

The 2013/14 Cash ISA allowance is £5,760.
Use our cash ISA tables below to compare a selection of market-leading cash ISAs for instant access, fixed rates and alternative ideas to maximise your tax free returns.
James Caldwell, Director
| Provider | Plan Name | Deposit Taker | ISA Option | Term | Maximum Potential Return | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Deposit Growth Plan | Investec Bank plc | ![]() | 5 years | 130% x any FTSE 100 growth (no limit) | More Info > |
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| Fund Manager | Account | Rate | Term | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | E-Cash ISA | 1.30% | Instant Access | More Info > |
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| Fund Manager | Account | Rate | Term | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 2 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA | 1.85% | 2 Years | More Info > |
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![]() | 1 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA | 1.85% | 1 Year | More Info > |
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![]() | 1 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA | 1.70% | 1 Year | More Info > |
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A cash Individual Savings Account (ISA) is a tax-free savings account which allows you to save up to a set amount of money per financial year without paying any tax on it. The cash ISA limit currently stands at £5,760 per person and you need to be a UK resident or Crown employee aged 16 or over to open an account. You can only have one cash ISA per tax year, but you can also have a different type of ISA, known as a stocks and shares ISA, simultaneously.
There are three key benefits to a cash ISA:
The good news is that whatever your tax bracket, you'll pay 0% tax on any savings held in a cash ISA. Compare this to the usual tax rates on savings:
If you're a basic rate taxpayer...
you would usually pay 20% tax on interest earned from savings.
If you're a higher rate taxpayer...
you would usually pay 40% tax on interest earned from savings.
If you pay tax at the additional higher rate...
you would usually pay 50% tax on interest earned from savings.
If you pay the 'savings rate' of tax for
savings...
you would usually pay 10% tax on interest earned from savings.
Using your cash ISA allowance can therefore save you money by allowing you to keep 100% of any interest you earn.
The above information gives you a general idea of what you could save - remember that it depends on your individual circumstances and may be subject to change in the future.
It depends on your circumstances. If you've got some money saved as a lump sum from a previous tax year, you'll usually be permitted to transfer this from one cash ISA to another, or to a stocks and shares ISA. This transfer shouldn't affect your ISA investment allowance for the current tax year. However, bear in mind that once you've transferred a cash ISA into a stocks and shares ISA, you don't have the option to transfer it back into a cash ISA. See our section on cash ISA transfers to find out more.
An instant access cash ISA might be the right choice for you if...
A fixed-rate cash ISA might be right for you if...
Like any investment option or financial service, it's important to research your options before committing to a cash ISA. You might find our services useful for:
Comparing cash ISAs, including instant access ISAs and fixed-rate ISAs
Comparing cash ISAs with other savings options
Important Risk Information:
This website contains information only and does not constitute advice or a personal recommendation in any way whatsoever. The value of investments and income from them can fall as well as rise and you may not get back the full amount invested. The tax efficiency of ISAs is based on current tax law and there is no guarantee that tax rules will stay the same in the future.
Different types of investment carry different levels of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Please ensure that you read the Important Risk Information for further details. Prior to making any decision to invest, you should ensure that you are familiar with the risks associated with a particular investment and should read the product literature. If you are in any doubt as to the suitability of a particular investment, both in respect of its objectives and its risk profile, you should seek independent financial advice.