Lifetime ISA

The Lifetime ISA (LISA) withdrawal fine needs to be removed for first-time buyers purchasing homes above the scheme's £450,000 limit, Martin Lewis has urged. This is the key message the MoneySavingExpert.com founder put to a cross-party group of MPs to consider.

First-time buyers paid the Government an estimated £1.8 million in fines for taking money out of their Lifetime ISAs (LISAs), new figures for the 2023/24 tax year show. MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis is renewing calls to the Government to stop those who are using LISA savings for their intended purpose – buying a first-time property – having to pay these unjust penalties.

From online scams to Carer's Allowance, we round up the most interesting responses from the seven main party leaders on six key consumer issues. Their answers form part of their replies to our Leaders' Debate ahead of the general election on Thursday 4 July. 

In a blow to first-time buyers – and to MoneySavingExpert.com and its founder Martin Lewis's campaign – there were no changes to the rules on Lifetime ISAs (LISAs) announced in today's Spring Budget. However, while the news is "disappointing", Martin says a shake-up "isn't off the table".  

A penalty paid by first-time buyers accessing savings in Lifetime ISAs (LISAs) when buying homes above the scheme's £450,000 property price limit could be scrapped, it's been revealed. A new report suggests the Chancellor will remove the withdrawal fee in his upcoming Budget. This would be a win for MoneySavingExpert.com and its founder Martin Lewis who have long campaigned on the issue. 

The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has hinted help could be on the way for first-time buyers who face losing £1,000s of their own savings when withdrawing funds from Lifetime ISAs (LISAs) to buy homes above the scheme's property price limit. MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE) founder Martin Lewis challenged Mr Hunt over the issue during an interview in the latest episode of ITV's The Martin Lewis Money Show Live.

A raft of changes for savers using ISAs – savings accounts where you'll never pay tax on the interest – have been announced by the Chancellor in today's Autumn Statement. However, Jeremy Hunt failed to address MoneySavingExpert.com's calls for a shake-up to Lifetime ISAs. 

Martin Lewis, MoneySavingExpert.com’s (MSE's) founder and chair, is today strengthening his call for the Chancellor to overhaul the Lifetime ISA (LISA) in his 22 November Autumn Statement. Young savers should not be essentially fined – and lose their hard-saved cash – when they purchase homes above the scheme's £450,000 limit. This is a problem that leaves far more at risk now than when LISAs launched in 2017.

Interest rates are up, so ISAs are back for many – yet you need to sort them by 5 April (or likely sooner).

Change is needed to help half a million younger people with Lifetime ISAs as many risk lock-out and £1,000+ in fines to get their money back.