A Stocks & Shares ISA is a type of investment account that lets you grow your money tax-free. It’s a great option if you’re happy to invest for the long term and don’t need immediate access to your cash.
With this kind of ISA, your money is invested in things like shares, bonds, or investment funds—rather than sitting in a regular savings account. The big advantage? Any profits or interest you make aren’t taxed, meaning you get to keep more of your money.
Who Is a Stocks & Shares ISA For?
A Stocks & Shares ISA could be a good fit if:
✅ You’re happy to invest for several years (ideally five or more).
✅ You understand that investments can go up and down, you might get back less than you put in.
✅ You haven’t used up your £20,000 annual ISA allowance (this is the total amount you can put into ISAs each tax year).
There is currently a £20,000 limit to how much you can add to your ISA accounts each tax year. This £20,000 can go in one type of account (for example a Stocks & Shares ISA) or be split across multiple types of ISAs, including Stocks & Shares ISAs, Cash ISAs, and Lifetime ISAs.
Can You Access Your Money?
Yes, you can sell your investments and withdraw cash whenever you want.
There’s no minimum lock-in period. However, because the value of investments can fluctuate, it’s usually best to leave your money invested for a few years to ride out market ups and downs.