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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.

 




How do I apply?

The application takes less than a minute. 

  • Log in to your IG account 
  • Go to your dashboard 
  • Select 'Add account' 
  • Select 'Junior ISA' 
  • Enter your child's details

 

Note:

  • You must already have an active IG account
  • Junior ISAs cannot be opened via the new customer application form
  • Applications via the IG Trading or IG Invest mobile apps are not currently available

 



What are the Fees and charges?


Fee type

Cost

Account opening

£0

Trading commission

£0

FX charge

0.70%

Annual management fee

£0

Custody fee

£0

Inactivity fee

£0

Transfer out fee

£0


 


 Trading fees are the same as for GIA and ISA accounts.
 As of 29 January 2026, trading commission is £0 and FX charges are 0.70%.

For more information of fees and charges please visit What are IG's share dealing and ISA charges and fees? - IG UK
 

How do I fund the Junior ISA?

You can fund the account using:

  • Debit card
  • Apple Pay
  • Transfers from other IG accounts

Bank transfers and Pay by Bank can be used to fund another IG account first, then transferred to the Junior ISA.


 What is the minimum deposit?

The minimum deposit required to open a Junior ISA is £1. This is the same as for GIA and ISA accounts.
 Funds typically appear in your Junior ISA in the same timeframe as other card payments.

 

What interest rate is paid?

Interest in uninvested cash is paid at the same rate as GIA and ISA accounts.

  • Rate as of 29 January 2026: 3.75%
  • Interest is paid monthly, typically in the first few business days of the month
  • Standard terms and conditions apply


What can I invest in?

You can trade stocks and ETFs across:

  • UK
  • US
  • Europe
  • Australia

Note: 

  • No minimum investment for UK, US, or EU stocks
  • Minimum investment of A$90 for Australian stocks
  • ISA-style restrictions apply (e.g. ADRs are not eligible)
  • To trade US stocks, the parent or legal guardian must sign a W-8 BEN form on behalf of the child

 

 

Can I transfer a Junior ISA to IG from another provider?

No. IG does not currently support transfers in. We are working to build this functionality, but there is no defined timeline that can be communicated.

Can I transfer a Junior ISA from IG to another provider?

Yes. Details are available at: https://www.ig.com/uk/help-and-support/investments-c4a66529/transferring-investments-ec45c117/how-do-i-transfer-my-shares-or-isas-from-ig-to-another-b-fcf51a8e

The process and form required to initiate a Junior ISA transfer out is the same as for ISAs.

How long does a transfer out take?

Cash transfers generally take 15 business days. The standard industry guideline is up to 30 calendar days for stock transfers from when the receiving provider submits the transfer request to IG. In practice, most transfers complete within 2–3 weeks if all documentation is correct and there are no complications.

There are no fees for transferring a Junior ISA out of IG.

How is a Junior ISA taxed and reported?

  • A Junior ISA does not need to be reported on the parent’s tax return.
  • An annual statement can be accessed through IG's portal, the same as for an ISA or GIA. 
  • Capital gains on a Junior ISA are not subject to tax.

Please note: Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may be subject to change in future.



What happens as the child gets older?

when the child turns 14:

Nothing changes. IG limits the application age to under 14. The Junior ISA continues to operate normally after the child turns 14.

when the child turns 18:

The Junior ISA is automatically converted into a Stocks & Shares ISA in the child’s name

 

  • The child is notified when they turn 18, not before. Notification is sent by letter to the registered address.
  • To access the ISA, the child (now an adult) must complete KYC (Know Your Customer) verification. This follows IG’s standard KYC process and may involve providing a National Insurance number or proof of identity.
  • Until KYC is completed, investments remain in place and continue to accrue returns. The account typically becomes view-only, with no new contributions or withdrawals permitted.

 

 

How do various Life events impact Junior ISA?



Moving abroad

The Junior ISA can remain open and continue to be managed. No new contributions can be made once the child is no longer a UK resident.


Parent or guardian death

The account continues. A surviving parent with parental responsibility or a court-appointed guardian can become the new registered contact. Required documents include a death certificate and proof of parental responsibility.

 

Divorce

The registered contact retains control of the Junior ISA unless a court order specifies otherwise.

 

Child’s death

The account is closed and funds are paid to the child's estate (typically parents or guardians) upon receipt of a death certificate.

 

 


Additional FAQs


  

Why do I need to sign a W-8 BEN form?

The W-8 BEN form allows customers to pay lower tax on US dividends (15% vs. 30%). The parent or legal guardian signs the W-8 BEN form on behalf of the child in order to trade US stocks.


  

Can I trade fractional shares?

No. Fractional shares are not available in a Junior ISA. This is the same as for GIA and ISA accounts.


  

Can I set up recurring investments?

No. Recurring or automatic investments in a Junior ISA are not available. This is the same as for GIA and ISA accounts.


  

What happens to dividends?

Dividends are deposited into the account as cash. Dividends are not automatically reinvested. This is the same as for GIA and ISA accounts.


  

Are price alerts available?

Yes. Price alerts are available for Junior ISA investments.


  

Can grandparents or others fund the Junior ISA?

Yes. However, IG does not yet have a dedicated journey for this. Third parties transfer funds to the parent, who can then deposit to the account.


  

Can I set up recurring deposits?

No. Regular or recurring direct debits into a Junior ISA are not available. This is the same as for GIA and ISA accounts.


  

Can I transfer funds out of the Junior ISA?

Funds cannot be transferred from a Junior ISA to another IG account. Once deposited to the Junior ISA, the funds are in the child's name and cannot be transferred out. Customers can transfer to another Junior ISA provider.

Withdrawals are only permitted in exceptional circumstances as defined by HMRC regulations (terminal illness or death of the child). For more information, see HMRC guidance on Junior ISA withdrawals.

Funds can be transferred from other IG accounts to the Junior ISA.


  

How can I manage the Junior ISA?

The Junior ISA can be funded, invested in, and managed through MyIG or the IG Trading mobile app. Customers cannot currently manage their Junior ISA through IG Invest.


  

Can I view the Junior ISA on my dashboard?

Yes. The Junior ISA appears as another account on MyIG.


  

Can I download statements?

Yes. The same reports available for GIA and ISA accounts can be downloaded for the Junior ISA.


  

Is two-factor authentication available?

The Junior ISA uses the same login as other IG accounts. If two-factor authentication is enabled on the main account, it applies to the Junior ISA as well. 


  

Can the child access the account before turning 18?

The child can request access to manage the Junior ISA when they turn 18. The child cannot withdraw any funds until they are 18.


  

Can I change the registered contact?

Yes. The new registered contact needs to have an active IG account and submit a birth certificate or proof of guardianship to IG.


 

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