Cash ISA transfer - sanity check

friolento

I’m having a bit of a ding-dong with YBS over a cash ISA transfer into them.

It’s a partial transfer (allowed by the old provider), with the transfer amount being well below the amount accrued from previous years, and well above the amount I deposited this year into the old ISA. I have asked that the transfer should only use previous years’ money.

EXAMPLE:
- total ISA value: £50k
- of which 2025-26 deposits: £2k
- amount of transfer request: £10k

YBS tell me that HMRC requires that if any money was deposited this tax year, it must be transferred in full. 

I am sure they are wrong but they are so insistent that I am beginning to doubt myself. Before I argue further with them, I’d like to poll the wisdom of the forumites pls 🙏. Who is right?

Mark_d

I've not come across this rule. Maybe it only applies to YBS.  Have you spoken to any other bank about doing the transfer you want?

mebu60

It used to be that current year transfers had to be made in full but I believe that has not been the case since 2024. Will depend on the recipient's rules rather than HMRC.

But you're not intending to transfer any current year funds. Does it matter? If needs be can you say £8k plus £2k current year (per your example) then continue to pay rest of current year into non-YBS account as planned?