How much can I put in a Junior ISA in 2026/27?

Full answer

A **Junior ISA (JISA)** is a tax-free savings account for children under 18. All growth, interest and income inside a JISA is completely free of UK tax, and the allowance is separate from any adult ISA. **2026/27 JISA allowance:** £9,000 per child per tax year **Types of JISA:** | Type | Description | |---|---| | **Cash JISA** | Savings account paying interest, FSCS-protected up to £85,000 | | **Stocks & Shares JISA** | Invested in funds, shares or ETFs — higher long-term growth potential but capital at risk | You can hold one Cash JISA and one Stocks & Shares JISA simultaneously. The £9,000 allowance can be split between the two types. **Who can open and contribute:** - A parent or guardian with parental responsibility opens the JISA - **Anyone** (parents, grandparents, relatives, friends) can contribute to the child's JISA once opened - The child can manage the account from age 16 but cannot withdraw until 18 **Withdrawal rules:** - Funds are **locked until the child's 18th birthday** - On turning 18, the JISA automatically converts to an adult ISA - The only early access exception is terminal illness or death **Transferring from Child Trust Fund (CTF):** Children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011 may have a CTF. You can **transfer a CTF to a JISA** without using the annual allowance — the full CTF value moves across. **Tax-efficient compounding:** A child with a JISA from birth who receives the full £9,000 each year for 18 years would accumulate £162,000 of contributions, potentially growing to a substantially higher tax-free sum through compound returns.

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