Got plans to move abroad? That's exciting! But you might be wondering what happens to your ISA, LISA or JISA accounts. Don't worry, they don't disappear when you leave the UK, but there will be restrictions on how you can use them. You will also be blocked from opening new savings accounts, setting up new pots within an ISA, and transferring any product to us.
- If you have an Individual Savings Account (ISA), you will be able to continue adding money to it until the end of the tax year. For example, if you leave the UK in September, you can keep paying in until 5th April in the following year.
- On the other hand, if you have a Lifetime ISA (LISA), you will not be able to pay in any more from the day you leave the UK. New contributions are immediately blocked. Also, you face a 25% penalty from the government if you don't use your LISA to retire or buy UK property.
- As for a Junior ISA (JISA), you are in fact allowed to continue paying in, right up until the child's 18th birthday. At that point, it becomes an ISA with the usual restrictions.
Whichever type of ISA you have, the money and investments you have in it will continue to enjoy UK tax relief when you leave the UK. And if you ever decide to return to the UK, you can start contributing to your ISA again. We hope that clears things up for you!