How do I find my Child Trust Fund?

If you don't know which provider holds your CTF, use the HMRC tool at gov.uk/child-trust-funds/find-a-child-trust-fund. You'll need a Government Gateway account to access it. HMRC will tell you which provider holds the account. You can also check old paperwork from when you were born (2002–2011) or ask your parents.

How much is in my Child Trust Fund?

The average CTF is worth around £2,000-£2,500, though some are worth significantly more if parents, grandparents, or other family members made additional contributions. The government put in £250 (or £500 for low-income families) at birth and at age 7. The maximum anyone could pay in was £9,000 per year total (later reduced to £4,368).

What should I do with my Child Trust Fund money at 18?

The best option for most people is to transfer it into an ISA to keep the tax-free status. You can transfer directly into an adult Cash ISA, Stocks and Shares ISA, or Lifetime ISA without using your annual ISA allowance. If you withdraw the cash instead, any future growth will be taxable. Consider your goals — emergency fund, house deposit, or long-term investing.

Can my parents access my Child Trust Fund before I turn 18?

No. Nobody can withdraw money from a CTF before the child turns 18 — not even the parents. The account belongs to the child. At 16, the child can take over management of the account (changing investments), but cannot withdraw money until 18. From 18, only the named child can access the money.

Child Trust Fund Turning 18 — How to Access Your Money and What to Do With It | PocketWise

If you were born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011, you almost certainly have a Child Trust Fund (CTF). These accounts are now maturing as the first generation turns 18 — and there is an estimated £2 billion sitting in accounts that have not been claimed.

What Is a Child Trust Fund?

Detail	Information
What	A tax-free savings account opened by the government for every child born 2002–2011
Government contribution	£250 at birth (£500 for low-income families)
Second payment	£250 at age 7 (£500 for low-income families)
Additional contributions	Parents, family, and friends could add more — up to £9,000/year (later £4,368)
Tax treatment	Growth is completely tax-free
Access	Only the named child can withdraw — and only from age 18
Replaced by	Junior ISA from November 2011

How Much Could Be in Your CTF?

Scenario	Estimated value at 18
Government contributions only (£500 total) — cash CTF	~£600–£700
Government contributions only — stocks and shares CTF	~£800–£1,500+
Parents added £50/month for 18 years	~£12,000–£15,000+
Maximum contributions each year	Potentially £50,000+
Average CTF value	~£2,000–£2,500

The actual amount depends on which type of CTF you have (cash or stocks and shares) and how investments have performed.

How to Find Your CTF

Step by Step

Step	Action
1	Go to gov.uk/child-trust-funds/find-a-child-trust-fund
2	Sign in with your Government Gateway account (create one if needed)
3	HMRC will tell you the provider holding your CTF
4	Contact the provider directly to access or manage your account

Other Ways to Find It

Method	Detail
Ask your parents	They may have the original paperwork or annual statements
Check old paperwork	Look for letters from HMRC or a CTF provider
Contact common providers	One Family, The Share Centre, Foresters Financial, NS&I — some of the largest
HMRC helpline	0300 200 3300

Important: Many CTFs were set up automatically by HMRC when parents did not choose a provider. These “Revenue-allocated” accounts were placed with providers chosen by HMRC and parents may never have received the details.

What to Do When You Turn 18

Your Options

Option	Pros	Cons
Transfer to an adult ISA	Keeps tax-free status, money stays invested, uses none of your annual ISA allowance	You don’t get the cash immediately
Transfer to a Lifetime ISA	Tax-free growth PLUS 25% government bonus towards first home or retirement	Money locked in until age 60 (unless buying first home), penalty for early withdrawal
Withdraw the cash	Full access to spend as you wish	Loses tax-free status permanently — any future savings will be taxable
Leave it in the CTF	No action needed	CTF products often have higher fees and fewer options than ISAs

Best Option for Most People: Transfer to an ISA

Transferring your CTF into an ISA keeps the money tax-free and does not count against your annual £20,000 ISA allowance. This is a direct transfer — the money moves from one tax-free wrapper to another.

ISA type	Best for
Cash ISA	If you need the money within 1–3 years (e.g. emergency fund, car)
Stocks and Shares ISA	If you can leave it invested for 5+ years (best for long-term growth)
Lifetime ISA	If you’re saving for a first home or retirement (get 25% government bonus up to £1,000/year)

How to Transfer CTF to an ISA

Step	Action
1	Choose which ISA you want to transfer to
2	Open the ISA with your chosen provider (many accept transfers from CTFs)
3	Ask the new ISA provider to initiate a transfer — do not withdraw and re-deposit
4	The transfer usually takes 2–4 weeks
5	No annual allowance is used

Do not withdraw and re-deposit. If you take the cash out and then put it into an ISA, it counts against your annual £20,000 ISA allowance. A direct transfer avoids this.

What to Do With the Money — By Goal

Emergency Fund

Detail	Guidance
How much	3–6 months of essential expenses
Where to keep it	Cash ISA or easy-access savings account
Why first	Having an emergency fund prevents debt when unexpected costs arise

Saving for a House Deposit

Detail	Guidance
Best vehicle	Lifetime ISA (LISA) — 25% government bonus on up to £4,000/year
Maximum bonus	£1,000 per year (£32,000 total from age 18 to 50)
Property price limit	Must be buying your first home for under £450,000
Penalty for non-property withdrawal	25% of the amount withdrawn (before age 60)

Related: Lifetime ISA Guide

Long-Term Investing

Detail	Guidance
Best vehicle	Stocks and Shares ISA
Time horizon	5+ years minimum
Expected returns	5%–8% average annual returns over the long term (not guaranteed)
Risk	Value goes up and down — only invest money you won’t need for 5+ years
£2,000 invested at 18, left for 40 years at 7%/year	Could grow to approximately £30,000

Paying Off Debt

If you have high-interest debt (credit cards, overdrafts), using your CTF money to clear it may be the best financial decision — the interest saved outweighs any investment return.

If You Don’t Do Anything

What happens	Detail
CTF stays with current provider	Money remains invested or in cash
No penalty	There is no deadline to act
BUT	CTF products often have higher fees than ISAs
And	You may have limited investment options
Your right to the money	The money is yours — nobody else can access it

Common Questions

Question	Answer
Can my parents take the money?	No — only the named account holder (you) can access it from age 18
Do I pay tax on CTF money?	No — growth in a CTF is tax-free. However, if you withdraw and put it in a normal savings account, future interest may be taxable
What if I can’t find which provider has my CTF?	Use the HMRC tool at gov.uk or call 0300 200 3300
Can I transfer part of the CTF to an ISA?	Yes — you can do a full or partial transfer
Is there a deadline to claim?	No — the money is yours indefinitely. But the sooner you move it to a competitive ISA, the better
What about Junior ISAs?	If your CTF was transferred to a Junior ISA, the same rules apply at 18

Action Checklist

Step	Action	Done?
1	Find your CTF at gov.uk/child-trust-funds	☐
2	Check how much is in the account	☐
3	Decide what to do with it (ISA transfer, LISA, withdraw)	☐
4	If transferring to ISA — open the ISA and request a transfer	☐
5	If opening a LISA — consider using the annual £4,000 limit for the 25% bonus	☐
6	Set up regular contributions to your new ISA if possible	☐

Child Trust Fund Turning 18 — How to Access Your Money and What to Do With It

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