
Paying tax on interest from a savings account
If you earn interest from a savings account, you need to pay tax on that interest at the same rate as the rest of your annual taxable income.
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An ISA (individual savings account) is a great way to save your money in a tax-free savings account. Across the different types of ISAs, adults (18+) have a tax-free allowance of £20,000, while junior ISAs now have an allowance of £9,000.
We’ve looked into the latest stocks and shares ISA statistics to see how the UK is utilising these tax-free accounts.
The number of adult stocks and shares ISAs reached 2.9 million accounts in 2017–2018. However, the number of accounts dropped by 445,000 in 2018–2019 to 2.4 million. This means that less than 5% of British adults are currently utilising a stocks and shares ISA.
Year | Number of accounts subscribed (million) |
---|---|
2008–09 | 2.960 |
2009–10 | 3.011 |
2010–12 | 3.387 |
2011–12 | 2.863 |
2012–13 | 2.924 |
2013–14 | 2.992 |
2014–15 | 2.711 |
2015–16 | 2.539 |
2016–17 | 2.589 |
2017–18 | 2.869 |
2018–19 | 2.424 |
Older generations are far more likely to put money in stocks and shares ISAs for men and women. For example, there are almost the same amount of people over the age of 65 with a stocks and shares ISA than those under 45 (740,000 vs 777,000). Across all ages, there were more men than women invested in stocks and shares ISAs.
Men subscribing to stocks and shares ISAs | Women subscribing to stocks and shares ISAs | |
---|---|---|
Under 25 | 60,000 | 36,000 |
25–34 | 188,000 | 89,000 |
35–44 | 240,000 | 164,000 |
45–54 | 360,000 | 302,000 |
55–64 | 370,000 | 321,000 |
65 and over | 385,000 | 355,000 |
The number of people with stocks and shares ISA differs across the UK. The South East is the region with the largest number of stocks and shares ISAs, with 522,000 accounts. Following this, was London (435,000), East of England (294,000), the South West (288,000) and the North West (262,000). Northern Ireland had the lowest number of stocks and shares ISA subscriptions out of the UK (51,000), followed by the North East (83,000).
Region | Number of accounts |
---|---|
North East | 83,000 |
North West and Merseyside | 262,000 |
Yorkshire and the Humber | 196,000 |
East Midlands | 183,000 |
West Midlands | 204,000 |
East of England | 294,000 |
London | 435,000 |
South East | 522,000 |
South West | 288,000 |
Wales | 105,000 |
Scotland | 235,000 |
Northern Ireland | 51,000 |
Brits have £23 billion invested in stocks and shares ISAs in 2018–2019. This is down £5 billion from the high of £28 billion in 2017–2018. However, despite this drop, this is still the second-highest amount subscribed to stocks and shares ISAs and is up 133% since 2008–2009.
Year | Amounts subscribed (£ billion) |
---|---|
2008–09 | 9.711 |
2009–10 | 12.542 |
2010–12 | 15.515 |
2011–12 | 15.546 |
2012–13 | 16.459 |
2013–14 | 18.439 |
2014–15 | 22.288 |
2015–16 | 21.129 |
2016–17 | 22.325 |
2017–18 | 27.786 |
2018–19 | 22.618 |
The average amount invested in adult stocks and shares ISAs in the UK per account is currently at £9,331, the second-highest amount since 2008. The average amount subscribers have put into their stocks and shares ISAs has almost tripled since 2008. However, the average amount invested by stocks and shares ISA subscribers is down from 2017–2018, where it reached an all-time high of £9,685.
Year | Average subscription per account (£) |
---|---|
2008–09 | 3,281 |
2009–10 | 4,165 |
2010–12 | 4,581 |
2011–12 | 5,431 |
2012–13 | 5,629 |
2013–14 | 6,163 |
2014–15 | 8,221 |
2015–16 | 8,322 |
2016–17 | 8,623 |
2017–18 | 9,685 |
2018–19 | 9,331 |
Since their inception in November 2011, the number of junior ISA stocks and shares accounts has been steadily increasing. After a slight dip in 2016–2017, the number of junior stock and shares ISAs have bounced back with 271,000 accounts open in 2017–2018. In 2018-2019 the number of junior stocks and shares ISAs hit an all-time high, with 286,000 accounts now open.
Year | Number of accounts subscribed |
---|---|
2012–13 | 92,000 |
2013–14 | 122,000 |
2014–15 | 145,000 |
2015–16 | 241,000 |
2016–17 | 225,000 |
2017–18 | 271,000 |
2018–19 | 286,000 |
The total amount invested in junior stocks and shares ISAs hit an all-time high in 2018–2019, with £419 million in accounts. This is more than four times more than in 2012–2013 where only £99 million was invested in junior stocks and shares ISAs.
Year | Amounts subscribed (£ million) |
---|---|
2012–13 | 99 |
2013–14 | 147 |
2014–15 | 177 |
2015–16 | 399 |
2016–17 | 333 |
2017–18 | 385 |
2018–19 | 419 |
The average amount per account has dropped from £1,656 in 2015–2016, to £1,465 in 2018–2019. However, the average amount invested in junior stocks and shares ISAs has increased by 36% from 2012. Explore the graphs and tables below for more insights.
Year | Average subscription per account (£) |
---|---|
2012–13 | 1,075 |
2013–14 | 1,208 |
2014–15 | 1,221 |
2015–16 | 1,656 |
2016–17 | 1,480 |
2017–18 | 1,421 |
2018–19 | 1,465 |
If you earn interest from a savings account, you need to pay tax on that interest at the same rate as the rest of your annual taxable income.
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