The new Innovative Finance ISA rules for 2026

There has been a lot of chatter about ISA reform lately, leaving many savers and investors unsure about where they stand with their ISA portfolios.

In her Autumn Statement, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that the Cash ISA allowance would drop from the current £20,000 to £12,000 in the 2027/28 financial year. For now, UK taxpayers can invest a total of £20,000 in ISA accounts, including Cash ISAs, Stocks and Shares ISAs, and Innovative Finance ISAs (IFISAs). Up to £4,000 can be added to a Lifetime ISA and up to £9,000 into a Junior ISA, just as long as the £20,000 annual ISA limit is not breached.

Unlike a Cash ISA where you earn interest from cash savings, IFISAs allow you to earn returns from alternative investments, most commonly peer-to-peer (P2P) loans and other forms of direct lending. For income-seeking investors, that can be appealing. But it also comes with additional complexity and risk.

In the 2025/26 tax year, IFISA rules remain broadly stable. However, recent reforms have significantly expanded what can sit inside an IFISA.

What’s different about IFISAs

The IFISA was initially created to allow UK taxpayers to invest in P2P lending and crowdfunding platforms but as of 6 April 2024, the IFISA remit was expanded to include long-term asset funds (LTAFs) and open-ended property funds for the first time.

This change was designed to enable everyday investors to access a wider variety of long-term, less-liquid asset classes within a regulated ISA framework.

In the past, IFISA investors had to choose just one IFISA to invest in per year, but this restriction has now been lifted. Investors can now hold multiple IFISAs across different providers, up to the £20,000 annual ISA allowance.

Who can invest in an IFISA

Any UK taxpayer over the age of 18 can open an IFISA with a registered IFISA provider and start investing in P2P lending, LTAFs and open-ended property funds. Up to £20,000 can be held within an IFISA each financial year, and this allowance resets on 6 April.

What are the risks?

IFISAs are tax free but they are not risk free. The key risk with IFISA investing is that if the underlying loans default, you lose your capital as well as any interest that you expected to receive. Good IFISA managers will work hard to minimise this risk, but it cannot be eliminated entirely. This is why it is so important to do your own due diligence before choosing an IFISA manager and trusting them with your money.

IFISAs are not protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) which means that in the event of a platform failure, you may not be able to recoup any money lost. For this reason, it is important to ensure that you can afford any losses associated with IFISA investing and diversify your portfolio so that you are not completely reliant on one type of ISA investment.

Why invest in an IFISA now

The ISA landscape is changing. Next year, the Cash ISA allowance will fall, reflecting a government aim to encourage more UK taxpayers to invest rather than save. Meanwhile, macro-economic and geo-political risks are primed to wreak havoc with the stock markets, sending nervous investors in search of new homes for their funds.

This means that there is likely to be an influx of new ISA investors hitting the market next year who are considering IFISAs for the first time rather than Cash ISAs or Stocks and Shares ISAs. The current tax year presents a great opportunity to get ahead of the rush and get to grips with the IFISA market so that you can maximise your tax-free allowance and make the best financial decisions with your money.