Junior ISA
Invest for your child’s future with the UK’s best value Junior Stocks and Shares ISA
Make the most of this year’s £9,000 Junior ISA allowance
Important information: investing for longer increases the likelihood of positive returns. Over a period of five years or more, investments usually give you a higher return compared to cash savings. But investments can go down as well as up in value, so your child could get back less than you put in.
This isn’t personal advice – please ask us for advice if you’re not sure which investments are right for you or your child. Junior ISA tax rules can change and benefits depend on circumstances.
What is a Junior ISA?
A Junior Stocks and Shares ISA is a tax-efficient investment account for children under 18. Any returns are free from UK income and capital gains tax.
Parents or legal guardians can start a Junior ISA for their child. Family and friends can then add money too.
When your child turns 18 they will get access to the money - it could help give them a head start on university fees, their first home or a future nest egg.
In this video, we explain the key benefits of using a Junior ISA and how you can invest for your child’s future.
How much can I invest in a Junior ISA?
In the 2024/2025 tax year (6 April to 5 April) there's a limited amount of money that can be put into your child's Junior ISA.
This tax year the Junior ISA allowance is £9,000.
Tax rules for ISAs can change and their benefits depend on individual circumstances.
HL Junior ISA charges and interest rates
Enjoy better value family investing with the HL Junior ISA.
Pay no online dealing or account charges, so that more of what you pay in will benefit the child. Depending on the investments chosen, other charges could still apply.
You’ll currently receive at least 2.75% interest on any cash you hold while waiting to invest for your child.
Kids go free
Junior ISA investment options
Children have time on their side when it comes to investing.
Investing for longer increases the likelihood of positive returns. Over a period of five years or more, investments usually give you a higher return compared to cash savings.
Unlike cash, investments can fall as well as rise in value, so you could get back less than you put in.
The HL Junior ISA lets you choose from:
- Ready-Made investments
- Responsible investments
- Funds
- UK and overseas shares
- Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and more
Invest by Direct Debit
Set up a Direct Debit to automatically pay into a child's Junior ISA. Payments are taken on the 7th of the month.
Choose where to invest each month, or build up money and decide where to invest later.
Think about a Junior ISA if:
- You want to save or invest tax-efficiently for your child’s future, without impacting your personal ISA allowance
- You want to give your child a head start when they turn 18
- You want to transfer money away from an existing Child Trust Fund or Junior ISA
Think about alternatives to a Junior ISA:
- You want to save more money for your child than the Junior ISA allowance allows (£9,000 per year)
- You need to access the money sooner than your child’s 18th birthday
- You want control over how your child uses the money once they turn 18
- Your child already has a Junior Stocks and Shares ISA or Child Trust Fund and you don’t want to transfer it
- You want to keep the money in a Child Trust Fund – your child can only have a CTF or a Junior ISA, not both
How to open a Junior ISA
Once you've decided to open a Junior ISA, it takes less than five minutes to get started. You'll just need a debit card and your national insurance number to hand, as well as the child’s national insurance number (if they have one). Remember that all investments can go down as well as up in value, so your child could get back less than you put in.
Two simple ways to start a Junior ISA
Open a Junior ISA
Your child is eligible if they're a UK resident, under 18 and don't already have a Junior Stocks and Shares ISA or Child Trust Fund. If they do, you'd need to transfer instead.
You can open a Junior ISA from £100 or as little as £25 per month.
Transfer a Junior ISA or Child Trust Fund
If your child already has a Child Trust Fund or Junior ISA, it's easy to transfer to an HL Junior ISA.
198,000 children and counting are getting a better headstart for their future
- Security - we're a FTSE-listed company and the largest investment platform in the UK for private investors, with £130 billion in assets under administration, and trusted by over one million clients
- UK-based helpdesk - speak to our customer support team if you have any questions
- Family-friendly - it's easy to link and manage all your family's accounts in one place
- Award-winning - we've won over 200 awards
-
Expertise - investment ideas for Junior ISAs from our expert
analysts
- Personalised and flexible financial advice available - plan and invest for a better future with the help of our financial advice service, which has been awarded corporate chartered status by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)
See why Jack chose the HL Junior ISA for his children
Jack invests in HL Junior ISAs for his children. Read Jack's full story
Learn more about Junior ISAs
Boring Money Awards 2024
Boring Money Awards 2024
The Personal Finance Awards 2023/2024
Help and support
If you have any questions about the HL Junior ISA, call our helpdesk or send us a message.