Answers · UK 2025/26

Can I transfer a cash ISA to a stocks and shares ISA without using up my allowance?

Yes. Transferring existing ISA money between providers or types does not use any of your £20,000 annual allowance, as long as you use the provider's transfer process rather than withdrawing the cash. Money from previous years can be transferred in full with no limit.

Last updated: 10 June 2026Last reviewed: 10 June 2026How we verify

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An ISA transfer moves money you have already sheltered from one ISA to another while keeping its tax-free status, and it does not count against your £20,000 annual allowance for 2026/27. The key rule is to use the official ISA transfer service: ask the new provider to pull the money across. If you instead withdraw the cash yourself and pay it back in, it counts as a fresh subscription and uses your allowance (unless your ISA is flexible and you replace it in the same tax year). Worked example: you hold £40,000 in a cash ISA built up over several years and move it to a stocks and shares ISA by transfer. None of your £20,000 allowance is touched, so you can still pay in up to £20,000 of new money this year on top. Money from previous tax years can be transferred in whole or in part with no cap. Current-year subscriptions must be transferred in full if moved. Transfers can take up to 15 working days for cash ISAs and up to 30 for stocks and shares ISAs. Be aware that moving from cash to investments puts your money at risk, and selling investments to transfer may briefly take you out of the market. Use the ISA calculator to compare likely growth of cash versus stocks and shares over your time horizon. For the official transfer rules, see gov.uk.