Mini Cash ISA vs higher rate Savings account

Patr100

I realise an ISA is tax free on interest which by my rough calc is worth about £33 on £3000 at say 5% - but if I have money in a savings account which pays a higher rate of interest than the ISA, is there any real advantage in transfering some from that account into say, a mini cash ISA , even though the interest rate may be lower in the ISA?
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grumbler

Patr100 wrote:

... is there any real advantage

Yes. The advantage is that £3000 transferred to ISA in this financial year will bring you tax-free interest in future yeas. For basic rate taxpayer you need more than 6% on usuall saving account to beat 5% ISA now. Even if you have such accont now (what one?), are you sure that you will always find such account in future? Also you can become a 40% rate taxpayer :rolleyes: ...

P.S. To make this more clear: if you don't use your current year allowance you lose it and cannot fill it up in future.