Stocks & Shares ISA deadlines for 2014/15

With the end of the tax year falling over Easter, deadlines to open and fund or top up investment ISAs are likely to vary depending on how you do it.

The deadline for savers to take advantage of their 2014/15 ISA allowance is fast approaching, but this year there is even more urgency as the last day of the tax year (5th April) falls on Easter Sunday.

So if you want to make the most of your £15,000 tax-free allowance, don't leave it until the last minute to open a Stocks & Shares ISA. The bank holiday means ISA providers are operating different deadlines which you may have already missed.

The table below covers the deadlines we know about so far and what you still have time to do.

Open a Stocks & Shares ISAs for 2014/15

AXA Self Investor

AXA Self Investor is an online-only ISA and trading account.

Action	Deadline
Submit ISA application online	Sunday 5th April
Fund /top up ISA online	Sunday 5th April
Fund/top up ISA by electronic bank transfer (CHAPS)	Thursday 2nd April
Fund/top up ISA by electronic bank transfer (BACS)	Deadline passed

Barclays Stockbrokers

Action	Deadline
Submit ISA application online	23:45 Sunday 5th April
Submit ISA application over the phone	14:00 Sunday 5th April
Submit ISA application by post	Saturday 4th April
Fund/top up ISA online	23:45 Sunday 5th April
Fund/top up ISA over the phone	14:00 Sunday 5th April
Fund/top up ISA by cheque	Saturday 4th April
Fund/top up ISA by electronic bank transfer (CHAPS/BACS)	Thursday 2nd April
Transfer investments and cash from a Barclays Stockbrokers Market Master trading account into an ISA	14:00 Sunday 5th April
Using share certificates you already hold via post	Saturday 4th April

Cavendish Online

Action	Deadline
Submit ISA application online	Midnight Sunday 5th April
Submit ISA application over the phone	Midnight Sunday 5th April
Submit ISA application by post	Thursday 2nd April
Fund/top up ISA online	Midnight Sunday 5th April
Fund/top up ISA over the phone	Midnight Sunday 5th April
Fund/top up ISA by cheque	Thursday 2nd April
Bed & ISA (fund ISA using investments from a non-ISA portfolio)	Deadline passed

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley only accepts applications online.

ISA Action	Deadline
Submit ISA application online	Midnight Sunday 5th April
Fund/top up ISA online	Midnight Sunday 5th April
Fund/top up ISA by cheque	Thursday 2nd April
Fund/top up ISA by electronic bank transfer or Faster Payments	Thursday 2nd April
Bed & ISA (fund ISA using investments from a non-ISA portfolio)	Deadline passed

Fidelity

Fidelity says it will have people on-hand at 13 collection points between 8am-6pm on Thursday 2nd April for applications to be dropped-off in person.

The Kingswood and Oakhill offices are also open on Good Friday and during the Easter weekend, right up to the midnight deadline on Sunday 5th April to accept applications, even those delivered in person.

Action	Deadline
Submit ISA application online	Midnight 5th April
Submit ISA application over the phone	Midnight 5th April
Submit ISA application by post	Midnight 5th April (hand delivered)
Fund/top up ISA online	Midnight 5th April
Fund/top up ISA over the phone	Midnight 5th April
Fund/top up ISA by cheque	Midnight 5th April (hand delivered)
Bed & ISA (fund ISA using investments from a non-ISA portfolio)	Deadline passed

Hargreaves Lansdown

Hargreaves Lansdown is no stranger to last minute ISA openings and funding. Last year 111 accounts were opened and 72 top ups were made between 11pm and 12pm.

Action	Deadline
Submit ISA application online	Midnight Sunday 5th April
Submit ISA applications over the phone	Midnight Sunday 5th April
Submit ISA application by post	Thursday 2nd April
Fund/top up ISA online	Midnight Sunday 5th April
Fund/top up ISA over the phone	Midnight Sunday 5th April
Fund/top up ISA by cheque	Thursday 2nd April
Fund/top up ISA by electronic bank transfer or Faster Payments	17.00 Thursday 2nd April
Bed & ISA for funds submitted by post	Deadline passed
Bed & ISA for shares submitted by post	Deadline passed
Bed & ISA for funds submitted online	17:00 Wednesday 1st April
Bed & ISA for shares submitted online	15:00 Thursday 2nd April

Nutmeg

Action	Deadline
Submit ISA application online	23:59 Sunday 5th April
Fund/top up ISA online	23:59 Sunday 5th April
Fund/top up ISA by cheque	Deadline passed
Fund/top up ISA by electronic bank transfer	Deadline passed
Fund/ top up ISA using Faster Payments	Midday Thursday 2nd April
Bed & ISA (fund ISA using investments from a non-ISA portfolio)	Deadline passed

Rplan

Action	Deadline
Submit ISA application online	23:00 Sunday 5th April
Submit ISA application over the phone	n/a
Submit ISA application by post	Midday Saturday 4th April
Fund/top up ISA by cheque	Midday Saturday 4th April
Fund/top up ISA online	23:00 Sunday 5th April
Fund/top up ISA over the phone	n/a
Fund/top up ISA by electronic transfer and Faster Payments	Friday 3rd April
Bed & ISA by post (fund ISA using investments from a non-ISA portfolio)	Midday Saturday 4th April

Opening your investment ISA

You’ll need your national insurance number and a way to fund the account to open your Stocks & Shares ISA. You'll also need to know what other contributions you have made to other ISAs in this tax year.

If the application and subscription are not completed by the given deadlines, it will not qualify as a contribution for the 2014/15 tax year.

Adrian Lowcock, head of investing at AXA Self Investor, said that investors should consider doing their ISA transaction before the banks close for the Easter weekend (Thursday). Then if for some reason the payment fails that means you have some time to call your bank to fix the problem.

Compare Stocks & Shares ISAs for 2014/15

More on ISAs:

Stocks & shares ISA offers and discounts

Peer-to-peer ISAs: what happens next?

The best Cash ISAs for the 2014/15 tax year