account set up by a parent or legal guardian on behalf of a child. The child can access the money when they turn 18.
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Why open a Junior ISA?
You must be a legal guardian to open a junior ISA for a child. It’s a great way to save for a young person’s future and help them along the road to financial stability.
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Who can open a Junior ISA?
You must be a legal guardian in order to open a Junior ISA for a child. It’s a great way to save for a young person’s future and help them along the road to financial stability.
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Junior ISA pros and cons
We’ve pulled together a list of the benefits of Junior ISAs and the things to keep in mind, so you know what to expect if you open one.
Read articleWhat happens to a junior ISA when the child turns 18?
When a child reaches 18, their junior ISA automatically becomes an adult ISA. This is called the junior ISA "maturing".
The child can then access the money and choose if they want to withdraw or invest it.
Find out more about junior ISA maturity:
What happens when a junior ISA matures?
When you turn 18, your junior ISA “matures”, meaning you can now do what you like with the money.
Find out what your options are.
Should I re-invest my Junior ISA money?
When we talk about “reinvesting” it, we mean moving the money out of your Junior ISA and into an account that invests it in stocks and shares to hopefully grow your money.
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What are the next steps for my Junior ISA?
At 18, you’ll be able to log into your online account and tell us what you’d like to do with the money in your Junior ISA. What are your choices?
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How do I get access to my Junior ISA?
You can register for your online account from age 16 and you’ll be able to access the money in your Junior ISA when you turn 18.
Read articleWhat are the junior ISA rules?
- You can pay up to £9,000 into junior ISAs in a child's name each year
- Only parents or legal guardians can open a junior ISA (but anyone can pay money in)
- The junior ISA belongs to the child, only they can ever touch the money and only when they turn 18.
Find out more about rules and eligibility:
What is a junior ISA?
A junior ISA is a tax-free savings account set up by a parent or legal guardian on behalf of a child. The child can access the money when they turn 18.
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Junior ISA: What is ‘parental responsibility’?
When we talk about who can open a junior ISA (JISA), we often mention parents, legal guardians and those with parental responsibility. But what exactly does parental responsibility mean in the context of JISAs?
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A guide to the junior ISA annual allowance
There is a limit to how much money you can put into a junior ISA each tax year. Find out what the current junior ISA allowance is, how it works and how it interacts with other savings products.
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Paying into a junior ISA
One of the great things about JISAs is that anyone can help your child’s savings pot grow. Find out how you, your family and even your friends can pay into a JISA and be a part of giving your child a strong financial start when they enter adulthood.
Read articleHow do junior ISAs compare to other ways to save for children?
Junior ISAs aren't the only way to save money on behalf of a child. If you're interested in putting money aside for a child, you might like to think about things like:
- how old you want the child to be before they can access the money
- if you want the child to automatically take over when they reach 18
- how much risk you're comfortable taking
- what savings accounts the child already has
Find out more about different savings options for children:
Junior ISAs vs child trust funds
If you’re thinking of transferring a child trust fund to a junior ISA, there are a few key differences you need to be aware of.
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Junior ISAs vs premium bonds
Whether you choose to buy premium bonds or invest in a JISA (and what type) depends on your situation and how much risk you want to take with the money.
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Junior ISA: cash vs stocks and shares
When you open a JISA, you’ll need to choose between a cash JISA and a stocks and shares JISA. Find out what these options mean, how they compare and what could be the best choice for you and your family.
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Junior ISAs and tax relief: benefits and considerations
There are some tax benefits to saving money in a junior ISA. Find out how you can give your children a tax-free lump sum when they turn 18.
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Junior ISAs vs child savings accounts
Junior ISAs and child savings accounts both help you save for your child’s future, but they’re very different products and suit different needs.
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Junior ISAs vs adult ISAs
If you’re weighing up how to start saving for your child, you could open a junior ISA (JISA) in their name or save on their behalf in your own adult ISA.
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Junior ISAs vs Tax Exempt Savings Plans for children
Tax-exempt savings plans are another way to save on behalf of a child, but how do they compare to junior ISAs?
Read articleHow do junior ISAs affect tax and benefits?
Like all ISAs, there's no tax due on any money that a junior ISA makes, whether that's through interest or through investing.
In fact, junior ISAs could reduce how much inheritance tax your family needs to pay.
Putting money into a junior ISA doesn't affect your benefits, but if you have a junior ISA in your name it might affect the benefits you can claim once you turn 18.
Find out more about tax and benefits:
How a junior ISA could help you save on inheritance tax
Junior ISAs allow you to put money away over time for your children and grandchildren.
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Do Junior ISA savings impact benefits?
Saving for your children should be an option for everyone. Whether or not you claim benefits, you have a right to open a Junior ISA.
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Junior ISAs and tax relief: benefits and considerations
There are some tax benefits to saving money in a junior ISA. Find out how you can give your children a tax-free lump sum when they turn 18.
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