Lifetime ISA

You can use a Lifetime ISA (Individual Savings Account) to buy your first home or save for later life. You must be 18 or over but under 40 to open a Lifetime ISA.

You can put in up to £4,000 each year, until you are 50. The government will add a 25% bonus to your savings, up to a maximum of £1,000 per year.

The Lifetime ISA limit of £4,000 counts towards your annual ISA limit (external link). 

You can hold cash or stocks and shares in your Lifetime ISA, or have a combination of both.

When you turn 50, you will not be able to pay into your Lifetime ISA or earn the 25% bonus. Your account will stay open and your savings will still earn interest or investment returns. 

To open and continue to pay into a Lifetime ISA you must be a resident in the UK, unless you are a crown servant (for example, in the diplomatic service), their spouse or civil partner.

Withdrawing Money from your Lifetime ISA 

You can withdraw money from your ISA if you’re:

  • buying your first home

  • aged 60 or over

  • terminally ill, with less than 12 months to live

You will pay a 25% charge if you withdraw cash or assets for any other reason.

The withdrawal charge aims to recover the government bonus received and apply an extra charge to the original savings. This means if you treat your Lifetime ISA as a short-term savings product, you could get back less than you paid in.

Example 1 

Assuming no growth, initial savings of £800 will earn a 25% government bonus of £200 and give you a pot of £1,000. If you wish to withdraw the entire pot, a 25% charge will apply to the full £1,000. You’ll have to pay a government withdrawal charge of £250. This will leave you with £750, which is £50 less than you originally paid in.

If you only wish to access some of your money, you will have to take the withdrawal charge into account when requesting funds. You will have to withdraw more than the amount you need, to cover your needs and the 25% withdrawal charge.

Example 2 

If you need enough cash to cover a £120 bill, you will have to withdraw more than you actually require. Withdrawing £160 means you pay a 25% withdrawal charge of £40, and receive £120 in cash to meet the bill.

Buying your First Home 

You can use your savings to help you buy your first home if all the following apply:

  • the property costs £450,000 or less

  • you buy the property at least 12 months after you open the Lifetime ISA

  • you use a conveyancer or solicitor to act for you in the purchase - the ISA provider will pay the funds directly to them

  • you are buying with a mortgage

Buying with Someone Else 

If the person you are buying with has a Lifetime ISA (external link), they can use their savings and government bonus too. 

They will pay a 25% withdrawal charge to use their Lifetime ISA savings if they own or have a legal interest in property (for example they are a beneficiary of a trust that includes property).

If you have a Lifetime ISA and a Help to Buy ISA, you can only use the government bonus from one of them to buy your first home.

You can transfer money from a Help to Buy ISA to a Lifetime ISA. If you transfer money from a Lifetime ISA to a Help to Buy ISA you will have to pay the 25% withdrawal charge.

Saving for Later Life 

You can take your savings out of a Lifetime ISA when you’re 60 or over.

You’ll pay a 25% charge if you withdraw money or transfer the Lifetime ISA to another type of ISA before 60 (external link).

If you die, your Lifetime ISA ends on the date of your death. There is no charge to withdraw the funds or assets from your account.

A Lifetime ISA is one of a number of ways to save for later life (external link).