Lifetime ISA

An extra boost towards your first home or later life

Open a Lifetime ISA The Lifetime ISA in 90 seconds

What is a Lifetime ISA?

A Lifetime ISA is a flexible way to save and invest for your first home or later life. You can open one if you’re between 18 and 39 years old.

As with other ISAs, you can choose to save cash or invest in the stock market, and your money can grow free from UK tax. But the real benefit is an extra 25% from the government of up to £1,000 a year.

How much can I invest?

You can invest up to £4,000 each tax year and the government will add a further 25%. So for every £4 you save, you get £1 extra - up to £1,000 per tax year.

You need to be between 18 and 39 to open a Lifetime ISA. But you can still pay in – and get the government bonus – until you turn 50.

Tax rules can change and their benefits depend on your circumstances.

Invest up to

£4,000

each tax year

each year and receive
a government bonus of

and receive a
government bonus of

25%

Taking money out

After 12 months, you can use the money to make an eligible house purchase for a property worth up to £450,000. Or you can wait until you're 60 and take your money out then.

If you want to take money out before you're 60 and you aren't buying your first home, there's usually a 25% government charge. That means you could get back less than you originally put in.

Learn more about taking money from a Lifetime ISA in our Lifetime ISA FAQs

HL Lifetime ISA charges

The annual charge for holding investments in a Lifetime ISA is never more than 0.45%. Your dealing and other charges will depend on the investments you choose and will apply in addition to our annual account charge.

See all HL Lifetime ISA charges

ANNUAL 0.45% ACCOUNT CHARGE

Cashback Make the most of your Lifetime ISA

Transfer to HL. Act by 17 December and get cashback as a thank you.
Terms apply

Find out more

Open an HL Lifetime ISA

Once you've decided you'd like to open a Lifetime ISA, it takes less than five minutes to get started.

You can start a Lifetime ISA with £100 or from as little as £25 per month.

You'll just need a debit card and your national insurance number to hand.

Open a Lifetime ISA

Want to transfer an existing ISA to us?

Just let us know and we'll take care of the rest.

Transfer an existing ISA

Your investment options

More than 2,500 funds
UK and overseas shares
Investment trusts, bonds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs)

You can also hold cash in your Lifetime ISA.

Looking for investment ideas?

With a Lifetime ISA your investment choice will probably depend on when you need to use the money. Less than five years, then cash is likely to be your best option. But if you're planning to invest for longer than five years, you might want to think about the stock market.

With investing, the potential returns are higher, though you can also make a loss.

See investment ideas

Learn more about Lifetime ISAs

When can I take money out of my Lifetime ISA?

You can withdraw your money tax free when you're ready to use it for an eligible house purchase (worth up to £450,000), after you turn 60, or if you are terminally ill.

You can take money out at other times too (including in the first 12 months), but there will usually be a 25% charge from the government. This could mean you get back less than you put in.
What is an eligible house purchase for a Lifetime ISA?

You’ll need to have had your Lifetime ISA for a full year, and you’ll need to be a first-time buyer.

The house you’re buying has to be in the UK and cost £450,000 or less. This is just the house price and it doesn’t include fixtures and fittings. It also needs to be your main residence. If it’s still being built, it’ll need to be your main residence as soon as it’s ready for you to live in.

You’ll need to be buying the house with a mortgage, regulated home purchase plan or through a shared ownership arrangement. If you’re buying a house with cash, you can still use your Lifetime ISA money. But you’d have to pay the government withdrawal charge, which means you could get back less than you put in.
Who qualifies as a first-time buyer?

You’re a first-time buyer if you don’t own, and have never owned, a residential property anywhere in the world, either by yourself or together with someone else. This includes any property that you inherited or that was given to you.
How and when do I get the government bonus?

We claim the government bonus for you and add it to your Lifetime ISA. We’ll do this as soon as possible each month and you should see it in your account in four to nine weeks from the date of your contribution. Please note, the bonus will be added to your Lifetime ISA as cash and you can just place your investment instruction when you’re ready. This can be easily done online, over the phone or in writing.
Can I open a Lifetime ISA if I already have other ISAs?

Yes, you can open and add money to other types of ISAs (Cash ISAs, Stocks and Shares ISAs or Innovative Finance ISAs) alongside your Lifetime ISA. You’ll only be able to save into one Lifetime ISA each tax year.

You can contribute up to £20,000 across all your ISAs in the 2018/19 tax year, with up to £4,000 in your Lifetime ISA. The government bonus doesn’t count towards the £20,000 overall limit or the £4,000 Lifetime ISA limit.
Can I open a Lifetime ISA in joint names?

You can only open a Lifetime ISA in your name. This is the same with all ISAs. But each adult under 40 can open a Lifetime ISA. So first-time buyers buying together could both use their Lifetime ISA and bonus towards their home.

I’ve found all my involvement with Hargreaves Lansdown to be superb. I actually think the whole platform works exceptionally well and I frankly wouldn’t hesitate in recommending the company to anybody.
MR HASTINGS, Devon

Awards

Best Direct Lifetime Stocks & Shares ISA Provider
YourMoney.com Awards

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