Should I open another ISA today, before the end of this financial year?

[AtW]

The tax advantages of the schemes now are nowhere near as good as they used to be. Blame Gordon for that.

Eh? Gordon Brown is guilty of many things but it's not his fault BoE keeps rates at near zero - hence returns on risky investments are too low even if tax taken into account.

[Bunk]

Eh? Gordon Brown is guilty of many things but it's not his fault BoE keeps rates at near zero - hence returns on risky investments are too low even if tax taken into account.

Shh! You should know by now the Gordon's to blame for everything, even if it was Tony, John or Maggie that introduced it. That's the CUK way.

[Gonzo]

Eh? Gordon Brown is guilty of many things but it's not his fault BoE keeps rates at near zero - hence returns on risky investments are too low even if tax taken into account.

sigh, let me explain.

Back in the 1990s, income generated from investments in the stock market was received with a 20% (basic tax rate) tax credit. Gordon reduced this to 10% (that on its own did not make a difference, companies still paid corporation tax at the company rate and the 10% tax credit satisfied the tax liability for all basic rate tax payers even if they were 25% tax payers).

However, non tax payers - that includes Individual Savings Accounts (ISA), Pensions and low earners used to be able to reclaim those tax credits from HMRC.

They can't now, Gordon took that away so it is entirely fair to blame him for that.

[AtW]

They can't now, Gordon took that away so it is entirely fair to blame him for that.

Ok, let's say Gordon the Devil Brown took away 10% tax credit.

Big ****ing deal when ConDems keep rates at 0.5% when they should have been at least 10 times more - this means they took away 90% of interest you and every saver should have been receiving on their saved money.

Personally I think there should be no tax on interest on savings just to encourage them, but having tax credit on that is a step too far - you want to get paid to save ffs?

[minestrone]

Ok, let's say Gordon the Devil Brown took away 10% tax credit.

Big ****ing deal when ConDems keep rates at 0.5% when they should have been at least 10 times more - this means they took away 90% of interest you and every saver should have been receiving on their saved money.

Personally I think there should be no tax on interest on savings just to encourage them, but having tax credit on that is a step too far - you want to get paid to save ffs?

A Russian who refuses to pay his TV licence is lecturing the UK populace on tax.

I give you new labour's bigest f3ck up.

[KackAttack]

Best best, open a self selecting share ISA, such as with SelfTrade, put the lot in one AIM share, big clue - xcite energy. Come back in a year and it will have trebled.

[AtW]

A Russian who refuses to pay his TV licence is lecturing the UK populace on tax.

It's not a license, it's a tax which I do pay since I watch Sky TV sometimes.

[d000hg]

The clue's in the name, 'license'.

[russell]

Is it better to save all the money up for a stock and share ISA then dump it in in one go? Or standing order each month?

[nomadd]

Is it better to save all the money up for a stock and share ISA then dump it in in one go? Or standing order each month?

If you've got the cash now, and understand the risk profile of equities, simply stick it in in one go. If you haven't, or prefer to "average" out the risk a little bit over the year, then do it a bit at a time. Whichever route you go, make sure you are thinking of at least a 5-10 year investment window for equities.