Savings rates hit 6% – but beware of the tax bill

Savers can now receive 6 per cent interest if they lock away their money for one year – a rate not seen since 2008.

Charter Savings Bank has launched a one-year, fixed-rate deal that means those with £10,000 in the account will earn £600 in interest over a year. The savings provider also launched a two-year deal paying 6.1 per cent.

Savings rates have been rising at a relentless pace in recent weeks, with providers clambering over one another to seize the top spot on best-buy lists and entice savers.

Challenger bank SmartSave upped its one-year, fixed rate 14 times last month alone as it bid to be the market leader. However, Anna Bowes, co-founder of rates scrutineer Savings Champion, believes rates on fixed-rate deals may be nearing their peak.

‘Savers could consider locking up some of their cash for a bit longer at the rates that are currently available, as in a year’s time they could be lower,’ she says.

However, as rates rise, savers are at an increasing risk of being hit with a tax bill on their interest.

That is because the personal savings allowance allows basic rate taxpayers to earn only £1,000 interest tax-free each year, while higher rate taxpayers only get a £500 allowance, and additional rate taxpayers get no allowance at all.

A basic rate taxpayer would breach their allowance with more than £16,667 in the best-buy Charter Savings Bank account. An additional rate taxpayer would breach it with more than £8,333. 

Big savers can opt for a cash Individual Savings Account (Isa) in which all interest earned is tax-free. The most competitive one-year fixed-rate Isa is again offered by Charter Savings Bank. It pays 5.2 per cent.