An ISA transfer lets you move money or investments from one ISA provider to another - without losing your tax-free allowance.
It’s a useful way to switch providers, consolidate your accounts, or move from a Cash ISA into a Stocks & Shares ISA — and it doesn’t count as a new ISA subscription*, as long as it’s done correctly.
*A new subscription is fresh money added from your bank account, whether this is in a new account or existing one
ISA transfer vs. new subscription
There are two ways to add money to an ISA:
- A new subscription is fresh money added from your bank account
- An ISA transfer moves existing ISA money between providers
Transfers help you make the most of your ISA allowance across different platforms, while keeping your tax benefits protected.
Read more about ISA allowances and limits here
Key rules and things to know
- You can transfer ISAs from previous or current tax years
- You can transfer a partial or full balance (depending on the provider)
- ISA transfers must be done directly between providers — don’t withdraw the funds yourself, or you could lose the tax benefits
- ISA transfers may have implications for your investments. Please consider all factors before deciding to transfer
See HMRC’s guidance on transferring your ISA
How long does a transfer take?
HMRC expects all ISA transfers to be completed within 30 days, but in practice, many transfers are completed more quickly. We’ll always work hard to transfer these as quickly as possible for you.
Timing depends on your current provider, the type of ISA you're transferring, and whether it’s a cash or in-specie transfer. If a delay happens, we’ll provide guidance and updates to help you track progress.
Read our step by step guide to transferring here
Transferring to InvestEngine
We currently support:
- Cash ISA transfers into our DIY, Managed, or LifePlan portfolios
*Currently, Managed and LifePlan portfolios are unavailable while we make updates. You can still invest through DIY portfolios, and we’ll notify clients when Managed portfolios are relaunched - Stocks & Shares ISA transfers, including from other investment providers
In-specie transfers (where available) into DIY portfolios only:
*Only supported for clients invested in ETFs
*If you hold other types of investments, these will need to be liquidated and transferred as cash- Flexible ISA top-ups — if you withdrew funds from a Flexible ISA earlier in the year, you can be able to replace them without affecting your allowance
What about transfers out?
InvestEngine currently only supports cash transfers out.
In-specie transfers out may be possible in certain cases, but you’ll need to contact us to discuss the details, as fractional ETF holdings and differing contributions (current year vs. previous year) may affect how the transfer can be executed.
Want to know more about transferring to other providers? Read here
Get started with your transfer
- Log in or set up your to your InvestEngine account
- Selecting Create portfolio or transfer
- Choosing Transfer an ISA and following the on-screen steps
For a full walkthrough, check out our transfer to InvestEngine guide