ISA investors can invest in any combination of cash or shares up to the overall limits shown.
The Lifetime ISA (LISA) is introduced for 2017/18. Taxpayers aged between 18 and 40 may open an account and invest up to £4,000 each year, which qualifies for a 25% Government bonus on amounts invested up to the age of 50.
This benefit is retained as long as the money is either
put towards a first home costing up to £450,000, or
kept in the account until reaching age 60, or
withdrawn after being diagnosed with a terminal illness.
If the money is withdrawn in other circumstances, the bonus will be clawed back with an additional 5% charge. The £4,000 is part of the general ISA limit of £20,000, not additional to it.
Junior ISA is available to UK residents aged under 18 and who don’t have a Child Trust Fund account. When the holder reaches age 18, their junior ISA becomes an adult ISA.
EIS, VCT and SITR investments made within the limits shown attract 30% Income Tax relief, but those schemes all have different qualifying rules.
SEIS investments attract 50% Income Tax relief.
Where the disposal proceeds from any capital gain are reinvested under EIS or SITR in the four-year period that starts one year before the date of the gain, all or part of the original gain can be deferred.
Gains reinvested under SEIS, within the same timeframe as for EIS, up to the investment limit attract 50% exemption from CGT.
Investments made under EIS, SEIS and SITR can be carried back to be treated as made in the previous tax year, subject to the investment limits.
Disposals of investments acquired under EIS, SEIS, SITR or VCT are exempt from CGT if investment conditions have not been broken.
