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Managing Your ISA

 

Please remember that the value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise, and you may get back less than you invest. If you’re not sure about investing, seek financial advice. There will normally be a charge for that advice. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may be subject to change in the future.

 

What would you like to know more about?

To help you understand and make the most of your ISA, we’ll answer your most popular questions.

  1. Tax year information and subscription limits
  2. Moving stock or money into an ISA
  3. Adding an ISA onto an existing account
  1. Transferring from another broker to us
  2. Getting your share certificates into an ISA
  3. Transferring your investments to another person’s ISA

Tax year information and subscription limits

 

Each year the Government allows you to invest in a tax-efficient product called an ISA (an Individual Savings Account). The maximum amount you can invest in the current tax year is £20,000. You can select to invest your full allowance in one or split it between different types of ISAs. 

More information on ISAs and how they work can is on the Government Website.

 

  • What is an ISA declaration and why do I need to complete it?

An ISA declaration is required by HMRC. This makes sure when you apply for an ISA you are aware of the current ISA rules.

  • When does the tax year start and end?

The tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April every year. On 6 April, you'll be allocated the new tax year's ISA subscription allowance.

  • Do I need to open an ISA every year?

If you already have an ISA, you don't need to open a new account. All you need to do is fund your ISA at any point in the existing, or new tax year to subscribe. 

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Moving stock or money into an ISA

Moving stock from your Halifax Share Dealing Account into a Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA

Only shares that have been transferred from an HMRC approved scheme can be directly transferred into an ISA. For other shares, you can do a sale and repurchase (bed and ISA) to move investments to your ISA (subject to the investments being ISA eligible).

This involves selling your shares, moving the cash into an ISA and buying the shares back in one instruction. The amount of cash moved will count as a subscription to your ISA and the sale may be subject to Capital Gains Tax.

To request a sale and re-purchase online, you can complete the ISA sale and re-purchase form. Select ‘Help and Guidance’ then ‘frequent questions’, ‘useful forms’ when signed in to your account.

You can also complete this transaction with one of our colleagues over the phone.

Moving cash from a Halifax Share Dealing Account into a Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA?

If you'd like to transfer money from your Share Dealing Account into your ISA then you may be able to do this online. We can only transfer money into an active ISA. 

Please note, your money must be showing as ‘available to withdraw’ before it can be moved into your ISA.

To request this online, you can complete the Transfer cash into your ISA form. Select ‘Help and Guidance’ then ‘frequent questions’, ‘useful forms’ when signed in to your account.

You can also complete this transaction with one of our colleagues over the phone or by web chat.

Sign in


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Adding an ISA onto an existing account

Adding an ISA to your share dealing account

If you’ve already got a Halifax Share Dealing Account you can open an ISA, all you need to do is sign-in, and click on ‘Open a New Account' on the right-hand side.

Sign in Opens in same tab

Adding an ISA to your ready-made investment account

If you’ve already got an investment account you can open an ISA by applying here.

Apply here Opens in same tab


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Transferring from another broker to us

Share dealing

Step 1 - Sign in, click on transfers in the right hand menu and complete our online transfer form.

Step 2 - When it’s completed, sign it and post it to us using the address on the form, and that’s it!

If you don’t have access to a printer please let us know and we’ll post a transfer form to you.

Sign in Opens in same tab

Ready-made investments

If you've already got an Investment ISA with us, just sign into your Online Investments account and select 'Transfers' from the menu on the right.

Please note, we can only accept cash transfers which means your existing broker will have to sell your investments before transferring to us.

Sign in to transfer using online banking

  • How long does it take to transfer to a Stocks and Shares ISA?

Transferring to

Transferring from

Transfer time

Transferring to

Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA

Transferring from

Halifax Cash ISA

Transfer time

2-3 weeks *

Transferring to

Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA

Transferring from

Non-Halifax Cash ISA

Transfer time

2-3 weeks *

Transferring to

Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA

Transferring from

Stocks & Shares ISA

Transfer time

2 - 3 weeks to transfer cash or UK shares

6 - 8 weeks for funds or international shares *

Transferring to

Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA

Transferring from

Innovative finance ISA

Transfer time

30 calendar days *

Transferring to

Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA

Transferring from

Lifetime ISA

Transfer time

30 calendar days *
  • How long does it take to transfer to an Investment ISA?

Transferring to

Transferring from

Transfer time

Transferring to

Halifax Investment ISA

Transferring from

Halifax Cash ISA

Transfer time

2-3 weeks *

Transferring to

Halifax Investment ISA

Transferring from

Non-Halifax Cash ISA

Transfer time

2-3 weeks *

Transferring to

Halifax Investment ISA

Transferring from

Stocks & Shares ISA

Transfer time

2-3 weeks *

Transferring to

Halifax Investment ISA

Transferring from

Innovative finance ISA

Transfer time

30 calendar days *

Transferring to

Halifax Investment ISA

Transferring from

Lifetime ISA

Transfer time

30 calendar days *

* These transfer times are based on industry guidelines and may vary.


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Getting your share certificates into an ISA

You can’t directly transfer a certificate into your ISA unless it has come from an approved HMRC scheme/plan. To transfer the shares into your Share Dealing ISA, you need to:

Deposit the share certificate into a Halifax Share Dealing Account by downloading and printing a transfer form (PDF, 47KB). You’ll need a separate Crest transfer form (PDF, 39KB) for each stock you want to deposit. This takes approximately 10 working days.

Please note that we can’t accept Irish certificates. For further help, please contact the company Registrar directly.

For shares from an HMRC approved scheme/plan:

If your shares have matured from an approved plan, you'll need to send us a written request to directly transfer your shares into your Stocks and Shares ISA. This is known as a 90-day transfer form (PDF, 48KB).

You’ll need to include proof that the shares have been exercised (or withdrawn from a SIP) in the last 90 days. This is known as a Letter of Appropriation, you can get this from your share scheme administrator.

We would recommend that you send your request and all the required paperwork at least 2 weeks before the end of the 90 day period. This will give us time to carry out relevant checks.

For other shares:

You’ll need to complete a Sale and Repurchase once the shares are available in your Share Dealing Account.


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Transferring your investments to another person’s ISA

You can’t transfer your shares directly into another person’s ISA (you can transfer to another person's non-ISA). The same applies if you want to transfer another person’s shares into your ISA.

However, where an ISA holder died on, or after, 3rd December 2014, their surviving spouse or civil partner can inherit their ISA tax benefits. You can find more information in Bereavement support.

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FSCS protected logo. 

Financial Services Compensation Scheme

Eligible deposits held with us are protected up to a total of £85,000 by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), the UK’s deposit guarantee scheme.  

Visit our FSCS page

Halifax Share Dealing Limited. Registered in England and Wales no. 3195646. Registered Office: Trinity Road, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX1 2RG. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under registration number 183332. A Member of the London Stock Exchange and an HM Revenue & Customs Approved ISA Manager.