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We compare investment platforms and savings accounts from multiple providers. Capital at risk. The information shown is accurate at time of display but may change.
Compare UK General Investment Account Fees
Find the cheapest platform for your General Investment Account (GIA). Scrimpr compares annual platform fees and trading costs across all major UK investment platforms. Updated regularly.
Capital at risk. Investments can go down as well as up. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances.
Capital at risk. T&Cs apply.
Compare Investing Fees on General Investment Accounts (GIAs)
Search
Platform Fee
Trading Fees
Updated:
| Platform | Platform Fee | Investments | Trading Fees | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scrimpr Spotlight | ||||
|
IG
IG Trading & Investments
Bonus: Get up to £1000 in free US shares when you invest £200+
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: Free
£85k: Free
Type: Zero-Fee
£0 annual platform fee
|
✓ ETFs
✓ Shares
✗ Funds
✗ Regular
|
ETFs: £0
Shares: £0
Funds: N/A
Regular: -
FX: 0.70%
|
Visit Site
→
Capital at risk. Other fees may apply.
More info
|
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: Free
£85k: Free
Type: Zero-Fee
£0 annual platform fee
|
✓ ETFs
✓ Shares
✗ Funds
✗ Regular
|
ETFs: £0
Shares: £0
Funds: N/A
Regular: -
FX: 1.50%
|
Visit Site
→
Capital at risk. Other fees may apply. *Bonus applies to eToro investment account.
More info
|
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: Free
£85k: Free
Type: Zero-Fee
£0 annual platform fee
|
✓ ETFs
✓ Shares
✓ Funds
✓ Regular
|
ETFs: £0
Shares: £0
Funds: £0
Regular: -
FX: 0.99%
|
-
More info
|
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: Free
£85k: Free
Type: Zero-Fee
£0 annual platform fee
|
✓ ETFs
✗ Shares
✗ Funds
✓ Regular
|
ETFs: £0
Shares: N/A
Funds: -
Regular: -
|
-
More info
|
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: Free
£85k: Free
Type: Zero-Fee
£0 annual platform fee
|
✓ ETFs
✓ Shares
✗ Funds
✗ Regular
|
ETFs: £0
Shares: £1 UK | 0.1% US (min $0.10
max $1) | 1€ EU
Traditional Funds: N/A
FX: 0.35%
|
Visit Site
→
Capital at risk. Other fees may apply.
More info
|
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: Free
£85k: Free
Type: Zero-Fee
£0 annual platform fee
|
✗ ETFs
✗ Shares
✓ Funds
✗ Regular
|
ETFs: £0
Shares: £0
Funds: £0
Regular: -
|
-
More info
|
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: Free
£85k: Free
Type: Zero-Fee
£0 annual platform fee
|
✓ ETFs
✓ Shares
✓ Funds
✓ Regular
|
ETFs: £5 UK | £0 international
Shares: £5 UK | £0 international
Traditional Funds: £5
£0 for regular investing
FX: 1.50%
|
-
More info
|
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: Free
£85k: Free
Type: Zero-Fee
£0 annual platform fee
|
✓ ETFs
✓ Shares
✗ Funds
✗ Regular
|
ETFs: £0
Shares: £0
Funds: N/A
Regular: -
FX: 0.15%
|
-
More info
|
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: Free
£85k: Free
Type: Zero-Fee
£0 annual platform fee
|
✓ ETFs
✓ Shares
✗ Funds
✗ Regular
|
ETFs: £0
Shares: £0
Funds: N/A
Regular: -
FX: 0.50%
|
Visit Site
→
Capital at risk. Other fees may apply.
More info
|
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: £102
£85k: £395
Type: Hybrid-Fee
Hybrid fee
|
✓ ETFs
✓ Shares
✓ Funds
✓ Regular
|
ETFs: £0
Shares: £0
Funds: £0
Regular: -
FX: 0.45%
|
-
More info
|
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: £126
£85k: £418
Type: Hybrid-Fee
Hybrid fee
|
✓ ETFs
✓ Shares
✓ Funds
✓ Regular
|
ETFs: £0
Shares: £0
Funds: £0
Regular: -
FX: 0.45%
|
-
More info
|
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: £30
£85k: £128
Type: Hybrid-Fee
Hybrid fee
|
✓ ETFs
✓ Shares
✓ Funds
✓ Regular
|
ETFs: £0
Shares: £0
Funds: £0
Regular: -
FX: 0.75%
|
-
More info
|
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: £45
£85k: £45
Type: Hybrid-Fee
Hybrid fee
|
✓ ETFs
✓ Shares
✓ Funds
✓ Regular
|
ETFs: £3.95
Shares: £3.95
Funds: £3.95
Regular: -
FX: 0.70%
|
Visit Site
→
Capital at risk. Other fees may apply.
More info
|
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: £48
£85k: £128
Type: Hybrid-Fee
Hybrid fee
|
✓ ETFs
✓ Shares
✓ Funds
✓ Regular
|
ETFs: £0
Shares: £0
Funds: £0
Regular: -
|
-
More info
|
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: £50
£85k: £65
Type: Hybrid-Fee
Hybrid fee
|
✓ ETFs
✓ Shares
✗ Funds
✓ Regular
|
ETFs: £0
Shares: £0
Funds: N/A
Regular: -
|
Visit Site
→
Capital at risk. Other fees may apply.
More info
|
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: £60
£85k: £255
Type: Hybrid-Fee
Hybrid fee
|
✓ ETFs
✓ Shares
✓ Funds
✓ Regular
|
ETFs: £10
Shares: £10
Funds: £4
Regular: -
FX: 1%
|
-
More info
|
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: £74
£85k: £237
Type: Hybrid-Fee
Hybrid fee
|
✓ ETFs
✗ Shares
✗ Funds
✓ Regular
|
ETFs: £0
Shares: N/A
Funds: N/A
Regular: -
FX: 0.40%
|
-
More info
|
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: £50
£85k: £213
Type: Percentage-Fee
% of portfolio
|
✓ ETFs
✓ Shares
✓ Funds
✓ Regular
|
ETFs: £5
Shares: -
Funds: £1.50
Regular: £1.50
FX: 0.75%
|
-
More info
|
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: £50
£85k: £213
Type: Percentage-Fee
% of portfolio
|
✓ ETFs
✓ Shares
✓ Funds
✓ Regular
|
ETFs: £6
Shares: £6
Funds: £0
Regular: -
FX: 1%
|
-
More info
|
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: £50
£85k: £213
Type: Percentage-Fee
% of portfolio
|
✗ ETFs
✗ Shares
✓ Funds
✓ Regular
|
ETFs: N/A
Shares: N/A
Funds: £0
Regular: -
|
-
More info
|
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: £50
£85k: £213
Type: Percentage-Fee
% of portfolio
|
✓ ETFs
✓ Shares
✓ Funds
✓ Regular
|
ETFs: £8.95
Shares: £8.95
Funds: £0
Regular: -
FX: Not disclosed
|
-
More info
|
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: £70
£85k: £298
Type: Percentage-Fee
% of portfolio
|
✓ ETFs
✓ Shares
✓ Funds
✓ Regular
|
ETFs: £4.99
Shares: £4.99
Funds: £0
Regular: -
|
-
More info
|
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: £70
£85k: £170
Type: Percentage-Fee
% of portfolio
|
✗ ETFs
✗ Shares
✓ Funds
✓ Regular
|
ETFs: N/A
Shares: N/A
Funds: £0
Regular: -
|
-
More info
|
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: £80
£85k: £340
Type: Percentage-Fee
% of portfolio
|
✓ ETFs
✓ Shares
✓ Funds
✓ Regular
|
ETFs: £4.95
Shares: £4.95
Funds: £0
Regular: -
FX: 0.95%
|
-
More info
|
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: £90
£85k: £298
Type: Percentage-Fee
% of portfolio
|
✓ ETFs
✓ Shares
✓ Funds
✓ Regular
|
ETFs: £7.50
Shares: £7.50
Funds: £0
Regular: £1.50
FX: 0.75%
|
-
More info
|
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: £90
£85k: £383
Type: Percentage-Fee
% of portfolio
|
✓ ETFs
✓ Shares
✓ Funds
✓ Regular
|
ETFs: £11.95
Shares: £11.95
Funds: £0
Regular: -
FX: 1%
|
Visit Site
→
Capital at risk. Other fees may apply.
More info
|
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: £36
£85k: £36
Type: Fixed-Fee
Fixed fee
|
✓ ETFs
✓ Shares
✓ Funds
✓ Regular
|
ETFs: £9.50 UK | £0 international
Shares: £9.50 UK | £0 international
Traditional Funds: £9.50
£0 for regular investment plan
FX: 1.25%
|
-
More info
|
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers UK
Advanced ISA investors wanting global markets
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: £36
£85k: £36
Type: Fixed-Fee
Fixed Platform Fee (waivable)
|
✓ ETFs
✓ Shares
✓ Funds
✗ Regular
|
UK/EU Shares - £3 (or 0.05% if >£6k)
US Shares - $0.005/share
Traditional Funds - £4.95
FX: 0.03%
|
-
More info
|
Lloyds Bank Share Dealing
Halifax Share Dealing
Large buy-and-hold ISAs with drip-feed hack
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: £40
£85k: £40
Type: Fixed-Fee
Fixed fee
|
✓ ETFs
✓ Shares
✓ Funds
✓ Regular
|
ETFs: £11 UK | £0 international
Shares: £11 UK | £0 international
Traditional Funds - £1.50
£0 for regular investment plan
FX: 1%
|
-
More info
|
|
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: £42
£85k: £42
Type: Fixed-Fee
Fixed fee
|
✓ ETFs
✓ Shares
✗ Funds
✗ Regular
|
ETFs: £10.50
Shares: £10.50
Funds: N/A
Regular: -
FX: Not disclosed
|
-
More info
|
Interactive Investor
Interactive Investor Services
Investors wanting flat-rate fees with bundled ISA + SIPP + Trading Account
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: £72
£85k: £180
Type: Fixed-Fee
Fixed fee
|
✓ ETFs
✓ Shares
✓ Funds
✓ Regular
|
Core/Plus: UK/US £3.99
Premium: £2.99 | International: Core £9.99
Plus £7.99
Premium £5.99 | Funds: Core £3.99
Plus £1.49
Premium Free | Regular investing: Free
FX: Core: 0.75%, Plus: 0.75%/0.25%, Premium: 0.25%
|
-
More info
|
|
Portfolio Size:
£20k: £84
£85k: £84
Type: Fixed-Fee
Fixed fee
|
✓ ETFs
✓ Shares
✓ Funds
✗ Regular
|
ETFs: £0
Shares: £0
Funds: £0
Regular: -
FX: 0.50%
|
-
More info
|
Scrimpr's UK General Investment Account (GIA) Platform Comparison
I built this comparison while figuring out where to put money once my ISA allowance was used up. A General Investment Account doesn't have the tax benefits of an ISA or SIPP – gains and dividends are taxable – but it also doesn't have the restrictions: no annual contribution limits and no lock-in period. The tables above compare execution-only platforms for taxable investing. Nothing here is financial advice, and you should consider your own circumstances or speak to a qualified adviser before investing.
What is a General Investment Account?
A General Investment Account (GIA) is a standard investment account – no special tax treatment, just a regular account for making investments. Unlike ISAs and SIPPs, there's no annual contribution limit and no restrictions on when you can access your money. The catch? You'll pay tax on any gains, dividends, and interest you earn.
Most people fill up their ISA and pension first because of the tax benefits. A GIA is useful when you've used up those allowances, or when you need money you can access without restrictions.
Key GIA features:
- No annual contribution limit – invest as much as you want
- No restrictions on withdrawals – access your money anytime
- Same investment options as an ISA (funds, ETFs, shares, bonds)
- You pay Capital Gains Tax on profits above £3,000 per year
- You pay dividend tax on dividends above £500 per year
- You'll need to report gains via Self Assessment if you go over these limits
The trade-off for this flexibility is that you're responsible for tracking your gains and reporting them to HMRC. Most platforms provide annual tax statements to help, but it's on you to file correctly.
GIA Tax Rules Explained
Unlike ISAs and SIPPs, investments in a GIA are subject to tax. There are three main taxes you might pay:
Capital Gains Tax (CGT)
You pay CGT on profits when you sell investments for more than you paid for them. The first £3,000 of profit you realise each tax year is tax-free (the annual exempt amount). Above that, you pay tax based on your income tax band.
| Your Income Tax Band | CGT Rate (2025/26) | Example: £10,000 Gain |
|---|---|---|
| Basic rate (up to £37,700 taxable income) | 18% | £1,260 tax (18% of £7,000 after allowance) |
| Higher rate (£37,701–£125,140) | 24% | £1,680 tax (24% of £7,000 after allowance) |
| Additional rate (over £125,140) | 24% | £1,680 tax (24% of £7,000 after allowance) |
Note: CGT rates increased in October 2024 from 10%/20% to 18%/24% for most assets. Residential property has different rates (18%/24% unchanged). See GOV.UK CGT rates for details.
Dividend Tax
The first £500 of dividends each tax year is tax-free (the dividend allowance). Above that, you pay dividend tax based on your income tax band:
| Your Income Tax Band | Dividend Tax Rate (2025/26) | From April 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Basic rate | 8.75% | 10.75% |
| Higher rate | 33.75% | 35.75% |
| Additional rate | 39.35% | 39.35% (unchanged) |
Note: Dividend tax rates are increasing by 2 percentage points from April 2026 for basic and higher rate taxpayers.
Interest on Cash
Interest earned on uninvested cash in your GIA counts towards your Personal Savings Allowance: £1,000 for basic rate taxpayers, £500 for higher rate taxpayers, and nothing for additional rate taxpayers.
Tax reporting: If your gains exceed £3,000 or your dividends exceed £500, you'll need to report this via Self Assessment. Most platforms provide an annual consolidated tax statement showing your gains, losses, and dividend income – keep this for your records.
When to Use a GIA
A GIA isn't the first choice for most investors because of the tax implications, but there are situations where it makes sense:
ISA allowance used up
You've already put £20,000 into ISAs this tax year and want to invest more. A GIA lets you continue investing without waiting for the new tax year.
Pension allowance used up
You've hit your £60,000 annual allowance for pension contributions and want to invest more for the long term.
Flexibility needed
You want to invest but might need access to the money before age 57. Unlike a SIPP, there's no lock-in – you can sell and withdraw whenever you want (though you'll pay CGT on any gains).
Bed & ISA strategy
You want to gradually move taxable investments into your ISA each year. Hold investments in a GIA, sell up to your £3,000 CGT allowance, and rebuy inside your ISA so future growth is tax-free.
Common approach: Many investors on forums like r/UKPersonalFinance discuss filling accounts in this order: workplace pension (for employer match) → ISA (tax-free, flexible) → SIPP (more tax relief, locked until 55/57) → GIA (no limits, but taxable). Individual circumstances vary.
GIA vs ISA vs SIPP
Here's how the three main investment account types compare:
| Feature | GIA | ISA | SIPP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual contribution limit | None | £20,000 | £60,000 (or 100% of earnings) |
| Tax on gains | CGT above £3,000 | Tax-free | Tax-free |
| Tax on dividends | Dividend tax above £500 | Tax-free | Tax-free |
| Tax relief on contributions | None | None | 20–45% depending on tax band |
| Access to money | Anytime | Anytime | From age 55 (57 from 2028) |
| Tax on withdrawal | None (tax paid when you sell) | None | Income tax (except 25% tax-free) |
| Self Assessment required | If you exceed allowances | No | To claim higher-rate relief |
| Inheritance tax | Part of estate | Part of estate | Usually outside estate |
Bed & ISA / Bed & SIPP
Some investors with holdings in a GIA choose to gradually move them into an ISA so future growth is tax-free. You can't transfer directly – you have to sell in the GIA and rebuy in the ISA. This is sometimes called "Bed & ISA" (or "Bed & SIPP" for pensions).
How it works
- Sell investments in the GIA – this triggers CGT on any profit
- Stay within the CGT allowance – the first £3,000 of profit per year is tax-free
- Rebuy the same investments inside an ISA – future growth is then tax-free
Example
Someone bought £42,000 of a global tracker fund in a GIA. It's now worth £50,000 – an £8,000 profit. By selling in stages over 2-3 years and staying within the £3,000 annual CGT allowance each time, they could move the full holding into an ISA without paying Capital Gains Tax.
Platform features: Some platforms offer automated Bed & ISA services that handle the sell-and-rebuy, often with reduced or waived trading fees.
Things to consider
- Out of the market: There's a short gap between selling and rebuying when the money isn't invested. The market could move up or down.
- Trading costs: Dealing fees apply twice (sell and buy) unless the platform waives them.
- Same-day trades: Some platforms allow same-day; others require waiting until the next day.
- No 30-day rule: The rule that stops selling and rebuying the same investment within 30 days (to claim a loss) doesn't apply here – the purchase is in a different account type.
Using Your CGT Allowance
The £3,000 annual CGT allowance doesn't roll over – if it's not used by 5th April, it's gone. Here are some ways people use it:
Annual harvesting
Selling enough investments each year to use up the £3,000 tax-free allowance, then reinvesting. This resets the purchase price for tax purposes, reducing future CGT. The same investments can be rebought immediately into a different account (ISA/SIPP), but rebuying in the same GIA requires a 30-day wait to avoid the "bed and breakfasting" rule.
Loss harvesting
If some investments are down, selling them locks in a loss. These losses can be offset against gains in the same tax year, or carried forward to future years. Losses must be reported to HMRC within 4 years to use them later.
Spouse transfers
Transfers between spouses and civil partners are CGT-free. Some couples transfer investments to whichever partner has unused CGT allowance or is in a lower tax bracket before selling. See GOV.UK guidance on gifts.
Historical context: The CGT allowance was £12,300 as recently as 2022/23. It was cut to £6,000 in 2023/24, then halved again to £3,000 from 2024/25 onwards.
What Can You Hold in a GIA?
A GIA can hold the same investments as an ISA – there are no restrictions. Most platforms offer:
Index funds & ETFs
Low-cost funds that track market indices like the FTSE 100, S&P 500, or global markets. Vanguard's range of index funds and ETFs like VWRL/VWRP (global all-cap) are widely held.
Investment trusts
Funds listed on the stock exchange. Some have been around for over a century. Scottish Mortgage, F&C Investment Trust, and City of London are well-known examples.
Individual shares
UK-listed shares and (on most platforms) international stocks. Some investors build their own portfolio of individual companies rather than using funds.
Bonds & gilts
Government bonds (gilts), corporate bonds, or bond funds. Generally lower risk and lower return than shares.
Tax note: Gains and dividends are taxable in a GIA but not in an ISA. Some investors factor this into which account they use for different investments.
GIA Transfers
Moving a GIA between platforms is simpler than transferring an ISA because there's no tax-free status to preserve. However, there are still things to consider:
In-specie transfer (as stock)
Your investments move across without being sold. You stay invested throughout, and importantly, no CGT is triggered because you haven't sold anything. The new platform takes on your original purchase price for tax purposes.
- Takes 4–8 weeks typically
- Both platforms must support the same investments
- Not all platforms support in-specie transfers out
Cash transfer
Your investments are sold, cash is transferred, then you reinvest at the new platform. This triggers CGT on any gains – which could result in a tax bill if gains exceed your £3,000 allowance.
- Faster – typically 2–4 weeks
- Works even if the new platform doesn't offer the same funds
- You're out of the market during the transfer
Important: Unlike ISA transfers, there's no formal "GIA transfer" process. You're essentially asking the old platform to either move your holdings in-specie or sell and send cash. Check both platforms' processes and any exit fees before starting.
Exit fees
Some platforms charge exit fees for transferring out – either per holding or as a flat fee. Examples:
- Hargreaves Lansdown: £25 per holding (shares/ETFs), free for funds
- AJ Bell: £25 per line of stock
- Interactive Investor: Free
- Vanguard: Free
- Trading 212: Free (but in-specie out has historically been difficult)
Check the platform's current fee schedule before transferring – these can change.
Portfolio Size & Platform Considerations
The same platform considerations apply to GIAs as to ISAs – fee structures matter, and the maths depends on portfolio size and trading habits.
Smaller portfolios (under £20,000)
Percentage-based fees are often cheaper at this level. A 0.25% platform fee on £10,000 is just £25/year. Zero-fee platforms like Trading 212 or InvestEngine may be cheaper still, though they may have limitations on investment choice or features.
At this size, trading costs as a percentage of the investment are more significant. Commission-free trading helps avoid fees eating into returns.
Medium portfolios (£20,000–£100,000)
The crossover point where flat-fee platforms start becoming competitive. A £120/year flat fee represents 0.12% on £100,000 but 0.6% on £20,000.
Other factors that vary by platform:
- Tax reporting: Quality of CGT statements
- Bed & ISA: Whether the platform offers this service
- Investment choice: Range of funds available
Larger portfolios (£100,000+)
Flat-fee platforms typically offer significant savings. Interactive Investor's £143.88/year fee on a £250,000 portfolio works out at 0.06% – compared to 0.25% (£625) on a percentage-fee platform.
Other factors with larger sums:
- FSCS protection: Limited to £85,000 per firm – some investors spread across multiple platforms
- Tax complexity: Larger gains mean more CGT to manage
- Platform stability: Track record and financial strength varies
GIA-specific note: Some platforms offer discounts or single fees covering multiple account types (ISA, GIA, SIPP). Fees may work out differently when accounts are combined.
Keeping Records for Tax
Unlike ISAs and SIPPs, GIA investments require you to track gains and losses for tax purposes. Good record-keeping makes Self Assessment much easier.
What to track
- Purchase date and price – for each investment, including any dealing fees (which are allowable costs)
- Sale date and price – when you sell, including dealing fees
- Dividends received – amount and date for each dividend payment
- Corporate actions – stock splits, mergers, rights issues can affect your cost basis
Platform tax statements
Most platforms provide an annual consolidated tax statement (usually available in April/May for the previous tax year). This typically shows:
- Realised gains and losses for the tax year
- Total dividend income received
- Interest on cash balances
Keep these statements – HMRC can ask to see records up to 5 years after the tax year.
Multiple platforms
If you have GIAs with multiple platforms, you'll need to combine the figures yourself. Your total CGT allowance is £3,000 across all platforms combined, not £3,000 per platform.
Reporting thresholds: You must report gains via Self Assessment if your total gains exceed £3,000, or if your total proceeds (sale amounts) exceed £50,000 even if your gains are below the allowance. Dividends must be reported if they exceed your £500 allowance plus any unused Personal Allowance.
FSCS Protection
GIA investments are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) in the same way as ISA investments:
- Investments: Up to £85,000 per person, per authorised firm
- Cash: Up to £120,000 per person, per banking licence (increased from £85,000 in December 2024)
What FSCS covers
FSCS protection applies if your investment platform fails and can't return your assets. It doesn't protect you against investment losses – if your shares fall in value, that's just market risk.
Your investments are typically held separately from the platform's own assets (called "ring-fencing" or "segregation"). If the platform fails, your investments should be returned to you or transferred to another provider. FSCS only steps in if there's a shortfall.
Shared licences
Some platforms share the same FCA authorisation, meaning your £85,000 protection is shared across them. For example:
- Halifax Share Dealing, iWeb, and Lloyds Direct Investments share one licence
- Barclays Smart Investor and Barclays banking share one licence for cash
Check our FSCS Protection Checker to see which platforms share limits.
Large portfolios: If your GIA exceeds £85,000, some people choose to spread investments across multiple unrelated platforms to stay within FSCS limits. This adds complexity but provides additional protection.
General Investment Account FAQ
What is a General Investment Account?
A General Investment Account (GIA) is a standard taxable investment account. Unlike ISAs and pensions, there's no annual contribution limit and no restrictions on withdrawals, but Capital Gains Tax applies to profits above £3,000 and dividend tax applies to dividends above £500 per year.
Do I need to pay tax on a GIA?
Yes, potentially. Capital Gains Tax applies to profits above the £3,000 annual allowance (at 18% or 24% depending on income). Dividends above £500 are taxed at 8.75%, 33.75%, or 39.35% depending on tax band. Tax also applies to interest earned on uninvested cash above the Personal Savings Allowance.
When is a GIA used instead of an ISA?
A GIA is typically used when the £20,000 annual ISA allowance has been used up. It's also used as a holding account for Bed & ISA strategies, where investments are gradually moved into an ISA.
What is Bed & ISA?
Bed & ISA is a strategy for moving taxable investments from a GIA into an ISA. Investments are sold in the GIA (using the £3,000 CGT allowance to avoid tax), then the same investments are rebought inside an ISA. Future growth is then tax-free. Some platforms offer automated Bed & ISA services.
Do I need to report my GIA on my tax return?
Reporting via Self Assessment is required if total gains exceed £3,000, or if total sales exceed £50,000 (even if gains are below the allowance). Dividend income must be reported if it exceeds the £500 dividend allowance plus any unused Personal Allowance.
Can a GIA be transferred to another platform?
Yes. An in-specie transfer moves investments without selling (no CGT triggered). A cash transfer involves selling first (CGT may apply). In-specie takes longer but avoids triggering tax on gains.
Is a GIA protected by FSCS?
Yes. FSCS protects up to £85,000 per person per authorised firm if the platform fails. Investments are also usually ring-fenced (held separately from the platform's assets). For larger portfolios, some people spread across multiple platforms to stay within protection limits.
What's the CGT allowance for 2025/26?
The Capital Gains Tax annual exempt amount for 2025/26 is £3,000. This has reduced significantly from £12,300 in 2022/23. Gains above this are taxed at 18% for basic rate taxpayers or 24% for higher/additional rate taxpayers.
What are the CGT rates for 2025/26?
For most assets including shares and funds, CGT is 18% for basic rate taxpayers and 24% for higher and additional rate taxpayers. These rates increased from 10%/20% in October 2024. Residential property rates remain at 18%/24%.
Can losses be offset against gains?
Yes. Losses from selling investments can be offset against gains in the same tax year. If losses exceed gains, the excess can be carried forward to offset against future gains. Losses must be reported to HMRC within 4 years to use them later.
What's the dividend allowance for 2025/26?
The dividend allowance for 2025/26 is £500. Dividends above this are taxed at 8.75% (basic rate), 33.75% (higher rate), or 39.35% (additional rate). From April 2026, the basic and higher rates increase by 2 percentage points.
Can investments be transferred to a spouse?
Yes. Transfers between spouses and civil partners are CGT-free. Some couples use this to make use of both partners' £3,000 CGT allowances before selling.
What investments can be held in a GIA?
A GIA can hold the same investments as an ISA: funds, ETFs, investment trusts, individual shares, bonds, and gilts. There are no restrictions – the only difference from an ISA is the tax treatment.
Is there a minimum investment for a GIA?
It varies by platform. Many newer platforms have no minimum or allow investments from £1. Some traditional platforms may require higher minimums.
Is stamp duty paid on shares in a GIA?
Yes, the same as in an ISA. UK shares attract 0.5% stamp duty reserve tax (SDRT) when bought. This is built into the price on most platforms. ETFs and funds structured as OEICs don't attract stamp duty.
What happens to a GIA on death?
A GIA forms part of the estate for Inheritance Tax purposes. Any gains that haven't been sold are wiped out on death – the beneficiary inherits at market value on the date of death, so no CGT is due on the growth. IHT may apply if the estate exceeds the tax-free threshold.
About This Comparison
This table shows what different UK investment platforms charge in fees for General Investment Accounts. GIAs typically have identical fee structures to ISAs on the same platform – the difference is in the tax treatment, not the platform costs. I've focused on execution-only platforms where you select your own investments, rather than advisory or managed services.
Default sorting: Platforms are shown with zero-fee platforms first, then hybrid fees, percentage-based fees, and fixed fees. Within each fee category, they're sorted by trading costs (commission-free first), then alphabetically by platform name.
Use the filters above to narrow down platforms by fee type, trading costs, or investment options. When comparing platforms for a GIA, consider whether they provide good annual tax statements – this will make your Self Assessment much easier.
