Switch bonus and tax free allowance

Can anyone tell me if the current account switching bonus that some banks give (First Direct for instance), counts toward your £1000 tax free interest allowance.


Cheers

Comments

  • xylophone
    xylophone Posts: 44,348 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post
    No, because it is not interest or other income but an incentive.
  • Thanks, that's what I wanted to hear.


    Cheers :-)
  • Ok, so if current account switching bonuses don't count toward your £1000 tax free interest allowance, this is what I'm thinking of doing next month when I stop getting 5% on my Nationwide flexdirect account. (This is not my primary current account and I have 2 standing orders setup on it):



    Close my Nationwide regular saver, and switch my Flexdirect account to RBS Reward (£150 bonus).
    After 30 days (to get the bonus), switch the RBS Reward account to HSBC Advance (£175 bonus).
    After 30 days (to get the bonus), switch the HSBC Advance to First Direct (£125 bonus).
    "Ping Pong" £1000 per month into First Direct for 6 months then close it (£100 leaving bonus).


    Total bonuses of £550 for very little effort. My Experian credit score is currently 992, am I likely to wreck it? Any other reason not to go for it?


    Cheers
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