Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an estimate of the number and demographic profile of savers impacted by the reduction in the annual cash ISA allowance; and whether she plans to introduce alternative saving and investment incentives.

ISAs incentivise saving and investment by providing generous tax advantages to individual taxpayers. Individuals can save up to £20,000 into an ISA each year, and any savings income received within an ISA is tax free. In addition, due to the Personal Savings Allowance and the Starting Rate for Savings, in 2025-26 around 85 per cent of people with savings income will pay no tax on that income.

This policy will affect those aged under 65 from April 2027, but the overall Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) limit will remain at £20,000 for all savers when the annual Cash ISA limit is set at £12,000. Savers can still use stocks and shares ISAs beyond the £12,000 up to £20,000. It will not affect existing cash ISA savings.

A policy costing note for the package of measures was published alongside the Budget, including the changes to the ISA regime. Following a technical consultation, new ISA regulations will be laid, and a Tax Impact and Information Note will be published in the spring.

After around 800,000 savers aged 65 and above are carved-out, these changes will affect around 16% of Cash ISA subscribers, and around 12% of all ISA subscribers. This means around 1.3 million people are impacted by these changes.