In a typical year, I use roughly 75 per cent of my £20,000 tax-free Isa allowance to invest in stocks and shares, and the rest in cash.
I’ve now heard the cash Isa allowance might be reduced.
If it was hypothetically cut to £4,000 in April 2026, it wouldn’t really change much of my current strategy.
However, this feels like a last chance to max out the cash element of an Isa and given the recent market turmoil, I might just stick the full £20,000 into cash now.
Is that a sensible move?
Cash Isa debate: Our reader wonders if this is their last chance to use their £20,000 Isa limit in case it is cut by the Government
Helen Kirrane of This is Money replies: You’re not the only one to wonder whether it’s time to fill your cash Isa to the limit.
Fuelled by rumours of cash Isa allowance cuts in the run up to the Spring Statement, savers poured over £4billion into cash Isas in the month of March alone.
In the Spring Statement document it was revealed the Government was considering making reforms to cash Isas, after weeks of speculation – though nothing is set in stone.
Among the reforms suggested were cutting the £20,000 allowance for cash Isas, while allowing savers to maintain that limit if they invested in stocks and shares. A £4,000 limit for cash Isas has been speculated in recent months.
Record numbers of investors have also turned to cash Isas as a safe haven for their nest eggs amid economic turmoil in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s tariff war.
We spoke to three financial experts for advice on whether you should follow the herd and redirect your investments to a cash Isa.
Susannah Streeter, Hargreaves Lansdown: It would be unwise to let speculation over future government policy disrupt long-term financial planning
Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown replies: It would be unwise to let speculation over future government policy disrupt your long-term financial planning.
Despite the rumours over changes to cash Isas, none have yet materialised, and any tweaks would have to follow a government consultation.
If you have already built up an emergency savings pot of three to six months essential expenditure, and don’t need to spend money you have set aside within the next five years, it’s really still worth looking at investing at least some of the money in a stocks and shares Isa.
History has shown that over the long term there’s a better chance of beating inflation by investing in the stock market or funds compared to leaving money in a savings account. The recent market volatility may have been concerning, but drip feeding your stocks and shares Isa can enable you to ride out the ups and downs in the market.
For peace of mind, you could still consider splitting your allocation between a cash Isa and a stocks and shares Isa and there are currently some good deals on offer in the savings market.
As competition heated up over tax year end, the rates on offer remained relatively elevated but this is now starting to change.
Rates fell back a little during the month, which isn’t surprising given more interest rate cuts have been priced in this year.
Given that markets now expect multiple rate cuts in 2025, it’s worth bearing in mind that fixed rate deals above 4 per cent may not be around by the end of the year.
AJ Bell’s Laura Suter: Trust in your financial plan and don’t deviate because of rumours that the Government might change the rules.
Laura Suter, director of personal finance at AJ Bell replies: Firstly well done on having a saving and investing strategy, that’s a great start.
I think the main thing is to trust in that plan and not deviate from it just because of rumours that the Government might change the rules.
We don’t know what the Government will do when it comes to Isas – or indeed if they will do anything.
It’s also worth noting that they are unlikely to implement the changes immediately, which would give people a window to take action if they needed to.
But based on your plan above you’ve determined you only need around £5,000 a year to be saved into cash, and don’t need higher cash levels than this.
It would feel counterintuitive to start stuffing your cash Isa just because you’re worried the allowances may change. While cash is a great place for money you need in the short term or money you don’t want to take any risk with, it’s not ideal for long-term savings.
You should look at your cash pot and work out if it’s sufficient for your emergency pot and your short-term spending goals, like house renovations, moving home in the next few years, your children’s education, or even a big holiday or new car.
You might find, like many people do, that they are unintentionally hoarding too much in cash that could be earning a potentially higher return in investment markets.
You can then assess your longer-term investment goals and work out whether you’re on track to reach them with your investment portfolio. That might include a longer-term house move, early retirement, setting aside money for kids or something else on the horizon.
Rachel Springall, Finance Expert at Moneyfacts Compare replies: It is a worthy debate on whether to invest in cash or stocks and shares, and for any individual it comes down to how long they are looking to invest in either element.
Investing in cash is popular, but over the longer-term, stocks are typically expected to weather most storms and can beat pure interest over time.
Rachel Springall, Moneyfacts Compare: It is understandable for savers to be concerned of the potential limits on cash Isas to be cut
It is understandable for savers to be concerned of the potential limits on cash Isas to be cut, but those who want to max it out can move subscriptions into stocks and shares from cash later.
It may be more convenient to just put funds from a stocks and shares Isa into a cash fund, which are at the lower end of the risk spectrum, but usually this is only done temporarily during period of market turmoil.
A cash Isa on the other hand can offer different options, from easy access, notice, to fixed, the latter providing a clear guaranteed return on any investment, and of course, safe return of the original capital.
Any investment in a stocks and shares Isa is at risk of turmoil, so it’s important to monitor them carefully.
If you are prepared to make a clear list and actively manage a portfolio, it can be smoother to move around pots to take advantage of stock market boons, but also to be more risk adverse.
However, it is usually wise for savers to avoid pulling out of stocks in the aftermath of significant falls, because they then can not benefit from rises once the markets improve.
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