We're in the final stretch. By April 5, the tax year resets, cooling-off periods from new switches won't resolve until May, and interest calculations shift. If you've been thinking about making a financial move, the window is closing—but it's not closed. Not yet.
Here's what you can genuinely still accomplish in these last 12 days, and what you should absolutely avoid.
What Still Arrives in Time
The first thing to understand: you don't need to complete an action by April 5 for it to count this tax year. Bonuses that arrive after April 5 count towards next year's tax position. So if a bank switch bonus lands on April 10, that's next year's income.
However, interest earned on your money works differently. Interest is taxable in the year it's earned, even if you don't receive it until later. This matters because:
Interest accrued in the next few days still counts as 2024/25 income. If your savings account has generated interest that credits on April 6, it's technically earned now—in this tax year. Your Personal Savings Allowance (£1,000 for basic rate taxpayers) has already been used or not used based on income earned by April 5.
Bank bonuses that arrive by April 5 count towards this year. This is why the final week matters. You've got roughly 12 days to find a bonus that clears before the tax year ends.
Are there any still available? Check our live offers page for anything with "instant" or "within 7 days" bonuses. These are rare by late March—most banks have pushed their best deals forward—but they do occasionally exist, especially from smaller challenger banks or accounts with lower eligibility thresholds.
The Stoozing Endgame
If you've been stoozing (using 0% credit cards to earn interest), these final days are about protecting what you've already built, not starting something new.
Your stoozing cards have probably got interest running through April 5 and beyond. The interest accrued by April 5 counts as this year's income. Interest accruing from April 6 onwards counts as next year's.
What to do: Don't close your 0% cards early. Let them run to April 5 if you're in the interest-earning period. But don't start a new 0% stoozing strategy now. The timeline doesn't work. If you open a 0% card today and fund it, the interest won't meaningfully accrue before April 5—you'll miss almost all of this tax year's value.
Instead, get ready for next tax year. Starting April 6, you can begin a fresh stoozing strategy with a new 0% card, and you'll have the full 12 months to let interest accumulate. This is actually better timing than starting mid-year anyway.
Regular Savers: The April Move
Regular saver accounts are built on calendar months, and April is the perfect time to start one. Many paying 5–8% guaranteed returns work on a "contributions from April to March next year" basis.
Right now (late March), this timing matters:
If you open a regular saver today and contribute, you'll only have 12 days to pay in. Most accounts require you to contribute every month to get the full rate, and if you can't contribute in April itself (because the year's just ended), you've broken the monthly requirement. Some banks are flexible, but many aren't.
The smart move: Wait five days. Open your regular saver on April 6 when the new tax year begins. Make your first contribution immediately, then continue monthly. You'll get the full monthly interest rate for a full 12 months without gaps.
On our savings page, you'll find which accounts are best value for savers starting in April. Lock in your selection this week so you're ready to open on April 6.
Joint Accounts: The Forgotten Opportunity
If you're in a relationship and haven't both used your personal switching allowances, a joint account still works—but again, timing is critical.
A joint account switch takes 7–10 working days. If you initiate a switch today (March 24), it lands around April 2–4—potentially within the tax year. Both partners get a bonus if the account qualifies, and it's a one-time deal per couple per year.
The risk: if it lands after April 5, both bonuses count as next year's income. That's not bad—it just changes your tax picture for this year and next.
Check our switching guide for current joint account offers, then use our eligibility checker to confirm you're both eligible. If you go for it, expect the bonus around mid-April and plan accordingly for tax purposes.
What NOT to Do
This is important: don't start a standard personal bank switch now.
A standard UK bank switch takes 7 working days. If you start today, it clears around April 1–2. The switch itself completes in time, but here's the problem: cooling-off periods.
Most switches have a 30-day cooling-off period for any direct debits to be in place (to qualify for bonuses). If your switch completes on April 2 and you need 30 days to set up direct debits, you're dealing with dates extending to May 2. That's fine—you'll still get the bonus—but it creates a stressful May where you're juggling multiple accounts and multiple direct debit deadlines across the tax year boundary.
Plus, if a switch completes after April 5, the bonus belongs to next year's tax year, which may not be what you intended.
The Interest Rate Cliff
Here's something that catches people off guard: if you're waiting for interest to be credited to check your tax allowance, don't wait until April 4 to act.
Banks sometimes take 5–10 working days to credit interest. If interest is due to credit on April 7, it's too late to account for this year. This matters if you're sitting on a high-interest savings account and you're trying to maximize tax-free interest below your Personal Savings Allowance threshold.
Now's the time to ring your banks and confirm when interest will credit. If it's clearing before April 5, note it for your tax return. If it's clearing after, it counts as next year's income.
ISA Season: The Final Days
If you haven't used your full £20,000 ISA allowance for 2024/25, you have until April 5 to transfer funds in. Money that sits in an ISA by April 5 counts towards this year's allowance.
This doesn't require a new bank switch—just a transfer of existing savings into an ISA wrapper. It's quick (typically 3–5 days), and it takes your interest earnings completely out of the tax system.
Strategy: If you've got £5,000–£10,000 in a regular savings account earning interest, moving it to an ISA this week means April's interest accrues tax-free. Then you can move it back to a higher-earning account in April if needed, but this tax year's interest is protected.
Our offers page includes current ISA options if you need a new account.
Bonuses Still Arriving
Even if you've already switched, if the bonus hasn't landed yet, it might arrive before April 5. Check the fine print on your switching confirmation.
If a bonus is due to land after April 5, note the date for next year's tax return. If you're close to a higher income tax threshold or you've already used your Personal Savings Allowance, knowing when the bonus lands helps you forecast your tax bill accurately.
Planning for April 6
The real opportunity starts next week.
On April 6, you enter a completely fresh 12-month period. New ISA allowance (£20,000 again), new tax position, new switching cooling-off periods that won't bleed into next May.
This week, plan for that. Decide:
- Will you do a stoozing strategy? Open the account after April 5.
- Will you switch to a high-interest current account? Plan for April/May switches so cooling-off periods end before summer.
- Will you start a regular saver? Have your money ready for April 6.
- Will you use an ISA? Confirm your provider.
Use our rate comparison tool to see what's available for the new year.
Common Questions
Can I still get a switch bonus if I complete the switch after April 5?
Yes, but it'll count as next year's income. The bonus belongs to whichever tax year it arrives in. If you're trying to use it against this year's tax liability, it won't help, but it's still money in your account.
Do I need to complete cooling-off periods before April 5?
No. Cooling-off periods can extend into May. The switch itself needs to complete (roughly 7 days), but direct debit setup can happen after April 5 without penalty. Your bonus will still land after you complete the direct debits, regardless of the tax year boundary.
What if I've used my Personal Savings Allowance already?
If you're a basic-rate taxpayer and you've earned £1,000+ in interest already, any interest from now until April 5 is taxable. You can't reclaim it. This is why moving money to an ISA in the final days matters—it stops further interest from being taxed.
Is it worth starting a new stoozing card this week?
Not for this tax year. You won't earn enough interest in 12 days to make it worthwhile tax-wise. Wait until April 6 and you'll have the full 12-month window.
Can I use my new tax year ISA allowance before April 5?
No. Your £20,000 allowance for 2025/26 doesn't open until April 6. Anything you put in an ISA before April 5 counts against your 2024/25 allowance. This is why moving savings to an ISA now is smart—it uses the final bits of this year's allowance.