How to Transfer An ISA Into a Pension

We get lots of enquiries from people who would like to know if it’s possible to transfer an ISA into their pension and why that might be beneficial.

To answer this and other related questions we’ve put together this article which covers:

Once you’ve read through the details below if you’d like to know more about how to transfer your ISA into a pension make an enquiry and we can arrange for an advisor we work with to get in touch. You can also find out more about general pension transfers.

Can I transfer an ISA into a pension?

Yes, it’s certainly possible. If you’re a UK resident and either a basic-rate or higher rate taxpayer, ISAs are a very attractive form of saving as any gain is free of both income and capital gains tax.

However, whilst ISAs are allowed to grow tax-free they do not offer tax relief on any contributions, which is such a key benefit for pension savings and why many people consider transferring their funds.

Can I transfer my cash ISA into a pension?

Yes, transferring your cash ISA to a pension is also possible. Cash ISAs would actually be the simplest type of ISA to transfer as they’re accessible immediately, whereas other forms of ISA – stocks and shares, innovative and lifetime – would require the sale of the underlying assets before a transfer could take place.

Should I transfer my ISA into a pension?

Whilst there’s no doubt the tax-relief benefit is a very enticing reason to switch your ISA funds into a pension (as outlined below), you also need to consider whether or not you would need access to the funds before you plan to retire.

Let’s take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of transferring your ISA into a pension…

How do I transfer my ISA into a pension?

A transfer between an ISA and a pension is not a direct transaction in the same way as when one pension fund is transferred to another. An ISA first needs to be cashed-in and placed in a current account, if it’s a non-cash version, before it can be transferred from there into your pension fund as a lump sum contribution.

The first thing you need to do is to inform your provider that your ISA, if invested in assets other than cash, needs to be liquidated.

You can then complete your lump-sum pension contribution by finalising all the relevant paperwork with your scheme administrator or pension provider.

It’s worth noting that your ISA funds will likely be in a cash position for a number of days during this process and outside of any stock market activity during this period.

It’s usually worth speaking with an expert before starting this process. If you get in touch we can ask an advisor we work with to contact you directly.

Can I transfer my pension into an ISA?

When you reach normal retirement age (usually from 55 onwards), you have the option of withdrawing up to 25% of your pension fund tax-free. Once you’ve done this you’re free to invest these monies into an ISA if you wish.

If you’d like to know more about transferring pension funds into an ISA, including details on how and when this would be possible, have a look at our dedicated article.

Speak to a pensions expert about ISA transfers

There are quite a few advantages to transferring your ISA funds into a pension, particularly if you don’t need access to the funds until you reach retirement. However, you need to be sure that this course of action best suits your own personal circumstances.

Before you make any final decisions it’s really important you seek professional advice from someone who has experience in dealing with this area of financial planning.

If you have questions and want to speak to an expert for the right advice, call Online Money Advisor today on 0808 189 0463 or make an enquiry here.

The advisors we work with have a wealth of experience in areas such as this and deal with customers in your situation all the time.