In some countries, such as the United States and Switzerland, you are able to give a gift savings account to a child. While this is not permitted in Australia, there are other ways to gift savings.
Can I gift a savings account to my child or grandchild?
Technically, you cannot gift a savings account to a child in Australia. But a parent, legal guardian or grandparent can open an account in the name of the child. These savings accounts are in the child's name, but managed by the adult until the child reaches an age where they are mature enough to take on the responsibility themselves. Opening a savings account for a child, could be used to help teach children budgeting, saving and managing their money.
The money in the account is earning interest, and in order to be considered a child’s account, it cannot be used for normal child-rearing expenses. Depending on the account balance, the child named on the account may be subject to tax on their interest earnings.
Loretta has decided that this year for Christmas she is going to open a savings account in the name of her grandchild Brian with Suncorp Bank. As his legal guardian, she realises that she is permitted to do so as long as she can provide Suncorp with a copy of his birth certificate. With this account, her grandson can earn bonus interest when a monthly deposit requirement is met, and electronic deposits can be set up from her own bank account or from anyone else.
* This is a fictional, but realistic, example.
What are the tax implications of opening a savings account for a child?
For a savings account held in the name of the child, there is a tax-free threshold of $416 per financial year. Anything above $416 would need to be included on a tax return and will be taxed at the highest current tax rate. Who fills out the tax return with the interest from the savings account depends on who owns and uses the funds.
Example 1. If a parent deposits money into the account and withdraws funds to pay for school expenses, any interest earned must be included on that parent's tax return.
Example 2. If parents or other family members simply deposit money into the account, the interest belongs to the child and will need to be lodged in a tax return on behalf of the child.
Finder survey: What savings account features do Australians value most?
Response
A competitive interest rate
62.31%
A bank I know and trust
52.59%
No restrictions on monthly withdrawals
31.97%
A simple application process
21.81%
The connected transaction account
15.98%
A low deposit requirement
13.17%
Extra features like round-ups or savings buckets
4.75%
None of the above
4.21%
Other
2.81%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1113 Australians, December 2023
What's the youngest age you can open an account for a child?
There is no minimum age limit to open a bank or savings account for a child, but you will need to check with the individual bank for full eligibility criteria. Some banks have different savings accounts for children of different ages.
While there is not a minimum age for a savings account, there are maximum ages. Some accounts are for children under 14, some for under 16 and others for under 18.
Other ways to gift savings to children
A high interest savings account or a term deposit is an alternative to a standard savings account. Of course, the same rules would apply in terms of tax on interest earnings and parental access.
If you're looking to avoid tax implications, you could start them off with a simple piggy bank where they put their spare change away for a rainy day purchase.
An insurance bond can also be established in a child’s name and work like a managed fund to save toward educational or other large expenses. There are also tax advantages to opening this type of gift savings product that make holding onto it for an extended period of time worthwhile.
The Australian Unity Freedom Saver account lets you earn a competitive rate on balances between $50,000 and $250,000. Learn more about this high interest savings account.
The Australian Unity Freedom Saver account lets you earn a competitive rate on balances between $250,001 and $500,000. Learn more about this high interest savings account.
Rebecca Pike is Finder's senior writer for money. She joined Finder after almost four years writing for business publications in the mortgage and finance industry, including three years as editor of Mortgage Professional Australia. She regularly appears as a money expert on programs like Sunrise and Today, as well as across radio and newspapers. She also holds ASIC-recognised certifications in Tier 1 Generic Knowledge and Tier 2 General Advice Deposit Products.
The Bank of Melbourne Investment cash Account has no monthly fees. This account is a cash hub to help you manage your investments. Read our review and apply online.
Rabobank PremiumSaver account is an option worth considering for savers looking to boost their savings balance, offering no ongoing fees, a competitive variable rate and 24/7 online access to your funds.
We’re a financial comparison site and can’t give you any personal advice as to which products are best for you. You can learn more about opening a bank account for a baby and see a list of kids’ savings accounts on this page.
Application requirements can vary between different international share trading account providers. Generally, the age requirement for personal applicants would be over 18 years old. This guide on international share trading might provide more insight.
It would be best to check this directly with the Share Trading Provider so you can confirm what they can offer you based on your preferences.
Sorry, I mistakenly posted the first part of my email before I had finished. My question is this – I was thinking of sending £600 to £1000 once a year to my Australian grandchild directly to his bank account. Of course, the exact $AUD amount depends on the currency exchange at the time. Is there a maximum that can be deposited/gifted by a grandparent? Thank you.
This will depend on which bank the child’s savings account was opened, best to confirm this with the bank. While most banks do not have a maximum deposit limit, there is, however, a maximum interest that can be earned by the child account for the financial year that is considered tax-free, as mentioned in the case study above.
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What is the best account and bank to open a bank savings account for my new born son?
Hi David,
We’re a financial comparison site and can’t give you any personal advice as to which products are best for you. You can learn more about opening a bank account for a baby and see a list of kids’ savings accounts on this page.
Thanks,
Alison
I would like to save some money for my grandson.
Bank accounts / term deposits have low interest rates
Can I open a share account for him?
Hi Tricia,
Thank you for your inquiry.
Application requirements can vary between different international share trading account providers. Generally, the age requirement for personal applicants would be over 18 years old. This guide on international share trading might provide more insight.
It would be best to check this directly with the Share Trading Provider so you can confirm what they can offer you based on your preferences.
I hope this helps.
Best,
Maria
Sorry, I mistakenly posted the first part of my email before I had finished. My question is this – I was thinking of sending £600 to £1000 once a year to my Australian grandchild directly to his bank account. Of course, the exact $AUD amount depends on the currency exchange at the time. Is there a maximum that can be deposited/gifted by a grandparent? Thank you.
Hi Itsivm,
Thanks for your question.
This will depend on which bank the child’s savings account was opened, best to confirm this with the bank. While most banks do not have a maximum deposit limit, there is, however, a maximum interest that can be earned by the child account for the financial year that is considered tax-free, as mentioned in the case study above.
I hope this has helped.
Cheers,
Liezl