Saving and investing

Building your wealth

Making your savings grow and being able to retire when and how you want is one of your most important financial objectives. But achieving this goal takes planning and perseverance.

ISA allowances

Details of investment maximums for ISAs, the Junior ISA, Lifetime ISA and the Help-to-Buy ISA.

ISAs and the Lifetime ISA

An ISA is a tax-free investment vehicle. When you invest your savings, shares or life insurance, as well as all authorised retail investment schemes and UK Real Estate Investment Trusts into an ISA, your income and gains from the investments are free from income tax and capital gains tax.

Alternative investments

When it comes to investing, there is more to life than ISAs, stocks and shares. Alternative investments have risen in popularity in recent times, especially among those who have money to invest and do not wish to invest in the stock market or property.

Tax-efficient investments

Including ISAs, pension contributions, enterprise investment scheme (EIS), seed enterprise investment scheme (SEIS) and venture capital trusts (VCTs).

Tax on savings income

Savings income (which includes all types of interest) is normally paid gross without deduction of income tax. The personal savings allowance provides a nil rate of tax on the first £1,000 of savings income for basic rate taxpayers and £500 for higher rate taxpayers, with none available to additional rate taxpayers. If your only taxable income arises from savings income, or your other income is very small the amount liable to 0% tax may be as high as £5,000.

Capital gains tax EIS deferral relief

Tax relief for reinvestment of gains in qualifying schemes was introduced to stimulate investment in small businesses, and was incorporated into the enterprise investment scheme (EIS), as EIS deferral relief.

VCT, EIS and SEIS

This section provides an analysis of the tax reliefs afforded by venture capital trusts, the enterprise investment scheme and seed enterprise investment scheme, and highlights the important differences between the individual schemes.