UK Child Trust Fund Maturity: How to Withdraw Your Money in 2026

If you were born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011, the government opened a Child Trust Fund (CTF) in your name. By 2026, the last wave of these accounts is maturing -- and an estimated GBP 2 billion is still sitting unclaimed. Here is everything you need to know about finding your CTF, withdrawing the money, or moving it into a more productive home.

What Is a Child Trust Fund?

The Child Trust Fund was a government savings scheme launched in 2002. Every child born in the eligible window received a government voucher -- initially GBP 250, or GBP 500 for lower-income families -- which was invested in a CTF account. Parents could add up to the annual limit each year, and the money grew tax-free until the child turned 18.

The scheme was closed to new applicants in 2011 when the government replaced it with Junior ISAs. But millions of existing accounts continued to accumulate funds -- and the oldest account holders have now been turning 18 for several years.

How Much Is in Your CTF?

The amount varies enormously depending on:

• Whether parents made additional contributions over the years
• Which type of account was opened (cash or stocks-and-shares)
• Market performance over the period

The average CTF value at maturity is estimated at around GBP 2,000, though some accounts -- particularly those in equity-based funds that have benefited from long-term stock market growth -- are worth significantly more. Others that sat in low-interest cash accounts may have barely outpaced inflation.

Step 1: Find Your Account

Many people have no idea where their CTF is held. If your parents did not tell you, or chose the account on your behalf as a baby, you may need to track it down.

Use the HMRC CTF lookup tool. Go to gov.uk and search for "find your Child Trust Fund." You will need:

• Your National Insurance number (issued when you turn 16)
• Your date of birth

HMRC will confirm the name and contact details of your CTF provider within a few weeks. There is no fee for this service.

If you are still under 18 and want to find the account, a parent or legal guardian can make the request on your behalf.

Step 2: Contact Your Provider

Once you know who holds your account, get in touch with them directly. Common providers include Foresters Financial, OneFamily, The Share Centre, and various banks and building societies.

You will typically need to:

• Verify your identity (passport or driving licence)
• Confirm your National Insurance number
• Provide your current address and bank details

Some providers have entirely digital processes. Others still require paper forms. Allow a few weeks for the account to be transferred or closed.

Your Options at 18

When your CTF matures, you have three main choices:

Option 1: Withdraw the Cash

You can simply ask your provider to transfer the full balance to your current account. There is no tax to pay on the withdrawal -- not income tax, not capital gains tax, regardless of how much growth the fund has made.

This is the fastest option if you need the money now. However, once it lands in your bank account, any future interest it earns will be taxable.

Option 2: Transfer to an Adult ISA

This is usually the smartest financial move. You can roll your CTF directly into an adult Stocks and Shares ISA or Cash ISA without the transfer counting towards your GBP 20,000 annual ISA allowance for 2026/27.

This keeps your money in a tax-free wrapper. Any interest, dividends, or capital growth inside an ISA is free from UK tax indefinitely. If your CTF has been invested in equities, a Stocks and Shares ISA lets you continue that growth on a tax-free basis.

Option 3: Leave It Where It Is

If you do not instruct your provider, the account enters a "protected account" status. Your money stays invested or in cash, and you can claim it at any point in the future. Nothing is lost -- but you also cannot make additional contributions, and the provider may switch your investment to a default low-risk fund.

The Unclaimed Billions

HMRC estimates that approximately GBP 2 billion in CTF money remains unclaimed as of 2026. Many young adults simply do not know they have an account. If you are in your late teens or early twenties and were born in the UK, it is well worth spending five minutes to check.

Even if both you and your parents are unsure whether a CTF exists, the HMRC lookup tool will confirm either way.

Tax Considerations After Withdrawal

Once you withdraw CTF funds into a regular account:

• Savings interest above the Personal Savings Allowance (GBP 1,000 for basic rate taxpayers, GBP 500 for higher rate) becomes taxable
• Any future investment gains outside a tax-free wrapper are subject to Capital Gains Tax (CGT) at 18% for basic rate taxpayers or 24% for higher rate

Transferring to an ISA rather than withdrawing avoids these issues entirely and is strongly recommended unless you need the cash immediately.

Junior ISA vs CTF: What If You Have Both?

Some children born in the CTF window were later given a Junior ISA by parents who were unaware of the CTF restriction (you could not hold both simultaneously until 2015). From 2015, transfers from CTF to JISA became permitted. If you have both, they will both mature at 18 and can both be rolled into adult ISAs.

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Once your CTF is in your hands, your next step is understanding how your savings interact with your income and tax position. Use the CalcHub take-home pay calculator to see how your current earnings affect your tax-free savings allowances -- and how much you can shelter from the taxman by keeping your CTF money inside an ISA wrapper.