Question 1

How much can you put in an ISA?

Accepted Answer

You can pay in up to £20,000 across all your ISAs in the 2026/27 tax year. That single allowance is shared across cash ISAs, stocks & shares ISAs, innovative finance ISAs and Lifetime ISAs - it is not £20,000 per ISA.

Question 2

Does the Lifetime ISA count towards the £20,000 limit?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Lifetime ISA has its own £4,000 cap, but anything you pay into it also uses up your overall ISA allowance. So if you pay £4,000 into a LISA, you have £16,000 left for your other ISAs.

Question 3

When does the ISA allowance reset?

Accepted Answer

The ISA allowance resets at the start of each UK tax year, on 6 April. Any allowance you do not use by 5 April is lost - it does not roll over, so it is worth checking your remaining room before the deadline.

Question 4

How does the 25% Lifetime ISA bonus work?

Accepted Answer

The government adds a 25% bonus on what you pay into a Lifetime ISA, up to £4,000 a year - so a full £4,000 contribution earns a £1,000 bonus. It is intended for a first home or for retirement from age 60; other withdrawals usually carry a 25% charge.

Question 5

How many ISAs can I have?

Accepted Answer

You can hold any number of ISAs and, from the 2024/25 tax year, pay into multiple ISAs of the same type in one year - as long as your total contributions stay within the single overall allowance. Lifetime ISAs are still limited to one paid into per year.

How much ISA allowance have you got left?

Never lose track of your allowances

Common questions