A Junior ISA (or JISA) provides a simple, tax-efficient way to invest for a child, giving their savings the opportunity to grow over time.
Important: Junior ISAs
The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and investors may not get back the full amount invested. Past performance is not a guide to the future and any investment does not have a capital or return guarantee. Tax rules can change. Any investment decisions should be made after receiving professional advice. Contact us today to speak to one of our advisers about your investment planning.
Mattioli Woods Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
At Mattioli Woods, we help families make informed investment decisions through Junior ISAs (JISAs), creating a structured and tax-efficient way to invest for a child's future. Our specialists take the time to understand your goals and attitude to risk. We review investments regularly to help keep them on track as circumstances change.
Capital at risk. ISA rules apply.
A JISA – or Junior Individual Savings Account – is a tax-efficient way to save or invest for a child's future.
It allows parents or guardians to put money aside in the child’s name, with any growth free from UK Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax. The account is managed by a parent or guardian until the child reaches 16. The Junior ISA becomes accessible to the child once they turn 18, giving them full control of the savings as they move into adulthood.
Capital at risk. ISA rules apply.
Alongside day-to-day care and education, setting money aside for your child’s future can help support important milestones later on.
A Junior ISA offers a simple and tax-efficient way to save or invest for a child, with the flexibility to start at any stage of their childhood. But the earlier you begin, the more time their savings have the potential to grow.
Benefits of a Junior ISA include:
"The Junior ISA allowance for 2025/26 is £9,000. This is the total amount that can be contributed into a child's JISA each year, whether in cash, investments or a combination of both. Using the full allowance can help you build a meaningful fund over time, with the potential for tax-efficient growth. It's also worth noting that the Junior ISA allowance resets each tax year, so regular contributions can help maximise the benefit of this tax-efficient wrapper over the long term."
– Dean Cheeseman, Managing Director of Client Investment Solutions at Mattioli Woods
Capital at risk. ISA rules apply.
Families choose Mattioli Woods for thoughtful financial planning and investment support they can rely on. Many remain with us over time, benefiting from guidance that adapts as life evolves.
Our advisers help you approach Junior ISA investing with clarity, confidence and a long-term perspective, tailored to your family’s goals.
If you’re looking to invest for a child’s future and make the most of tax-efficient savings, speak to one of our specialist advisers. We can help you understand your options, choose the right approach, and provide ongoing support to keep the Junior ISA on track as your child grows older.
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This could be as a cash JISA or stocks & shares JISA, or a blend of the two!
Capital at risk.
A Junior ISA is a tax-free account for long-term savings or investments, locked until the child turns 18. You can make contributions investing in cash or stocks and shares, giving more potential for long-term growth.
A children’s savings account is usually cash-based, may be taxable and can often be accessed before the child reaches 18. It offers flexibility but doesn’t provide the same tax advantages or investment opportunities as a JISA.
| Feature | JISA | Children’s savings account |
| Tax | Tax free | Usually taxable |
| Access | Locked until 18 | Often accessible earlier |
| Investments | Cash or stocks & shares | Usually cash only |
| Growth potential | Higher long-term growth | Limited to interest |
In the months leading up to your child’s 18th birthday, they’ll receive correspondence from the JISA provider informing them of the account. Once the child turns 18, the JISA is converted into an ISA in their name. They can then either keep it where it is or transfer it to another provider.
Only parents and guardians of a child can open a JISA on their behalf. However, deposits can be made by others, e.g. other family members, as long as the amounts don’t exceed the annual allowance.
You can open a Junior ISA for any child from birth up to the age of 18. At the ages of 16 and 17, the child can open their own Junior ISA.
Although the child can take control of the JISA from their 16th birthday, they cannot access their savings until they turn 18.
An Individual Savings Account (ISA) with an annual allowance of £20,000 per year can also be opened from the age of 18.
No. This is your child’s money and can only be accessed by them once they turn 18.
As with adult ISAs, you can have a cash JISA as well as a stocks & shares JISA. However, the allowance of £9,000 is per child, which means you can invest as much as you want in either account as long as the combined annual contribution doesn’t go over £9,000.
Yes, you can transfer to another JISA provider. You can also change from cash to a stocks & shares JISA and vice versa.
Currently, you can invest up to £9,000 per child per year into either a cash or a stocks & shares JISA, or a combination of the two.
No. The Junior ISA annual allowance is set at £9,000 and will remain unchanged until at least April 2031 under current Government plans announced in the 2025 Autumn Budget. It’s important to note that while some adult ISA rules (like the cash ISA annual allowance for under 65s) are changing from April 2027, these reforms do not affect the Junior ISA allowance.
Cash Junior ISAs usually have no ongoing fees, while stocks & shares JISAs typically charge a small annual account fee plus fund management fees. Fees can reduce overall growth, so it’s important to check costs before investing. Your adviser will go through any fees with you before you commit, so you know exactly what costs you’ll need to pay.
