The end of the tax year is a quieter deadline than most — but missing it can cost a basic-rate taxpayer hundreds of pounds in foregone tax-free interest. Here's how to use your allowance well, even if you've left it late.
You have an Individual Savings Account allowance every tax year, and you can pay in up to £20,000 of new money. The catch: it doesn’t roll over. Whatever you don’t use by midnight on 5 April is gone for good — and for many savers, that quietly means missing out on hundreds of pounds in tax-free interest.
Putting it into practice
The theory is one thing — applying it is another. Here are a few common situations and how the points above tend to play out in real-life saving decisions.
- Match the term to the goal — money for next year shouldn’t be in a 5-year bond.
- Use your tax-free allowance first when rates are similar.
- Don’t leave matured money in a holding account longer than it takes to give instructions.
A small adjustment in habits often produces a much bigger return than chasing the very best rate.
0:30
| Account type | Notice period | Indicative rate |
|---|---|---|
| Easy access | None | 4.10% AER |
| 120-day notice | 120 days | 4.65% AER |
| 1-year fixed | Locked 12 months | 4.80% AER |
The best account is the one that fits the saver — not the one that tops the league tables.
Sarah Watkins, Head of Savings
What to do next
If you’re reviewing your savings setup, start by listing each pot, its purpose and its time horizon. Match each to the right account type, then look at rates within that account type — not across them.
Most savers find one or two simple adjustments rebalance their setup and lift their effective rate by more than chasing the latest best-buy table.
