Frequently Asked Questions

Because of HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) rules regarding ISA stock eligibility it is not possible to provide an exhastive list of accepted stocks. However the HMRC guidelines for acceptable stocks are detailed below. If you are being prevented from trading a stock you believe eligible to be held in an ISA please contact our customer services team on 0845 607 6001 who will be able to check the stock on your behalf.

UK / Irish Listed Ordinary Shares (Incl PLUS/AIM)

Stock must:

• be listed on a recognised Stock Exchange
• not be exclusively* listed on either AIM, PLUS, Irish Exploration or Irish Unclassified Markets

Important Notes

* AIM listed securities that are also listed on a recognised exchange (e.g. NASDAQ, ASX) may qualify.

Lyxor Gold Bullion Securities (GBS) does not qualify for inclusion in a ISA

Residual Stocks & Preference Shares

Residual stocks do qualify for ISA's

Most Preference Shares (e.g. Zero Dividend/Fixed Interest) do qualify, however please check before trading if you are unsure

Unit Trusts, Investment Trusts and OEIC's

Although most of these securities do qualify, the best way to verify is to call our Customer Services team so that we can check to ensure it qualifies

International Securities

UK London International

HM Revenue & Customs have not confirmed if London International Stock is eligible to be held in an ISA. As a business decision, we do not allow customers to buy such stock within their ISA. Those who already hold London International Stock can continue to do so, or sell their holding.

United States

• New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
• Nasdaq (National and Small Cap Markets) - NOT Nasdaq OTC BB or Pink Sheets
• American Stock Exchange (AMEX)

NEX and CNQ listed stocks NOT allowed in ISAs

Canada

• Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE)
• Toronto Venture Exchange (TVE) Tiers 1 and 2 Ordinary stocks only (Tier 3 does not qualify)

France

• Paris Bourse
• CAC 40, SBF 120, SBF 150, MID CAC, Premier Marche, Nouveau Second - Not Nouveau Marche.

Germany

• Deutsche Borse (Frankfurt Xetra)
• DAX 30, NEMAX 50, EUROSTOXX 50, SMAX - Not Open and Newex Markets

Italy

Stocks that are officially listed on the Borsa Italiana will qualify for holding within an ISA wrapper. Other Italian markets do not qualify

Holland

• Amsterdam Exchange (AEX)
• MIDCAP, Estars, E100.

Spain

• Bolsa De Madrid
• IGBM.

Switzerland

• Virt-X
• SMI (SWX Market), SPI (SWX Performance), SNMI (SWX New).

Sweden

• Stockholmsbörsen
• SX Composite, SX 16, SX OTC, SX 0 and 9.

Belgium

• Brussels
• BEL 20, BAS (All Share), Mid Cap, Small Cap.

Australia

• ASX

Hong Kong

• Hang Seng.

Singapore

• SGX.

Futures, Options, Contracts for Differences (CFD) Warrants and Covered Warrants

None of these investments qualify.

Nil Paid Rights

Are not qualifying investments so cannot be purchased in the Open Market.

For Rights Issues within an ISA, Customer's have the option to either:

• Sell the Nil Paid Rights and retain the proceeds in the account.
• Take up the rights inside the ISA (using available cash on the account)
• Take up the rights outside the ISA using cash from outside the account
• Take up some shares inside and some shares outside the ISA
• Allow the rights to lapse and possibly receive a lapsed rights payment (this can be retained in the account)

UK Gilt-Edged (Treasury) Securities

Security qualifies if the instrument:

• is at least five years away from redemption (e.g. Treasury 8 3/4% 2017)
• is undated (irredeemable)

Building Society PIBS (Permanent Interest Bearing Shares)

All PIBS qualify (all PIBS are irredeemable).

Corporate Bonds & Loan Notes

Security qualifies if the instrument:

• is at least five years away from redemption,
• has a fixed or 'nil' interest rate (not floating or variable).
• has a qualifying underlying instrument (e.g. NMT Group Loan Notes do not qualify because NMT Group Ordinary Shares are quoted on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM)).

Cash

Cash is a non-qualifying investment.

The HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will not allow cash to remain un-invested in a Plan indefinitely

Commodities, e.g. Metals, Oil.

Commodities are non-qualifying investments