Doubts cast on Lifetime ISA reform

The Lifetime ISA is subject of a Parliamentary inquiry from the Treasury Select Committee. Its future is at stake. 

The Treasury Select committee met yesterday to hear more evidence on the future of the Lifetime ISA.

The committee first met in February and had a range of speakers to discuss the viability of the product, which pays an annual bonus to savers of up to £1,000.

Much is up for discussion, including the extreme solution of abolishing the product altogether.

So what is the Government thinking on this? The committee heard evidence from MP Emma Reynolds, the economic secretary to the Treasury. 

Unfortunately, her comments didn’t provide much information on whether the LISA will be improved upon. 

Reynolds told the committee: “Any changes that could be made to improve that situation would cost money. That money would have to be found from somewhere else.”

What is the Lifetime ISA?

The Lifetime ISA or LISA is designed for people who wish to save a house deposit for their first home purchase. Alternatively, savers can use the LISA as an alternative (or addition) to a pension. 

If the saver doesn’t use it for a house deposit, then the money can’t be withdrawn until they turn 60. 

Savings of up to £4,000 a year get a 25% bonus – up to £1,000. But any withdrawal made that doesn’t include the above reasons incurs a 25% penalty. The problem here is the penalty is made on the whole amount, not just the bonus. This means in effect someone who takes money out gets less back than they put in. 

But although this aspect has drawn many critics, who have called for the penalty to be lowered to 20% – which would negate the losses – Reynolds, told the committee this was a feature not a flaw of the product. 

She told the committee: “Having rules around a penalty if you withdraw are in line with unauthorised withdrawals of a pension. The penalty of withdrawing your pension earlier is much heavier than the 25% in this case.  

“We can’t have a risk-free option of investing for the long-term, but if you take your money out, there is not a charge. We would not have that situation.”

The LISA also presents first-time buyers in areas such as London and the South East with an issue because the cap on property purchase prices is £450,000 – which prevents some savers from using the product in areas where prices are very high. 

Future of the LISA

Brian Byrnes, head of personal finance at finance app Moneybox, spoke exclusively to Mouthy Money yesterday ahead of the next committee. You can hear him explain all about the LISA – its past and its future – in the latest Mouthy Money podcast episode. 

Having given evidence at the committee hearing in February, Byrnes told the podcast that Moneybox anticipated some action from the Government on the LISA in the next Autumn Budget, later this year. 

On the back of the committee hearing, Byrnes added: “Yesterday’s Treasury Select Committee session highlighted the continued debate around the future of the LISA. While it’s encouraging to see it on the agenda, we believe now is the moment to take action. 

“Small, pragmatic changes – such as increasing the property price cap and adjusting the unauthorised withdrawal penalty – would ensure the LISA continues to deliver for first-time buyers in a fast-changing economic landscape. These aren’t radical changes – they’re common-sense updates that would make a great product even better.”

Byrnes also highlights a less-well-understood issue for the LISA – why major legacy banks don’t offer the product.

“It’s also important to clear up a common misconception: banks don’t avoid offering the LISA because of mis-selling concerns,” he says. “The reality is that administering a LISA is significantly more complex than other ISAs due to the need for real-time connections with HMRC. 

“For many larger institutions with legacy tech infrastructure, this operational burden – combined with the £4,000 annual contribution limit and lower average income of LISA savers – makes it commercially challenging. By addressing these barriers, we can unlock greater provider participation and wider access.

Ultimately Byrnes believes the LISA is a good product worth improving. 

“The Lifetime ISA (LISA) has been one of the most impactful financial products introduced in recent years, helping young people across the UK take control of their financial futures – particularly when it comes to buying their first home. Since its launch in 2017, the LISA has empowered a generation to build long-term savings habits, with the confidence that they can work towards both homeownership and long-term financial security.

“At Moneybox, we’ve seen this impact first-hand. Over the past year alone, we’ve recorded a 34% increase in customers opening a LISA. Importantly, 80% of our LISA savers earn £40k or less, demonstrating how vital this support is for those who need it most. These are hardworking individuals striving for financial independence, and the LISA is giving them the boost they need to get on the property ladder.

“While much focus is rightly placed on increasing housing supply, this remains a long-term goal. In the meantime, we urge the Government to invest in near-term, practical solutions that support aspiring first-time buyers today – helping them save, build deposits, and access affordable mortgages.

“We encourage policymakers to build on the solid foundation already in place and future-proof a product that is delivering real, measurable impact for young people nationwide.”

SAVING THE LIFETIME ISA: LISTEN TO THE FULL PODCAST EPISODE

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