We don’t support this browser anymore.
This means our website may not look and work as you would expect. Read more about browsers and how to update them here.

Skip to main content
  • Register
  • Help
  • Contact us

ISA deadline 5 April – how to secure your tax allowance in minutes

It only takes minutes to secure this year’s ISA allowance. See why ISAs are important and how you can take action.

Important notes

This article isn’t personal advice. If you’re not sure whether an investment is right for you please seek advice. If you choose to invest the value of your investment will rise and fall, so you could get back less than you put in.

This article is more than 6 months old

It was correct at the time of publishing. Our views and any references to tax, investment and pension rules may have changed since then.

The tax year ends soon. But it’s not too late to take advantage of this year’s £20,000 ISA allowance. You’ll need to do this before 11:59pm on 5 April.

Using your ISA allowance to shelter your investments from UK income and capital gains tax could mean you get to keep more of any potential returns.

You can also add cash to a Stocks and Shares ISA before the deadline and then invest it later on, even if that’s after the 5 April.

Here’s how to secure your ISA allowance and 3 reasons to do it before the deadline.

Remember tax rules can change and any benefits depend on your circumstances.

This article is not personal advice. If you’re not sure if an investment is right for you, ask for financial advice.

MORE ABOUT THE HL STOCKS AND SHARES ISA

3 reasons to consider a Stocks and Shares ISA

1. Save tax

Investing in ISAs gives you the opportunity to grow your money free of UK income tax and capital gains tax. So if your investments go up in value, you won’t have to pay capital gains tax. And if your investments generate an income, you won’t pay UK income tax either.

Remember investments can fall as well as rise in value, so you could get back less than you invest.

There’s also no need to declare ISAs on your tax return, making your finances even simpler.

2. Access your money when you need to

Putting money into a Stocks and Shares ISA doesn’t mean you’re locked in forever. In fact, part of the ISA’s popularity over the years has been being able to access your money when you need to.

Although investing in Stocks and Shares ISAs is for the long term, you can always access money in your ISA. If you’re planning on investing for 5, 10, 20 years or even longer, you’ll know you can get hold of your money if you need to.

3. Generous allowances

At a time where other tax breaks are being cut and frozen, being able to use your ISA allowance makes ISAs even more attractive.

Today, investors can shelter up to £20,000 in ISAs, meaning a couple could shelter £40,000 of their wealth in this tax year alone.

More about the HL Stocks and Shares ISA

How to open an ISA in minutes

The quickest way to open an ISA is online. Once you’ve decided to open or top up an ISA, you can get started in minutes. All you’ll need to do is:

  1. Make sure you’re happy with our terms and conditions (including Tariff of Charges) and key features
  2. Have your debit card and National Insurance number to hand
  3. Complete one online form

Open or Top up an ISA

What did you think of this article?

Important notes

This article isn’t personal advice. If you’re not sure whether an investment is right for you please seek advice. If you choose to invest the value of your investment will rise and fall, so you could get back less than you put in.

Editor's choice – our weekly email

Sign up to receive the week's top investment stories from Hargreaves Lansdown. Including:

  • Latest comment on economies and markets
  • Expert investment research
  • Financial planning tips
Sign up

Related articles

Category: Funds

The most popular stocks and shares ISA funds in November 2023

Discover the most popular funds with HL Stocks and Shares ISA investors in November 2023.

Jason Roberts

05 Dec 2023 4 min read

Category: Funds

HL Select turns 7 – what we’ve learned and what’s next

HL Select Fund Manager Steve Clayton looks back on seven years of the HL Select fund range, how it’s performed and what’s next.

Steve Clayton

01 Dec 2023 6 min read

Category: Investing and saving

Autumn statement – National Insurance tax change plus ways to help cut your tax bill

The headline grabbing National Insurance cut might look like good news, but the tax burden is still set to be the highest it’s been since the Second World War. Here’s what’s changed and what you can do to reduce your tax bill.

Helen Morrissey

30 Nov 2023 4 min read

Category: Investing and saving

Investing in healthcare – where are the opportunities?

The healthcare sector is enormous, absorbing over 10% of the economic output of many developed nations. We take a closer look at the risks and opportunities to watch out for.

Derren Nathan

30 Nov 2023 5 min read