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This section will help you to understand the benefits of using a pension to save for your retirement, what type of pensions are available, how they work and how to start saving for your retirement.
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What are Isas?
‘Isa’ stands for individual savings account. This is effectively a tax wrapper within which you can hold a range of different investments. The big advantage of Isas is that returns are tax-free - gains on investments held outside an Isa are liable to income tax or capital gains tax.
How much can I invest?
You can invest up to £7,200 in a single tax year (up from £7,000 previously). The tax year runs from April 6 to April 5 and your annual allowance cannot be rolled into the next financial year, if you do not use it within that time.
Isas were introduced in April 1999, so those who have made full use of their annual allowances every year since then, will have sheltered £72,200 from the taxman - including the new 2008-2009 allowance.
How many Isas can I have?
You can open one cash Isa and one stocks and shares Isa each tax year. Up to £3,600 can be invested in a cash Isa. The remainder of your £7,200 allowance can be invested in a stocks and shares Isa. You do not have to put any money in a cash Isa: instead the full £7,200 can be invested in a stocks and shares account.
Various non-cash assets can be held within a stocks and shares Isa. These include unit trusts, open ended investment companies, investment trusts, exchange traded funds, shares or bonds.
Can I switch between cash and equities?
As a result of the rule changes, savers who initially invested in a cash Isa can transfer that money into a stocks and shares account. However, you cannot move from equities into cash.
Do I have to pay my money in, in one lump sum?
No. Some accounts have minimum investments, often £100 or £1,000 but many cash Isa rates are available on deposits of as little as £1 or £10. You can therefore pay money in whenever you have cash to spare or set up a monthly standing order and use your Isa allowance over the course of the tax year.
What about withdrawals?
Most easy access accounts, as their name suggests, allow you to withdraw funds whenever you want. However, you will lose the tax-free status on anything you take out, so it is worth keeping your money invested in Isas for as long as possible and use any other savings first.