Junior ISA in 2026/27: the £9,000 limit, who can pay in and when the child can use it
Published · 3 min read · Figures checked . UK rules and rates change, so check the official sources below before you act.
A Junior ISA is a tax-free savings account for a child. This guide explains the 2026/27 limit, who can open and pay into one, the two types, when a child gets control, and how it links to Child Trust Funds.
What a Junior ISA is
A Junior ISA is a long-term, tax-free savings account for children. The money in it belongs to the child, not to the adult who opens or manages it.
There are two types. In a cash Junior ISA, the interest is not taxed. In a stocks and shares Junior ISA, growth and dividends are not taxed. A child can have one or both types at the same time.
Who can have one
- The child must be under 18 and living in the UK.
- A child living abroad can qualify only if a parent is a Crown servant, such as in the armed forces, the diplomatic service or the overseas civil service, and the child depends on that parent for care.
- A parent or guardian with parental responsibility opens and manages the account.
How the £9,000 limit works
The £9,000 limit is for the whole tax year and covers all of a child's Junior ISAs added together. GOV.UK gives this example: if £2,000 goes into a cash Junior ISA between 6 April 2026 and 5 April 2027, only £7,000 more can go into a stocks and shares Junior ISA in that same year.
The limit applies to the child's accounts, not to each person paying in. GOV.UK says anyone can pay money into a Junior ISA, so relatives and friends can add to it as long as the total stays within the limit.
Control at 16 and access at 18
At 16, the child can take control of the account, which means they can manage it themselves. However, they cannot withdraw the money until they are 18. GOV.UK says there are some exceptions, and it points to a separate page about what happens if a child is terminally ill or dies.
Because the money belongs to the child, it is not a way of saving that an adult can take back later. Many families find it helpful to talk about this before opening an account.
Junior ISAs and Child Trust Funds
Child Trust Funds were an earlier scheme for children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011. A child cannot hold a Child Trust Fund and a Junior ISA at the same time. Someone who wants to move can ask the Child Trust Fund provider to transfer the money into a Junior ISA.
Money can still be paid into an existing Child Trust Fund, up to £9,000 a year per child. As with a Junior ISA, the child takes control at 16 and can take the money out at 18.
Finding a lost Child Trust Fund
HMRC runs a free online service for this. It can be used by anyone aged 16 or over looking for their own fund, or by a parent or guardian looking for the fund of a child under 18. It cannot find Junior ISAs and it does not tell you how much is in an account.
For a child's fund, HMRC asks for the child's full name, address and date of birth, plus any previous names. For your own fund, you need your National Insurance number. Online applications usually get a letter from HMRC within 3 weeks.
If you already know the provider, you can contact them directly. GOV.UK also mentions a free alternative, the Share Foundation's find-a-CTF service.
Check before you act
Limits, rules and rates can change from one tax year to the next. It is worth confirming the current position on the official pages linked below before opening an account or paying money in. This guide is general information, not personal advice.
Sources
For information only. See our disclaimer and editorial standards. Spotted an error? Tell us.
