Treasury sets out new Isa protection rules

6 December 2011 9:26 am | By Joanne Ellul

The Treasury is to change its Isa rules to allow investors who lose their savings a result of the collapse of a financial firm to reinvest their money without affecting their annual allowance.

Under current rules, any sum lost due to the collapse of a provider would fall under the annual allowance, currently £10,680, although the Government has made allowances for several high-profile failures in the past.

The BBC reports that Treasury financial secretary Mark Hoban has outlined, in a statement to MPs, plans to allow investors that have lost money to reinvest the equivalent amount in the same year without affecting their annual allowance.

Hoban says: “[The changes] will enable investors whose Isas are affected by the failure or default of a financial firm to continue to benefit from tax-advantaged savings.”

He added: “They also demonstrate the Government’s commitment to ensure that the Isa remains a secure, accessible and tax-advantaged saving product.”

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