Guide
ISA Allowances Before the Tax Year Ends
Each tax year brings a fresh ISA allowance. Money not subscribed by 5 April is lost for that year, even if you intended to invest it later. For households with surplus cash already sitting in easy-access accounts, that deadline matters.
Decide first whether you need a Cash ISA for near-term spending or a Stocks & Shares ISA for longer horizons. Mixing both is allowed within the overall allowance, provided providers support flexible subscriptions where relevant.
If you already hold several ISAs from past years, you do not need to empty them to use this year’s allowance. New subscriptions go into the ISA you designate for the current tax year, subject to the usual rules on opening and transferring.
Couples sometimes plan subscriptions together so that each uses a full allowance. That is a household cash-flow decision, not a joint ISA—the accounts remain individual. Note the dates you intend to transfer funds so the money clears before the year closes.