Answers · UK 2025/26
What is the Junior ISA allowance for 2026/27?
The Junior ISA (JISA) allowance for 2026/27 is £9,000 per child per tax year. Contributions can be split between a cash Junior ISA and a stocks and shares Junior ISA. The money is locked until the child turns 18, when it automatically converts to an adult ISA. Parents, guardians, and anyone else can contribute, but only parents or guardians can open the account.
Full answer
A Junior ISA (JISA) is a tax-efficient savings or investment account for children under 18 who are UK residents. All growth and income within a JISA is sheltered from tax. **2026/27 allowance: £9,000** This is the total annual contribution limit per child across all their Junior ISAs (cash and stocks and shares combined). **Types of Junior ISA** 1. Cash Junior ISA -- earns tax-free interest, capital protected 2. Stocks and Shares Junior ISA -- invests in funds or shares, tax-free growth and dividends A child can hold one of each type simultaneously. **Who can contribute?** - Anyone can contribute: parents, grandparents, relatives, friends - Only a parent or legal guardian can open the account - The total contributions from all sources cannot exceed £9,000 in one tax year **Worked example** Grandmother wants to help save for her granddaughter Lily, born in 2018. Lily's parents open a stocks and shares Junior ISA. Contributions in 2026/27: - Parents: £3,000 - Grandparents: £4,000 - Uncle: £2,000 Total: £9,000 (exactly at the limit) If invested in a fund growing at 6%/year, by Lily's 18th birthday in 2036 (approximately 10 years away), the accumulated pot could be worth roughly £12,000--£16,000 depending on timing of contributions. **Lock-up period** The child cannot access the money until they turn 18. At 18, the JISA automatically converts to an adult ISA and the young person gains full control. **Child Trust Funds (CTFs)** Children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011 may have a Child Trust Fund instead of a JISA. You can transfer a CTF to a JISA without affecting the JISA allowance. **Tax on JISA** All investment returns inside a JISA are free from income tax and capital gains tax -- no forms to complete, no allowances to track.
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This answer is informational only and does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are for the 2025/26 UK tax year. See our methodology and sources.