Lifetime Individual Savings Accounts (LISAs)
The best of all savings wrappers?
The facts (2021)
The same general idea as an ISA, but with different rules. Read ISAs first. Then:
- You must be aged 18-40 to open a LISA.
- The maximum annual contribution is £4,000, but this counts towards your annual ISA limit of £20,000.
- The government will donate 25% each year of whatever you have contributed.
- You can contribute to age 50
- You can withdraw without penalty at age 60
- You can also withdraw without penalty if
- You are terminally ill (less than 12 months to live)
- You are buying your first home for less than £450,000 (subject to a few other conditions)
- In all other circumstances you will pay a penalty of 25% of the amount withdrawn
HMRC summary here
Our view
If you are saving at all it is hard to find a case against a LISA, provided you qualify. It’s true that if you get caught with a withdrawal penalty you’ll turn a 25% gain from government into a small loss (about 6%). And you maybe able to avoid withdrawal by the creative use of the Bank of Mum & Dad (they lend you the money you need, you pay them back at maturity).
One warning. If you buy for just £1 over £450,000 you pay the 25% penalty on the full withdrawal amount. If it takes longer than you expected to reach your goal and/or house prices rise quicker than you expect your £300,000 dream home could quickly become unaffordable.
Note also the same caveats apply as for an ISA.
This particularly applies to charges. E.g. if charges are 1.1% per annum for the 32-year donation period that is enough to wipe out the whole effect of the government contribution. I.e. the charges have taken 25% of the fund. It is the magic of compound interest. So use a stockbroker or platform that charges a flat fee and avoid expensive funds.