What’s the difference between a Stocks & Shares ISA and a General Investment Account (GIA)?

There are two main differences between Stocks & Shares ISAs and General Investment Accounts: 

• How much you can invest  

Stocks & Shares ISA: invest up to £20,000 a year (in total, across any ISAs you have) 

General Investment Account (GIA): invest up to £250,000 

• Whether you pay tax on the returns 

Stocks & Shares ISA: any returns you make a tax-free  

General Investment Account (GIA): you may have to pay tax on any returns you make 

Remember, the amount of tax you pay depends on your individual circumstances, and tax rules can change. 

You can find out more about Stocks & Shares ISAs in our guide, ISAs Explained.