ISA deadline 2026: don’t miss your £20,000 tax-free allowance

The deadline to maximise your investment in tax-free ISAs (Individual Savings Accounts) is rapidly approaching.

When is the ISA deadline?

The ISA deadline comes at the end of the current 2025/26 tax year, which is April 5, 2026.

This is the last chance to use up your annual allowance before it expires, with the new tax year starting on April 6, 2026.

How much is the maximum ISA allowance?

You can invest up to a maximum of £20,000 per person in any ISA in any one tax year.

This allowance has to be used during the course of that tax year and cannot be “rolled over” into the subsequent tax year.

It is a “use it or lose it” allowance.

Can I invest in more than one ISA?

At the current moment in time, the £20,000 maximum can be invested across any number of ISA types, including cash ISAs, stocks and shares ISAs or Lifetime ISAs.

You can invest in more than one ISA account during any tax year.

However, your total ISA investments cannot add up to more than £20,000.

Does a Junior ISA affect my ISA allowance?

No. Putting money into a Junior ISA does not affect your personal adult allowance of £20,000 per tax year.

Junior ISA annual limits explained

The Junior ISA has its own separate £9,000 annual limit that any adult can contribute to.

This means that grandparents, family and friends can all contribute to a Junior ISA without it affecting their own personal ISA allowance.

Find out more about Junior ISAs in our guide.

Are ISA rules changing in the future?

Yes. From April 2027, people aged under 65 will only be allowed to invest a maximum of £12,000 in a cash ISA in any one financial year.

The remaining £8,000 of their annual £20,000 allowance has to be invested in a stocks and shares ISA.

Those aged over 65 can still use all of their £20,000 annual allowance to invest in a cash ISA.

Why is the ISA deadline so important?

Maximising the amount you can invest tax-free in ISA accounts can help to make your money work harder.

It allows you to retain the proceeds of your investment tax-free.

This is particularly important as the 2025 Budget announced rises in taxation rates on dividend income from 6 April 2026 and on savings and property income from 6 April 2027.

Keeping your investments in a tax-free ISA wrapper shields them from these rises.

Should I wait until April 5 before maximising my ISA allowance?

Every person’s financial situation is different so there may be a good reason why you might want to wait until April.

Benefits of investing before the deadline

However, if you want to maximise your ISA allowance and can do so at a time of your choosing, investing as early as possible will allow you to shelter your money tax-free for longer.

It is also the case that many ISA providers are extremely busy the closer the deadline approaches so investing earlier will enable you to avoid the rush.

How a financial adviser can help with ISAs

Taking independent financial advice can help you decide whether an ISA is right for you and what types of ISA could best suit your circumstances and attitude to risk.

To start your ISA journey, get in touch with an adviser today.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change. The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is also not a reliable indicator of future performance. Always seek professional advice before making financial decisions.