What is the Junior ISA allowance for 2026/27 in the UK?

Full answer

Junior ISA Allowance 2026/27 The annual Junior ISA (JISA) subscription limit for the 2026/27 tax year is GBP 9,000 per child. This is separate from and in addition to an adult's own ISA allowance of GBP 20,000. A child cannot have both a Junior ISA and a Child Trust Fund active at the same time. Types of Junior ISA There are two types of JISA: - Cash JISA: Earns interest, similar to a savings account, with no tax on interest earned - Stocks and Shares JISA: Invests in funds, shares, or bonds; growth and income are tax-free within the wrapper You can split contributions between both types, provided the total does not exceed GBP 9,000 in the tax year. Who Can Open and Contribute A parent or legal guardian opens the JISA on behalf of a child under 18. Once open, anyone -- parents, grandparents, friends, relatives -- can contribute, as long as the annual total stays within GBP 9,000. The child themselves can manage the account from age 16 but cannot withdraw funds until age 18. At Age 18 When the child turns 18, the JISA automatically converts into an adult ISA. The child gains full control and can withdraw the funds or continue investing within the ISA wrapper. Crucially, the converted amount does not count towards their GBP 20,000 adult ISA allowance for that year -- they can still subscribe up to the full GBP 20,000 on top. Tax Benefits All interest, dividends, and capital gains within a JISA are free from Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax. This makes JISAs a highly tax-efficient way to build a long-term savings pot for a child, particularly when using a Stocks and Shares JISA over a longer investment horizon. For best results, consider starting contributions early and using compound growth over the child's lifetime to maximise the GBP 9,000 annual allowance.

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