Tax on Savings Income Is Going Up: New 22%, 42%, and 47% Rates from April 2027
The government is raising tax rates on savings income by 2 percentage points from April 2027. Here's what the new rates mean for your ISAs and savings accounts.
In the Budget 2025, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that tax rates on savings income will rise by 2 percentage points from 6 April 2027.
This is a significant change for anyone earning interest on savings accounts or bonds - and it makes tax-efficient wrappers like ISAs and pensions more important than ever.
The New Rates
| Rate band | Current rate | From April 2027 | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic rate | 20% | 22% | +2pp |
| Higher rate | 40% | 42% | +2pp |
| Additional rate | 45% | 47% | +2pp |
These rates apply to savings income - interest earned from bank accounts, savings accounts, bonds, and other savings products.
Your employment income (salary, wages) is not affected - it stays at the existing 20%, 40%, and 45% rates.
Why Is This Happening?
The government’s reasoning is straightforward. As stated in the Budget document:
The government is raising taxes on property, dividend and savings income, reflecting the fact that income from those sources faces no equivalent of National Insurance that employees pay.
In other words: employment income already attracts National Insurance on top of income tax. Savings income doesn’t. This change narrows that gap.
What’s Protected
Existing allowances remain in place, shielding those with modest savings:
- Personal Savings Allowance - £1,000 for basic rate taxpayers, £500 for higher rate (unchanged)
- ISA allowance - £20,000 per year, completely tax-free (though the Cash ISA limit is being cut to £12,000 for under-65s)
- Starting rate for savings - the 0% rate on up to £5,000 of savings income continues for those with low overall income
Who Is Most Affected?
If you hold significant savings in standard (non-ISA) accounts, you’ll pay more tax on the interest. For example, a higher rate taxpayer earning £2,000 in savings interest would pay:
- Now: £2,000 × 40% = £800
- From April 2027: £2,000 × 42% = £840
That’s an extra £40 per year on £2,000 of interest - and it scales up with larger balances. An additional rate taxpayer with £10,000 of savings interest would see their tax bill rise from £4,500 to £4,700.
What You Should Do
1. Maximise Your ISA Allowance
ISA income is completely tax-free - no income tax on interest. With rates going up, the tax saving from using your full £20,000 ISA allowance becomes even more valuable.
2. Review Savings Outside ISAs
If you’re holding cash in standard savings accounts, consider whether some of it should be in a Cash ISA instead. Every pound of interest earned inside an ISA is a pound shielded from the new higher rates.
3. Check Your Personal Savings Allowance
Basic rate taxpayers get £1,000 of tax-free savings interest. Higher rate taxpayers get £500. Additional rate taxpayers get £0. Make sure you know where you stand - and whether you’re at risk of exceeding it.
4. Consider Pension Contributions
Pension contributions receive tax relief at your marginal rate. With savings tax going up, the relative benefit of pensions increases too.
How Lunar Helps
Lunar tracks all your accounts in one place - ISAs, pensions, and savings accounts. You can see at a glance how much of your savings is in tax-efficient wrappers versus exposed to the new higher rates, and make informed decisions about where to put your money.
Sources
- Budget 2025 - GOV.UK
- Budget 2025: income tax rates on savings and dividends - House of Commons Library
- Budget 2025 Overview of Tax Legislation and Rates - GOV.UK
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This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. If you're unsure about your finances, consider speaking to a qualified financial adviser.