How much can I invest in my ISA?
Up until 6 April 2010 the amount you can invest in your ISA depends on age:
Please note:
Anyone over 16 years old is eligible to invest in a Cash ISA, subject to the appropriate limits. Anyone over 18 years old is eligible to invest in a Cash and/or a Stocks and Shares ISA, subject to the appropriate limits.
People aged under 50:
Up until 6 April 2010 the ISA allowance for any eligible adult under 50 is £7,200. Except for a maximum investment threshold of £3,600 into a Cash ISA, the allowance is fully flexible. This means you can invest in either a Stocks and Shares ISA or a Cash ISA (or both). The following examples should clarify how much you can invest in both ISA components:
- Example 1
- If you want to be fully invested in the stockmarket, you can invest your full £7,200 allowance into a Stocks and Shares ISA.
- Example 2
- If you want to take full advantage of your Cash ISA limit, you can invest £3,600 into a Cash ISA and then choose to invest up to a further £3,600 into a Stocks and Shares ISA.
- Example 3
- The limits are flexible, subject to a maximum of £3,600 in the cash ISA and £7,200 overall. So, you can invest, say, £5,000 into a Stocks and Shares ISA and put up to a further £2,200 into a Cash ISA – or any combination in between.
People aged 50 and over:
As a result of the 2009 Budget, your overall annual allowance has been raised to £10,200 (from £7,200) with up to £5,100 available to be invested in a Cash ISA.
However, this change will only take place from 6 October 2009, meaning the £3,000 allowance increase can only be invested after that date.
Your ISA allowance remains fully flexible, meaning you can invest in either a Stocks and Shares ISA or a Cash ISA, or both (subject to the maximum cash investment threshold of £3,600 before 6 October 2009 and £5,100 from 6 October 2009!)
Annual allowances from 6 April 2010
On 6 April 2010 the £3,000 annual ISA allowance increase to £10,200 will be extended to all eligible investors (with a maximum cash investment threshold of £5,100)