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  1. Investments
  2. Stocks and Shares ISA

Stocks and Shares ISA

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What is a Stocks and Shares ISA?

‘ISA’ stands for Individual Savings Account, and it’s a tax-efficient way to invest your money. While you’d pay tax on interest from a savings account, an ISA lets you keep all the gains. As a result, your investment pot could have a better chance to grow. 


A Stocks and Shares ISA invests in funds, unit trusts, bonds and shares in companies. You can decide the exact make-up of your ISA, and change it whenever you like.

If you’re willing to take some risk with your money, Stocks and Shares ISAs have the potential to offer higher returns than Cash ISAs.

Please note the value of investments - and the income from them - can go down as well as up, meaning you may get back less than you invest. This information is based on our understanding of existing tax legislation which may change in the future.

How much can I invest in an ISA?

This tax year, you can invest up to £20,000 into an ISA. This is the ISA allowance set by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Up to £20,000

Our Stocks and Shares ISA with Healthy Fee Saver

  • Easy to start

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    Open a plan with as little as £50 a month, or a lump sum of at least £1,500. You can apply online in minutes.

  • Easy to manage

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    Stop, start, increase or decrease regular contributions, and pay in lump sums at any time. Login to Member Zone to view and manage your investment.

  • Take money out anytime

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    Take money out and add it back in the same tax year without affecting your annual ISA allowance.

  • Hassle-free transfers

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    Just tell us how much you want to transfer and we’ll do the rest. Transfers don’t affect your £20,000 annual ISA allowance for this tax year.

How is our Stocks and Shares ISA with Healthy Fee Saver different?

Our Stocks and Shares ISA is a unique investment plan that includes our Healthy Fee Saver. The Healthy fee Saver incorporates:

The Vitality Programme 
Opening a plan with us gives you automatic access to our Vitality Programme at no extra cost. It’s designed to help you take steps towards a healthier future and rewards you with real financial benefits. It also includes discounts on travel, coffee, hotels, trainers and much more. Learn more about the Vitality Programme.

Healthy Living Discount
Through our Healthy Living Discount, the more you look after your health, the lower your product charge can be – as little as zero every year, when you invest in Vitality funds and reach Platinum Vitality Status. This helps you keep more of your money invested and gives you the best chance of meeting your long-term savings goals.
Learn more about the Healthy Living Discount.
See what your ISA could be worth
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A world of funds from leading investment managers

We’ve partnered with three leading investment managers to offer you a range of Vitality funds, catering to a range of risk levels. Each is designed to help you grow your ISA.
Vanguard, SEI and Ninety One logos
Plus, we offer a range of over 500 funds from other well-known providers.

What are our ISA charges?

The cost of investing with us is clear, with no surprises. There’s no charge for opening a plan, but there is for the ongoing management of your ISA:

Product charge - starts from 0.45%p.a and is for administering your plan. It’s tiered so the more you invest, the less the charge rate you pay. And with the Healthy Living Discount you could reduce the product charge. In fact, you might not have to pay one at all.

Fund charge - for the ongoing management of the funds you choose.

For more details please read:
VitalityInvest ISA Plan Summary
Terms and Conditions
Charges Schedule
Read more on our charges

Transfer an ISA to us

Transferring your Stocks and Shares ISA or Cash ISA to our VitalityInvest ISA is easy. All you need to do is open an ISA online and let us know how much you’d like to transfer. You’ll then have the opportunity to pay less to invest – or nothing at all with our Healthy Living Discount.
Transfer an ISA to us
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A few things to consider before you start

If you’re opening a VitalityInvest ISA without taking financial advice, please remember that:
  • Returns on your investment aren’t guaranteed
  • A Stocks and Shares ISA is a long-term investment: at least five years
  • To open an ISA you must be at least 18 years old and a UK resident, as defined by Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
  • You’ll be opening and managing your ISA online
  • The value of your ISA may go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invest

Stocks and Shares ISA FAQs

Do you pay tax on a Stocks and Shares ISA?

No, ISAs are a tax-free way to invest. Whilst your ISA remains invested, there is no tax to pay so HMRC doesn’t require you to give them any information about it - we do that on your behalf.

Can you withdraw money from a Stocks and Shares ISA?

You can take some or all of your money out at any time, without charge, and it won’t be taxed. Our Stocks and Shares ISA is a flexible ISA, so you can take out money then put it back later in the same tax year - without reducing your current year’s allowance.

Can I open a Cash ISA and a Stocks and Shares ISA in the same year?

You can open both a cash ISA and a Stocks and Shares ISA in the same tax year – however the total amount invested in both ISAs cannot exceed £20,000.

Can I change the funds in my ISA?

Yes, you can do this any time you like. Just login to Member Zone and manage your investment online.

Why might a Stocks and Shares ISA be better than a Cash ISA?

Stocks and Shares ISAs invest your money in funds, unit trusts, bonds and shares in companies. So, if you’re willing to take some risk with your money, and invest over the long term, they have the potential to earn you higher returns than Cash ISAs.

Who can open a Stocks and Shares ISA?

To open an ISA you must be:
• Resident in the UK. Or, if you don’t live in the UK, you must be a Crown servant (for example diplomatic or overseas civil service) or their spouse or civil partner
• Age 18 or over

You can’t hold an ISA with, or on behalf of another adult. But you can open a Junior ISA (JISA) for a child under 18.

Is there a minimum amount I need to open an ISA with?

There’s no legal lower limit, but different ISA providers ask for different minimum amounts. The minimum amount to open a VitalityInvest ISA is £50 per month, or a single payment of £1,500.

How much can I pay into ISAs?

Currently, each tax year you can pay up to £20,000 into ISAs. That’s the ISA allowance set by Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC). 

What makes a Stocks and Shares ISA tax-efficient?

As long as the investments are kept within an ISA, you don’t have to pay income tax or capital gains tax on the growth of those investments. Any dividends received in the ISA won’t impact your personal dividend allowance.

What if I accidentally pay too much into my ISA?

Don’t worry, HMRC will notice this has happened and contact you. The ISA provider will then return the excess amount to you. But if you spot the error first, you can contact HMRC and let them know.

What's meant by 'flexible ISA'?

A flexible ISA allows you to stop, start, increase or decrease contributions, and withdraw money, whenever you like. It also means you can take money out, then put it back later in the same tax year - without charge, and without reducing your current year’s ISA allowance.

How does a Vitality ISA work?

Once you've read and understood the risks and benefits of investing, you can apply in minutes. Then, once we receive your money, we’ll get your ISA up and running straight away. You can make regular payments by Direct Debit, or make single contributions by bank transfer. We can also accept transfers of your existing ISAs from other providers.

Can I set up an ISA for my child?

Yes, you can. It’s called a Junior ISA (JISA), and you can open one as long as:

• You’re the child’s parent or legal guardian
• The child is under 18
• The child doesn’t have a Child Trust Fund (if they do have a CTF, you can open a Junior ISA provided that you transfer the full CTF)
• Your child is a resident of the UK

Currently, you can pay up to £9,000 into a Junior ISA each tax year, and the child can only access the money when they turn 18.

Find out more about Junior ISAs.

Please note, to open a VitalityInvest Junior ISA, you must be resident in the UK. Or, if you don’t live in the UK, you must be a Crown servant (for example diplomatic or overseas civil service) or their spouse or civil partner.

What happens to my ISA if I move abroad?

You won’t be able to put money into the ISA after the tax year in which you move (unless you’re a Crown employee working overseas or their spouse or civil partner). But you can keep your ISA open and you’ll still get UK tax relief on it. You must tell your ISA provider as soon as you stop being a UK resident. If you return and become a UK resident again, you can start paying into your ISA again.

If I die, what happens to my ISA?

Your ISA can be transferred to your spouse or civil partner, or anyone else you name in your will, if you’ve made one.

It’ll stay open until either your executor closes it or the administration of your estate is completed. If neither of these things happens within three years and one day of your death, your ISA provider will close the ISA. There’ll be no income tax or capital gains tax to pay up to that date, but ISA investments will form part of your estate for the purposes of inheritance tax.

For the exact details it’s best to check the terms and conditions of your ISA for details.

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1Source: The Investment Association/Mintel October 2017
2Source: HM Revenue and Customs Individual Savings Account (ISA) Statistics, August 2018

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