Child Trust Fund

A Child Trust Fund (CTF) is a long-term tax-free savings account for children. All children eligible for a CTF account should now have one. 

!!!! Child Trust Funds are closed to new accounts !!!!

You may be able to open a Junior ISA instead.

Eligibility

Your child was entitled if all of the following applied:

• they were born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011
• you were paid Child Benefit for them for at least one day before 4 January 2011
• your child was living in the UK
• they weren’t subject to any immigration restrictions or it no longer applied before 3 April 2011

If your child is looked after by a local council

They got a CTF account if both the following applied:

• they were looked after by a local council before 3 April 2011
• they meet the other qualifying conditions above (excluding child benefit)

If you work overseas and get a European family benefit

Your child got a CTF account if all of the following applied:

• they were born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011
• your child lived in the UK
• you were paid a family benefit by another European Union country for at least one day before 4 January 2011
• you worked in that same country

How it works

You can add up to £3,840 a year to the account. The money belongs to the child but can’t be taken out until they’re 18.
Your child could have got extra money paid directly into the account - if you were on a low income, for example.
There’s no tax to pay on the CTF income or any profits it makes. It won’t affect any benefits or tax credits you receive.