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What is a Junior ISA?

What is a Junior ISA?

A Junior ISA is a tax-free savings and investment account for children under 18. You can invest up to £9,000 per tax year per child, and all gains and income are completely free from UK tax.


IG offers a Stocks & Shares Junior ISA only and does not offer a Cash Junior ISA. However, interest is paid on uninvested cash at the same rate as IG’s General Investment Account (GIA) and ISA accounts.

Note:
IG currently accepts Junior ISA applications only for children under 14 years old. Once opened, the account continues to operate normally until the child turns 18.

The value of investments can fall as well as rise, and you may get back less than you invest.


Who can apply?

A parent or legal guardian with an active IG account can apply for a Junior ISA.

The child must be:

  • Under 14 years old

  • A UK resident

Note:

  • Step-parents or foster carers can apply only if they are the child’s legal guardian

  • Children who are US nationals (including dual UK/US nationality) are not eligible


Can my child have more than one Junior ISA?

Yes — but there are limits set by HMRC.

Your child can hold:

  • One Cash Junior ISA, and

  • One Stocks & Shares Junior ISA

At the same time,

This means:

  • Your child can’t have two Cash Junior ISAs

  • Your child can’t have two Stocks & Shares Junior ISAs

  • Your child can have one Cash Junior ISA and one Stocks & Shares Junior ISA

What does this mean if you’re opening a Junior ISA with IG

IG offers Stocks & Shares Junior ISAs only.

  • If your child already has a Cash Junior ISA with another provider, you can still open a Stocks & Shares Junior ISA with IG.

  • If your child already has a Stocks & Shares Junior ISA with another provider, it must be closed before opening one with IG.

  • IG does not currently support Junior ISA transfers in.

How does the £9,000 Junior ISA allowance work?

Each child has a £9,000 Junior ISA allowance per tax year.

This allowance is:

  • Per child

  • Per tax year

  • Shared across all Junior ISAs your child holds (Cash and Stocks & Shares)

Examples

Example 1: One Junior ISA only
If your child has either a Cash Junior ISA or a Stocks & Shares Junior ISA, you can save or invest up to £9,000 in that account during the tax year.

Example 2: One Cash + one Stocks & Shares Junior ISA
If your child has both:

  • a Cash Junior ISA, and

  • a Stocks & Shares Junior ISA

The £9,000 allowance is shared across both accounts.

If you deposit £4,000 into the Cash Junior ISA, you can add up to £5,000 into the Stocks & Shares Junior ISA in the same tax year.

Can I open Junior ISAs for multiple children?

Yes. A parent or guardian can open multiple Junior ISAs with IG for different children.

All Junior ISAs can be:

  • Viewed from one parent account

  • Managed via MyIG

  • Shown as separate accounts on your dashboard

What documents are accepted as proof of guardianship?

The following documents are accepted:

  • Court order granting parental responsibility or legal guardianship

(e.g. Special Guardianship Order, Parental Responsibility Order, Child Arrangements Order)

  • Testamentary guardianship documentation (where applicable)

  • Certified court documents or Letters of Guardianship

Document verification typically takes 1–5 business days.

If the parent’s surname or address does not match the child’s details, the application may be placed in a pending state. In these cases, we’ll request a birth certificate or proof of guardianship. Instructions will be sent by email.

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