Maximising Your Tax-Free Benefits with the Best ISA Rates for over 50s

  • Added:
    Dec 21, 2013
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Retirement
Retirement
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Individual savings accounts, or ISAs, are an excellent option for anyone wanting to boost savings. They work in almost the same way as a regular savings account, with the exception that any interest you earn is tax free.

You won't pay any income tax on the interest you earn. You also won't pay any capital gains tax on your interest earnings. If your goal is to increase your retirement savings, an ISA could be a great option for you.

Anyone over the age of 16 can open an ISA. However, you'll find some of the best ISA rates for over 50s are often more attractive than those offered for younger account holders.

Cash ISA or Stocks and Shares ISA

Everyone in the UK has an ISA allowance each year of up to £10,680. However, if you're depositing funds into a Cash ISA you are limited to a maximum of £5,340, while the remainder of your annual allocation can be invested into a stocks and shares ISA.

Keep in mind that there will be an element of risk with a Stocks and Shares ISA as compared to a Cash ISA. The interest you earn on a Cash ISA may give you a lower return initially, but it's still a guaranteed return.

By comparison, the returns offered on Stocks and Shares ISAs are highly dependent on fluctuations in the share market. It's possible the value of the stocks and shares your ISA has invested in could decrease. Of course, if the value of those equities increases, it's also possible your returns could end up better than those you received on your Cash ISA. It's important to determine your level of risk aversion and risk tolerance before choosing an ISA to suit your needs.

Deposit Your Allocation Early

If you have the funds available, deposit your entire annual tax-free allocation as early as possible. You'll earn more interest overall by depositing a lump sum early than you would by depositing smaller amounts throughout the year.

If you wish to continue saving over and above the annual tax-free allocation limit, you can always open a regular savings account and keep your money there. The interest you earn won't be tax-free in a regular savings account, but you may be able to transfer your cash into an ISA as a lump sum the following year to make the most of any extra money you've saved.

Savings Account or Cash ISA?

If you're comparing the interest rates available, you may notice that some savings accounts offer higher rates than those offered on Cash ISAs. While you may earn a little more interest by putting your money in a regular savings account, you aren't getting the tax benefits.

By comparison, putting your money into a Cash ISA allows you to take advantage of not paying any tax on the interest you earn. The marginally higher interest rate on a regular savings account may earn you more initially, but don't forget you'll be paying tax on any interest earnings.

You can still top up your savings using a regular savings account. Just be sure you're maximising the tax-free interest you can earn whenever possible.

Regular Contributions

Not everyone has the available cash to deposit the entire annual allocation in a lump sum right away. If you're still building up your savings and want to take advantage of tax-free interest earnings, you can set up an automated savings plan.

Many banks will let you arrange an electronic direct credit from your regular bank account to your cash ISA. You can nominate how much you want to pay into your savings each week or fortnight to top up your savings balance over time.

If you're serious about really taking advantage of the best ISA rates for over 50s, you need to spend some time comparing the potential amount of interest you can earn on your savings. Shop around and make sure you're getting a competitive interest rate on your savings and see if there are ways to maximise the interest you earn on your cash. Work out the tax-free component and compare the different accounts available before making your decision.

Author's Profile

Lee Master-son the author of this article recommends to his readers looking for further information on ISA's to visit the uSwitch.com website http://www.uswitch.com/savings-isa/cash-isa/ for further information


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