Halifax share dealing ISA review: Is it worth it?

Disclaimer: The information in this article is for reference purposes only. Wise does not offer to buy or sell stocks, and all information on this page should not be considered financial advice. All investment decisions should be made after thorough research and consultation with a qualified financial advisor. Remember that investments, even in low-risk funds, are never guaranteed and your capital is at risk.

Looking to invest in a stocks and shares ISA? Whether you’re new to investing or are transferring an ISA from another provider, you’ll have lots of different investment ISAs to choose from.

One of these is the Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA, also known as the Halifax Share Dealing ISA.

To find out if it’s the right option for you, read on.

We’ve put together a comprehensive Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA Review covering everything you need to know - including trading fees, commission, key features, eligibility and much more.

So, let’s dive right in.

Who the Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA is best for?

The Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA is suitable for anyone looking to make a long-term investment in the stock market, without having to pay tax on any gains.

This includes both new and more experienced investors. Investments can be managed via the simple, user-friendly Halifax Share Dealing platform, and there’s a wide range of investments to choose from.

It’s also best for people who prefer and are happy to manage their investments online, rather than those who want face-to-face or over the phone assistance.

Read more about how stocks and shares ISAs work below.

📚How stocks and shares ISAs work

Who can open an account?

To be eligible for the Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:¹

• Be a UK tax resident
• Be at least 18 years old
• Not be a US citizen or taxpayer.

To apply, you’ll need your National Insurance (NI) number, current and previous home addresses, your debit card and linked bank account details.

What currencies are supported?

Your Halifax Share Dealing ISA is denominated in British pounds (GBP), and all trades will be carried out in GBP.

You can of course invest in international shares using your ISA and the Halifax Share Dealing platform, but a currency conversion will need to be carried out - this has an exchange rate fee of 1.25%.²

Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA features

Now, let’s take a look at the key features of the Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA:²

• Wide choice of investments - choose from UK and international shares, funds, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), bonds and gilts
• Choose how you want to invest - a lump sum at any time, or small amounts regularly via the commission-free Halifax regular investment plan
• Trade using the innovative Halifax Share Dealing platform, online or via the Halifax mobile banking app.
• Get a free Share Dealing Account when you open a Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA.

It’s important to note that this is not a flexible ISA. This means that anything you withdraw and then pay back in during the same tax year will count towards your ISA allowance.

Read more about how regular Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) work below.

📚How ISAs work

Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA fees

Before you open any kind of ISA or investment account, you’ll need to know exactly how much it’s going to cost you.

Here are the main fees you need to know about for the Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA:²

Fee	Amount
Account fee	£36 a year
Online UK trades	£9.50 commission per trade for shares and funds
Online international trades	£0 commission 1.25% foreign exchange rate
Regular scheduled investments	£0 commission
Telephone trades	£25 per trade

Does the Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA have an account fee?

Yes, there is a customer admin fee of £36 a year (£3 a month) to hold a Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA.²

Trading fees with Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA

You’ll pay commission fees of £9.50 per trade to buy or sell shares or funds. You should also note that if you invest in a fund, there will also be an ongoing charge paid directly to the fund manager (along with any relevant government taxes and levies).²

This £9.50 trading fee is only for online trades. If you carry out any trades over the phone, there’s a whopping £25 dealing commission fee to pay per trade.²

Halifax also mentions ‘offer times’, where commission fees for online trades reduces to just £3.50.³

There are no commission fees for regular scheduled investments, or for international trading - although foreign exchange charges of 1.25% will still apply.²

How much does Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA charge for UK stocks?

There’s just one flat fee of £9.50 for buying or selling UK shares with your Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA.² As you’ll be trading in GBP, you’ll also avoid any additional foreign exchange charges.

Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA withdrawal fees

Halifax doesn’t charge a fee for cash withdrawals from its Stocks and Shares ISA, so you can withdraw freely, whenever you want.

Just be aware though that this isn’t a flexible ISA, so anything you withdraw and then put back will count towards your ISA allowance for the tax year.

Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA commission fees

Halifax charges commission fees of £9.50 per trade on UK shares and funds trading. There’s no commission for regular scheduled investments or international trading (although FX fees will apply).²

How to buy stock with Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA

Before you can start buying stock, you’ll need to make sure you have your Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA fully up and running.

This means opening your ISA online and downloading the Halifax mobile banking app (if you want to use it). When you open your ISA, a free Halifax Share Dealing Account will be automatically opened for you free of charge.

All sorted? Now you simply need to follow these steps to start trading:⁴

1. Sign into your Halifax Share Dealing account online or via the Halifax mobile app
2. Fund your account - go to ‘fund and withdraw’ in the account management section, then select ‘transfer money in’. You can then enter the amount and choose the linked debit card or bank account you want to use to fund the account.
3. Place a trade - start by selecting ‘dealing’, the type of investment you’d like to make and whether you’re buying or selling.
4. Enter the company code or stock company name
5. Enter either the number or value of stock you’d like to buy and select ‘continue’. You’ll need to make sure you have enough in your account to cover the cost of the investment as well as the trading charges.
6. Check the details carefully and confirm.

Learn how to buy shares in the UK and what you need to know below.

📚How to buy shares

Buying stock in another currency?

Buying or selling a stock or shares that aren’t traded in your local currency? Don’t let the currency conversion trip you up. Convert your stocks or shares into any currency with our handy tool, and you’ll always know what you’re getting.

Check out our international stock ticker tool.

Explore international stocks 🌍

Disclaimer: Wise's international stock ticker provides information for reference purposes only. This tool and platform does not offer to buy or sell stocks, and the data displayed here should not be considered financial advice. All investment decisions should be made after thorough research and consultation with a qualified financial advisor. We make no guarantees regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information provided, and users should exercise caution and seek professional guidance when making investment choices.

How is the Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA mobile app?

You can use the Halifax mobile banking app for managing your Stocks and Shares ISA.

It’s available for both Android and iOS devices, and lets you check your portfolio at any time. You can also use it to browse, buy and sell investments.⁵

Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA customer service

If you need help with your Halifax Share Dealing ISA, you can contact customer service via web chat.

Alternatively, you can call 0345 722 5525 for share dealing general enquiries and dealing.

Both web chat and the phone line are available Monday to Friday, 8am to 9pm.⁶

Alternatives to the Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA

Of course, Halifax isn’t the only provider of stocks and shares ISAs in the UK. There are plenty of alternatives you can choose from, such as:

• Barclays Investment ISA
• HSBC Stocks and Shares ISA
• NatWest Stocks and Shares ISA
• Lloyds Share Dealing ISA
• Moneybox Stocks and Shares ISA
• Trading 212 Stocks ISA
• Vanguard Stocks and Shares ISA.

FAQs about investing with Halifax Share Dealing ISA

How to withdraw from a Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA?

Follow these steps to withdraw money from your ISA:

1. Sign into your account
2. Select ‘fund and withdraw’ from the ‘account management’ section
3. Choose ‘withdraw money out to’ from your chosen account
4. Enter the amount you want to withdraw
5. Select ‘continue’, check the details and confirm.

How long does it take to withdraw money from Halifax Share Dealing ISA?

Halifax doesn’t say how long it takes to withdraw funds from your ISA, so you’ll need to contact the bank to find out.

Can you have more than one ISA with Halifax?

Yes, you can have multiple ISAs (including cash ISAs) with Halifax or any other provider, as long as you don’t exceed your personal limit of £20,000 per tax year.

Grow your international money with Wise

Not sure about using a stocks and shares ISA to help you save?

With a Wise account, you can earn a return by investing your GBP, EUR and USD, and choose how your money is used. Simply select your chosen currency then under ‘Options’, select ‘Earn’ and choose ‘Stocks’ or ‘Interest’.

All your money is held as ‘cash’ by default, so you can’t earn a return on what you spend, but it isn’t at risk in the market.

If you select the ‘Stocks’ option, we’ll invest some or all of your money (you can choose to allocate all or part of your chosen currency) in the index tracking fund we’ve chosen.

And if you opt for Wise Interest you can choose to give us permission to invest all or some of your money in the interest-earning fund we’ve chosen, this will depend on the currency.

Wise Interest can help grow your international money and start earning a return on the pounds, euros and dollars in your account. When you use Wise Interest, you can send and spend your money whenever you want, including your gains and you can transfer up to 10,000 GBP (or equivalent) each day from Interest currencies. Anything above will add a processing time of up to 2 working days.

To protect your account, we may occasionally need to temporarily limit the amount of money you can withdraw, send, or spend daily. In this case you’d still get full access to your money within 2 working days.

We invest your money in government-backed asset funds. This means that when the central bank rates change, your return does too. You can check the 7 day past performance on the Wise Interest page. Past performance doesn't guarantee future growth. Capital at risk. Growth not guaranteed.

Why not turn on Wise Interest, to help boost your money?

Learn more about Wise Interest

Capital at risk. Growth not guaranteed. Wise Assets UK Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority with registration number 839689. When facilitating access to Wise investment products, Wise Payments Ltd acts as an Introducer Appointed Representative of Wise Assets UK Ltd. Please be aware that we do not offer investment advice, and you may be liable for taxes on any earnings. If you’re uncertain, we urge you to seek professional advice. To find out more about the Funds, visit our website.

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Sources used for this article:

1. Halifax - applying for a Stocks and Shares ISA
2. Halifax - Stocks and Shares ISA
3. Halifax - Share dealing charges
4. Halifax - Existing investment customers help
5. Halifax - investing with Halifax
6. Halifax - contact

Sources checked on 18-June-2025