Our Junior ISA

The Junior ISA is a tax-efficient account designed for adults to save and invest on behalf of children.

Any child resident in the UK who wasn’t eligible for a Child Trust Fund (CTF):

• Children born on or after 3rd January 2011
• Under 18s born before September 2002

Any child born between 1st September 2002 and 3rd January 2011 that didn’t qualify for a Child Trust Fund will also be eligible for a Junior ISA.

The Family Investments Junior ISA is only available to children under the age of 16, who didn't qualify for a CTF.

Yes. Like adult ISAs, there are two different types of Junior ISA:

• A cash Junior ISA - which will earn interest like a savings account from a bank or building society
• A stocks and shares Junior ISA - which will invest in stocks and shares

You can take out both a cash Junior ISA and a stocks and shares Junior ISA, with different providers (or the same provider if they offer different products), at the same time if you choose.

• The child enjoys an initial limit of £3,600 this tax year across both types of account. A tax year runs from 6th April to 5th April.
• Proceeds of the account are held in the child's name.
• Tax efficient like an adult ISA.
• Money in the account cannot be withdrawn by the parents as it is designed for the child's future.
• The parent manages the account on the behalf of a child. At age 16 the child can manage the account themselves.
• At age 18 the account becomes an adult ISA and the young adult may access their funds.

The most that you can initially pay into a Junior ISA is a combined total (across both a stocks and shares Junior ISA, and a cash Junior ISA) of £3,600 this tax year. A tax year runs from 6th April to 5th April.  Like an adult ISA, this limit will increase with inflation each year. The first inflation increase will happen in April 2013.

Family and friends can also contribute to a child’s Junior ISA, as long as the total combined amount invested each year doesn’t exceed £3,600.

No, the account is set up for the child and only they can access the money and only from the age of 18.

A parent, or someone with parental responsibility, can take out a Junior ISA on behalf of an eligible child. It is possible for a child aged 16 to take out a Junior ISA for themselves, but please note that the Family Investments Junior ISA is only available for children under the age of 16.

No. All the money in your child’s Junior ISA is kept with the same provider. Your child can hold a cash Junior ISA with a different provider from their stocks and shares Junior ISA if you wish. You may also transfer funds to another provider at any time.

The main difference is that there are no Government contributions to Junior ISAs as there were with Child Trust Funds.

Another difference is that Junior ISA providers do not have to offer a “stakeholder” version of the product in the way they did for Child Trust Funds.

As of 1st November 2011, the annual contribution limit for Child Trust Funds increased from £1,200 to £3,600 in line with the Junior ISA.

Yes. Children under the age of 18, resident in the UK, who didn’t qualify for a Child Trust Fund, are eligible for a Junior ISA.

The Family Investments Junior ISA is only be available to children under the age of 16, who didn't qualify for a CTF.

No. Only children that don’t have a Child Trust Fund are eligible for a Junior ISA - otherwise they would enjoy double tax efficient savings allowances.

No. The Junior ISA is only available to children that did not qualify for a Child Trust Fund.

• From the UK's favourite Child Trust Fund Provider
• A stocks and shares Junior ISA invested in the Family Balanced International Fund. This fund aims to achieve long-term growth. It does this by investing mainly in both UK and overseas shares, along with fixed interest investments.
• Low monthly premium starting at just £10
• Parents can manage the Family Investments Junior ISA online
• Existing Family Investments customers can manage their children's Child Trust Fund and Junior ISA online using the same login details. From the age of 16, the child can manage the account themselves.
• Parents, family and friends can easily contribute online or over the phone
• An option to invest in the Family Charities Ethical Trust, a unit trust which aims to achieve growth by investing in shares that closely follow the performance of companies included in the FTSE4Good UK 50 Total Return Index*.

You should remember that because the account invests in stocks and shares that its value can fall as well as rise and your child could get back less than was paid in.

*“FTSE ®” is a trademark jointly owned by the London Stock Exchange Plc and the Financial Times Limited and is used under license by FTSE. FTSE does not sponsor, endorse or promote this product.

Yes! But make sure you read the information in our Junior ISA section to make sure the product is right for you and your family first.