Saving & Investing

See how your ISA allowance could grow tax-free.

Estimate the future value of a Cash ISA or Stocks & Shares ISA, see how much of the annual ISA allowance you use and understand how much remains available.

2026/27 ISA allowance Tax-free wrapper explained Plain-English results

ISA Calculator

Model your annual ISA subscriptions and potential tax-free growth.

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GOV.UK ISA rules checked 24 September 2026 Bank Rate example checked 24 September 2026

What determines how your ISA could grow?

The projected value is mainly shaped by how much is contributed, the growth or interest rate assumed and how long the money remains invested or saved.

Amount contributed

The more money held within the ISA, the larger the amount that can potentially earn interest or investment growth.

Growth or interest rate

The assumed rate affects how quickly the ISA balance could increase over time.

Time

A longer period gives interest or investment growth more opportunity to accumulate.

What the ISA wrapper changes

An ISA is a tax-efficient wrapper. It can hold eligible cash or investments, but it does not create the underlying return itself.

Money goes into an ISA

Eligible contributions are placed inside the ISA wrapper, subject to the applicable ISA rules and allowance.

It earns interest or investment growth

The underlying cash or investments determine how the value changes over time.

Growth remains inside the wrapper

Interest, gains or investment growth can accumulate within the ISA rather than becoming new contributions.

ISA tax treatment can affect what you retain

The wrapper can shelter eligible interest, income or gains from UK tax under the ISA rules.

An ISA does not create investment return or savings interest. It is a tax-efficient wrapper around eligible savings or investments.

Cash ISA and Stocks & Shares ISA are not the same thing

They can both sit inside the ISA system, but the underlying source of growth and the risks are different.

Cash ISA vs Stocks & Shares ISA →
Savings

Cash ISA

Normally earns savings interest. The balance itself does not fluctuate with investment markets.

Investing

Stocks & Shares ISA

Can hold investments whose value can rise or fall, so future returns are uncertain.

Tax wrapper

The ISA wrapper

Both can receive ISA tax treatment, but the wrapper does not make their underlying growth mechanics or risks the same.

The ISA allowance limits what you can contribute

The ISA allowance applies to subscriptions made during a tax year. Growth already inside the ISA is separate from the amount you contribute.

ISA Allowance Explained →

The allowance applies to contributions

It limits how much can be subscribed to eligible ISAs during the relevant tax year under the rules in force at that time.

Growth is different from contributions

Interest or investment growth generated inside the ISA does not normally count as a new subscription to the ISA.

ISA rules can change

Allowance amounts and other ISA rules are regulatory data and should always be checked against the current tax-year rules.

The calculator should illustrate the effect of the inputs entered rather than hard-code an allowance as a permanent editorial assumption.

An ISA is tax-efficient, not automatically better

The ISA wrapper can change the tax treatment of eligible savings or investments, but it does not guarantee growth or make an underlying product suitable for everyone.

The wrapper does not guarantee growth

An ISA can hold cash or investments, but its tax treatment does not determine the interest rate or investment return.

Investment values can fall

Where investments are held inside an ISA, their value may rise or fall and future returns are uncertain.

The tax advantage depends on what would otherwise be taxable

The practical value of ISA tax treatment can differ depending on the underlying return and the tax rules that would otherwise apply.

Use the calculator as an illustration of ISA growth assumptions, not as a recommendation to use a particular ISA, provider or investment.

Common questions about ISAs

These answers cover common questions that arise after modelling growth inside an ISA.

What does the ISA Calculator calculate?

It illustrates how money held within an ISA could grow over time using the contribution, rate and timeframe assumptions entered into the calculator.

What is an ISA?

An ISA is a UK tax-efficient wrapper that can hold eligible cash or investments. The wrapper affects tax treatment; the underlying cash or investments determine the actual return.

Does an ISA guarantee tax-free growth?

ISA tax treatment can shelter eligible interest, income and gains under the rules in force, but it does not guarantee that the underlying savings or investments will grow.

Is a Cash ISA the same as a Stocks & Shares ISA?

No. A Cash ISA normally earns savings interest, while a Stocks & Shares ISA can hold investments whose value can rise or fall.

Does ISA growth count towards the ISA allowance?

Growth generated inside an ISA does not normally count as a new subscription. The allowance applies to the amount contributed under the applicable tax-year rules.

Can I have more than one ISA?

It may be possible to hold more than one ISA, subject to the ISA rules in force. The dedicated ISA rules guides should be used for current detail.

What happens if I exceed the ISA allowance?

Exceeding the applicable subscription limit can create an ISA rules issue. The dedicated guide explains the current process and what to do next.

Can investments inside an ISA fall in value?

Yes. Investments held inside an ISA can rise or fall in value. ISA tax treatment does not remove investment risk.

What happens to an ISA at the end of the tax year?

Existing ISA holdings do not simply disappear at year end. Contribution rules operate by tax year, while money already held in an ISA can remain within the wrapper subject to the rules.

Is the ISA Calculator financial advice?

No. It is an educational illustration based on the assumptions entered and does not recommend a particular ISA, provider, investment or course of action.