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Transfer to a Lifetime ISA hero

Transfer to a Lifetime ISA

Transfer an existing ISA to the HL Lifetime ISA

Transfer now

Why choose a Lifetime ISA?

If you’re saving to buy your first home or retirement, investing in a Lifetime ISA could help you reach your goals.

Thinking about transferring a Help to Buy ISA? You can contribute more to a Lifetime ISA than a Help to Buy ISA, meaning you could get a larger government bonus. Lifetime ISAs also offer more options for how and when you use the money.

This video explains how Lifetime ISAs work, including the government bonus and your options for taking money out.

Compare Lifetime and Help to Buy ISAs

If you're saving to buy your first home, there are two different ISAs that could help - so which is better?

  • Who can open one?

    Lifetime ISA

    18-39 year olds

    Help to Buy ISA

    Closed to new applicants

  • Can I put in one-off amounts?

    Lifetime ISA

    Yes

    Help to Buy ISA

    You can add up to £200 per month, with an extra £1,000 in the first month

  • What's the maximum government bonus?

    Lifetime ISA

    Up to £1,000 (or 25% of your contribution) each tax year. You can also earn a bonus on a single transfer from a Help to Buy ISA to a Lifetime ISA in the 2017/18 tax year (see below).

    Help to Buy ISA

    Up to £3,000 (or 25% of your contribution) in total

  • When is the government bonus added?

    Lifetime ISA

    Monthly

    Help to Buy ISA

    Between exchange and completion when buying your first home

  • Can I earn interest on, or invest the government bonus?

    Lifetime ISA

    Yes – you can invest or earn interest on the government bonus as soon as it’s paid into your Lifetime ISA

    Help to Buy ISA

    No – the bonus is paid to your conveyancer when you buy your first home

  • When can I use the money to buy a house?

    Lifetime ISA

    Anytime after you’ve had your Lifetime ISA for a year, otherwise there’s a 25% charge. This doesn’t count for withdrawals in the 2017/18 tax year, where you won’t have to pay the government withdrawal charge, but you also won’t get a bonus.

    Help to Buy ISA

    After you’ve saved £1,600

  • What’s the maximum house price allowed?

    Lifetime ISA

    £450,000

    Help to Buy ISA

    £250,000 (£450,000 in London)

  • Can I use the money for anything besides buying my first home?

    Lifetime ISA

    You can take your money out tax free after you turn 60. Earlier withdrawals (which aren’t for an eligible house purchase ) usually incur a 25% government charge (20% if the withdrawal is made between 6 March 2020 and 5 April 2021). This doesn’t count for withdrawals in the 2017/18 tax year, where you won’t have to pay the government withdrawal charge, but you also won’t get a bonus.

    Help to Buy ISA

    You can take your money out at any time but won’t receive the government bonus on the money you withdraw.

  • Can I use the account to invest in the stock market?

    Lifetime ISA

    Yes – you can hold cash or invest

    Help to Buy ISA

    No – you can only hold cash in a Help to Buy ISA

  • How much can I put in each tax year?

    Lifetime ISA

    Up to £4,000 until you turn 50

    Help to Buy ISA

    Up to £2,400 (£3,400 in the first year)

Lifetime ISA Help to Buy ISA
Who can open one? 18-39 year olds Closed to new applicants
Can I put in one-off amounts? Yes No – monthly payments only (max of £200/ month), with an extra £1,000 in the first month
How much is the government bonus? 25% 25%
What is the maximum government bonus? Up to £1,000 each tax year until you turn 50 Up to £3,000 in total
When is the government bonus added? Monthly On completion of buying your first home
Can I earn interest on, or invest the government bonus? Yes – you can invest or earn interest on the government bonus as soon as it’s paid into your Lifetime ISA No – the bonus is paid to your conveyancer when you buy your first home
When can I use the money to buy a house? Anytime after you’ve had your Lifetime ISA for a year, otherwise there’s a 25% charge, so you could get back less than you put in. After you’ve saved £1,600
What’s the maximum house price allowed? £450,000 £250,000 (£450,000 in London)
Can I use the money for anything besides buying my first home? You can take your money out tax free after you turn 60. Earlier withdrawals (which aren’t for an eligible house purchase ) usually incur a 25% government charge, so you could get back less than you put in You can take your money out at any time but won’t receive the government bonus on the money you withdraw.
Can I use the account to invest in the stock market? Yes – you can hold cash or invest No – you can only hold cash in a Help to Buy ISA
How much can I put in each tax year? Up to £4,000 until you turn 50 Up to £2,400 (£3,400 in the first year)

Transferring to a Lifetime ISA

Whether you're transferring from a Help to Buy ISA, or another type of ISA, here's what you need to know before you get started.

Transferring ISAs to a Lifetime ISA

You can transfer up to £4,000 from another (non-lifetime) ISA to an HL Lifetime ISA each tax year. You’ll get the 25% government bonus on the amount you transfer, up to £1,000. Unfortunately, we can’t currently accept transfers from other Lifetime ISAs.

If you want to use the Lifetime ISA to buy a home, just remember that if you do that in the first year of having your Lifetime ISA, you will have to pay the 25% government withdrawal charge.

Your ISA allowance

Transferring counts towards your Lifetime ISA allowance, but not your overall ISA allowance. You can transfer ISAs from previous tax years, but only up to the £4,000 allowance.

If you’re transferring ISAs from this tax year, you’ll need to transfer all the money you’ve put in so far. If this goes over your available Lifetime ISA allowance then you won't be able to transfer this tax year.

What happens to your investments

Your ISA will be transferred as cash. This means you’ll be out of the market during the transfer. Your money will be stable if the market falls, but if it rises you won't benefit.

Once the money is in your Lifetime ISA, you can choose how you'd like to invest.

Transfer to the HL Lifetime ISA

You can transfer up to £4,000 from existing (non-lifetime) ISAs, including Help to Buy ISAs, to an HL Lifetime ISA. Unfortunately, we can’t currently accept transfers from other Lifetime ISAs.

If you decide to invest after you transfer, just remember that investments aren't as secure as cash. They can go down as well as up in value so you could get back less than you put in.

Once you've decided you'd like to transfer to a Lifetime ISA, it takes just a few minutes to get started online.

Transfer now

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When I need to speak to a person the phone is answered promptly and usually any issue is dealt with speedily. This for me is very important.

MR COLLINS, Northamptonshire

Awards

BEST BUY LIFETIME ISA
Boring Money Awards 2023


BEST BUY ISA
Boring Money Awards 2023


BEST ONLINE STOCKBROKER
The Personal Finance Awards 2022/2023

Help and support

If you have any questions about the HL Lifetime ISA, you can speak to one of our client support experts by calling 0117 900 9000.

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