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  3. Junior ISAs

Junior ISA FAQs

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How do I change my contact or address details?

Simply log in to your online account and go to the ‘Update my details’ area, where your current contact details will be displayed and can be updated.

Can I open a Junior ISA before a child is born?

No – the Junior ISA can only be opened after the child is born. But if you’d like to receive our information and application pack ready for when the child is born, please use our Request a pack page.

Can I transfer a Junior ISA to another Junior ISA provider?

Yes – to transfer an existing Junior ISA to us, please complete the  PDF file: Junior ISA transfer form PDF size: 91KB   and send it back to us – we’ll do the rest.

Please bear in mind that it normally takes up to two weeks, but could take longer. Your existing provider may charge you a fee for the transfer. Whilst your ISA transfer is taking place you won’t benefit from any rise in the markets so you could lose some growth.

If you wish to transfer your Junior ISA from us to another provider you'll need to contact the provider for their transfer process.

How many Junior ISAs can a child have?

Each eligible child can have one cash Junior ISA and one stocks and shares Junior ISA at any time. If the child is invested in both versions, it is up to the registered contact to ensure they remain within the annual Junior ISA limit.

What types of Junior ISA can my child have?

There are two types of Junior ISA available:

  • A stocks and shares Junior ISA – invests in the stock market.
  • A cash Junior ISA – earns interest, like a savings account.

You can save the full allowance in one type of Junior ISA or, by splitting the allowance, you can use both types.

Legal & General Investments only offers a stocks and shares Junior ISA.

Who can pay into a Junior ISA?

Anyone can contribute to a Junior ISA once it’s set up, as long as the total contributions from all parties don’t exceed the annual allowance. To make a contribution all you’ll need to provide is the child’s:

  • name,
  • client number, and
  • post code.

Can I transfer money in a Child Trust Fund into a Junior ISA?

Yes – from 6 April 2015 the rules changed to allow the transfer of Child Trust Funds (CTFs) to Junior ISAs. Once you have transferred from a CTF to a Junior ISA it permanently becomes a Junior ISA and cannot be switched back to a CTF.

To transfer a CTF to us, please complete the  PDF file: Junior ISA transfer form PDF size: 91KB  and send it back to us – we’ll do the rest.

Please bear in mind that it normally takes up to two weeks, but could take longer. Whilst your transfer is taking place you won’t benefit from any rise in the markets so you could lose some growth.

Who can make decisions about the Junior ISA?

The registered contact is the only person allowed to make decisions regarding the management of a Junior ISA.

What are the minimum amounts I can invest to set up a Junior ISA with you?

The minimum investment for our Junior ISA is £20 a month by direct debit or £100 as a lump sum.

What role does the registered contact play?

The registered contact is the only person allowed to make decisions regarding the management of a Junior ISA.

Who is eligible for a Junior ISA?

Junior ISAs are available to children who:

  • are under the age of 18
  • do not have a Child Trust Fund account
  • are resident in the UK, or dependants of a crown servant

Are there minimum investment amounts into each of the funds?

As long as you invest the minimum amounts for the Junior ISA, you can split the investment across our funds however you like.

Are the annual savings allowances the same for Child Trust Funds and Junior ISAs?

Yes – the savings entitlements are the same for Child Trust Funds (CTFs) and Junior ISAs. However, the annual allowance for Junior ISAs runs in line with the tax year (6 April to 5 April the following year), not the child’s birthday as with CTFs.

Does a child have to have both their Junior ISAs with the same company?

No – you can hold a cash Junior ISA with one company and a stocks and shares Junior ISA with a different one.

Can I split a regular contribution across a range of funds?

Any regular contributions will be split across the funds already held in the Junior ISA, matching the existing proportions. Only the registered contact can select or change the funds held within the Junior ISA.

What do you mean by 'parental responsibility'?

The definition of this is someone with the rights and duties of a parent for the child.

Who can open a Junior ISA on behalf of a child?

You can only open a Junior ISA on behalf of an eligible child if you are the Legal Guardian (a parent or someone with parental responsibility) for that child. This person becomes the registered contact for the account.

A child aged between 16 and 18 can open a Junior ISA for themselves. They would become the registered contact in this case.

What’s the minimum amount I can contribute to an existing Junior ISA with you?

  • New monthly contributions – from as little as £20 a month by direct debit.
  • Existing direct debit – you can increase this by £1 or more.
  • Lump sum top-ups – from £100.

What happens if I change my mind after opening a Junior ISA?

We’ll send a notice of the rights to cancel to the registered contact as soon as we accept their application. The registered contact has 14 days to cancel the investment by writing to us, if they change their mind.

We’ll refund all the charges we’ve deducted. However, this might not be the full amount invested if the value of the units has fallen. Full details are included in our Investment Account, ISA and Junior ISA terms and conditions PDF size: 215KB.

Who chooses the funds the Junior ISA invests in?

Only the registered contact is allowed to make decisions regarding the management of a Junior ISA.

Can I transfer a Junior ISA to another means of saving?

No – the money invested in a Junior ISA is locked away until the child’s 18th birthday, at which point they’ll have the option to remain invested with an adult ISA, or take some or all of the money.

If you invest with us remember you’ll always have the option to switch to another fund if the market or your needs change. You also have the option to transfer the money to another Junior ISA provider.

Does the transfer value of a Child Trust Fund count towards the Junior ISA annual allowance?

No – the value of the Child Trust Fund you transfer will not count towards the Junior ISA allowance for the tax year in which you make the transfer.

When can the money be accessed?

The money will be held in a Junior ISA until the child’s 18th birthday unless there are exceptional circumstances. These are detailed in our Investment Account, ISA and Junior ISA terms and conditions PDF size: 215KB.   

Can I split my child’s savings across both a Child Trust Fund and a Junior ISA?

No – you can only transfer a Child Trust Fund (CTF) to a Junior ISA in full, it is not possible to split the amount between a CTF and a Junior ISA.

Can I transfer existing savings into a Junior ISA?

You can use the money in other accounts to fund a Junior ISA, but there is no specific direct transfer process.

Can I open a Junior ISA for my child if they already have a Child Trust Fund?

No - a child is eligible for one or the other of these initiatives. However, it is now possible to transfer an existing Child Trust Fund into a Junior ISA. Visit our Transfer a Junior ISA to us  page for more information.

How is a Junior ISA different from an adult ISA?

It’s tax-efficient like all ISAs, but a Junior ISA is different because it allows adults to save for, and invest on behalf of, a child. Other differences include a lower yearly allowance and you can't normally take cash from a Junior ISA until the child turns 18.

By investing in a Junior ISA, your child will benefit from not having to pay personal income tax or capital gains tax on any profit the investment makes. Please bear in mind that the tax assumptions we’ve used are those currently relevant, but tax laws can change over time which could affect investments. The value of the tax benefit will depend on individual circumstances.

Can I be the registered contact on more than one Junior ISA account?

Yes – as long you’re the legal guardian for the child then you can be the registered contact for their Junior ISA. You can also be the registered contact for your own Junior ISA if you're aged between 16 and 18.

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