Cash ISA alert as savers scramble to lock in allowance before limit cut - how to keep saving tax free

This represents the second-largest monthly influx outside the traditional April tax year rush since these accounts were first introduced.

The surge came as people sought to maximise their tax-free savings ahead of Budget measures that will reduce the annual cash ISA allowance to £12,000 for those under 65, effective from April 2027. Individuals aged 65 and above will retain the current £20,000 limit.

Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: "Savers showed their passion for cash ISAs in November, as concerns about the future of the annual allowance drove £5.1 billion into them."

Savers still have the current and next tax year to utilise the full £20,000 allowance before restrictions take effect.

While cash ISAs remain popular, they are not the only way to save tax efficiently once the new limits come into force.

For savers willing to look beyond traditional accounts, there are several alternatives that can still offer tax advantages, depending on how much risk and complexity they are prepared to accept.

One option is Premium Bonds, which pay prizes rather than interest. Any winnings from these products, run by NS&I, are completely free from tax, whether that is a £25 prize or the £1 million jackpot.

However, this route comes with caveats as the typical bondholder does not win a prize in an average month, meaning money held in Premium Bonds is likely to lose value in real terms once inflation is taken into account.

Ms Coles said that while regular winners benefit from the tax-free nature of prizes, most savers receive nothing at all, making the tax advantage largely irrelevant when there is no return to shelter.

Another tax-efficient option is Government bonds, known as gilts, which work very differently from cash savings. Gilts are loans to the UK government and their prices can rise and fall, while also paying interest.

Although the interest paid on gilts is taxable, any gain made when a gilt is bought below its maturity value and held until it matures is free from capital gains tax.

This means savers can potentially benefit from tax-free capital growth, even though the income itself is taxed.

Savers considering this route should calculate the effective return and compare it against post-tax savings interest rates. The commitment to holding until maturity is essential, and while the risk of the government defaulting on repayment is extremely low, it cannot be entirely discounted.

Offset mortgages may prove particularly attractive for additional rate taxpayers who face paying 47 per cent tax on savings interest once they have exhausted their reduced ISA allowance from April 2027.

These products pair a mortgage with a linked savings account, where the cash balance is deducted from the outstanding loan when calculating interest charges.

Savers receive no interest on their deposits, but the reduction in mortgage costs can outweigh this. However, the offset mortgage market remains relatively limited, resulting in less competitive rates.

One major high street lender currently offers a two-year tracker at 4.11 per cent, compared with 4.97 per cent for an equivalent offset product.

Whether the premium is worthwhile depends on individual tax rates, savings balances, and whether funds might be accessed during the mortgage term.

Fixed rate bonds offer another strategy for those approaching retirement, allowing savers to defer interest payments until a time when they may fall into a lower tax bracket.

Products paying interest annually suit those retiring within twelve months, while bonds that pay everything at maturity work better for those with several years remaining before they stop working.

Married couples and civil partners can also optimise their tax position by transferring savings between themselves without incurring tax charges. This enables both partners to utilise their personal savings allowances and ISA limits, with any remaining balance held by whichever spouse pays the lower rate.

For cash that will not be needed for five to ten years or longer, a stocks and shares ISA using the remaining allowance provides an alternative worth considering.