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New third kind of ISA could come as part of savings reforms
A new third kind of ISA could be created under plans to reform the savings system, the Treasury has announced this morning.
The Government has begun consulting over extending ISA eligibility to include peer-to-peer loans, which will allow returns to be entirely tax free.
The aim is to increase choice for savers about how they invest.
The overhaul of ISAs was first announced in the Budget, with an equal subscription limits for cash, and stocks and shares, and increasing the overall limit to £15,000.
The P2P loans proposal was also put forward but more details have been released today about the possible options for implementation.
A consultation has been launched, looking at whether P2P loans should be included in existing stocks and shares ISAs, or whether they would be best suited to a new, third type of ISA.
It also seeks views on whether P2P loans should be subject to the same transfer requirements as existing ISA investments, and whether they are suitable assets to be held in Child Trust Funds and Junior ISAs.
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Financial Secretary to the Treasury David Gauke said: "P2P lending is an exciting, innovative new sector and it's right that investors who want to lend money via P2P platforms should be able to hold these loans in their ISA alongside more traditional investments.
"The P2P lending sector matches up individuals with money to lend with individuals or small businesses looking to borrow money, and has been growing at a rate of over 100% per year with over £1.6 billion lent via P2P to date.
"At the moment, the interest that lenders earn from lending money via P2P platforms is taxable, but once P2P loans can be held in ISAs then it will be possible to earn interest entirely tax free.
"Allowing P2P loans to be held in ISAs will provide greater choice to ISA investors, and will support the government's aim to diversify the different sources of finance that are available to borrowers by encouraging the growth of the P2P lending sector."
Mr Gauke said that overall the changes to savings were about greater flexibility and choice.
He said: "That's why as part of our long-term economic plan we announced a radical package of measures at Budget – reducing taxes for the lowest income savers, reforming ISAs and giving people flexibility over their pensions."
The consultation opened today and closes on 12 December.
The Treasury said taking the consultation responses into account, necessary legislation will be amended so that peer-to-peer lending may be included in ISAs.