Help to Buy ISA & LISA Calculator 2024
Compare Help to Buy ISA and Lifetime ISA (LISA) for first-time buyers. Both give a 25% government bonus. LISA max: £1,000/year bonus. HTB-ISA max: £3,000 total bonus.
Your Savings Plan
ISA vs LISA Comparison
- Max £1,000 bonus per year
- Property up to £450,000
- Open before age 40
- Penalty if withdrawn early
- Closed to new applicants
- Max £3,000 total bonus
- Existing holders until Nov 2029
- Bonus at completion only
Come utilizzare Help to Buy ISA & LISA Calculator
Help to Buy ISA vs LISA
Help to Buy ISA is closed to new applicants (Dec 2019). Existing holders can use it until Nov 2029. The Lifetime ISA (LISA) is the modern alternative — £4,000/year, 25% bonus up to £1,000/year.
Enter your monthly savings
LISA maximum is £333.33/month (£4,000/year). Help to Buy ISA maximum was £200/month. Enter how much you plan to save each month.
Choose your time horizon
Enter how many months you plan to save before buying. The LISA bonus is paid monthly; the Help to Buy ISA bonus is paid at completion of your house purchase.
Compare the two options
The LISA bonus (£1,000/year max) is usually better for those saving at maximum rates. The calculator shows you which gives a higher government bonus for your situation.
Suggerimenti
- Open a LISA as early as possible — you must open it before age 40, and can contribute until age 50.
- The LISA bonus is paid at the start of the following month after you contribute, so it componds with interest.
- If you are buying with a partner, you can each have a LISA — doubling the government bonus to £2,000/year.
- Consider the Stocks & Shares LISA for long-term saving — historically better than Cash LISA for horizons over 5 years.
Domande frequenti
Can I use a LISA to buy any home?
The LISA can only be used for a first-time buyer purchasing a property worth up to £450,000. If you use it for anything else before age 60 (except terminal illness), you pay a 25% withdrawal penalty (you lose your bonus plus some of your own savings).
What is the maximum LISA government bonus?
The government adds 25% on top of your contributions, up to a maximum bonus of £1,000 per tax year. So the most you can save per year is £4,000 and the maximum annual bonus is £1,000.
Is Help to Buy ISA still available?
No new accounts can be opened since December 2019. Existing account holders can continue saving until November 2029, when the scheme closes. The government bonus (max £3,000) is claimed at completion of a house purchase.
Can I transfer my Help to Buy ISA to a LISA?
Yes, you can transfer a Help to Buy ISA into a LISA. The transfer counts towards your £4,000 LISA annual limit. However, once transferred, the HTB-ISA funds are subject to LISA rules, including the £450,000 property limit.