Find a Lost Child Trust Fund Account

If you were born in the UK between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011, there is a chance you have a Child Trust Fund (CTF) account that you have forgotten about. The money may have been opened for you by your parents, deposited by the government or built up through later contributions and investment growth.

And it may be worth considerably more than you expect.

The latest HMRC statistics show that the average Child Trust Fund was worth £2,242 in April 2025. A separate figure for matured accounts that were still continuing as CTFs was £1,980, which helps explain why figures around £1,900 are often associated with forgotten accounts.

The good news is that you do not need to remember the provider, find old paperwork or pay a tracing company to locate the account. HMRC provides a free service that can tell you where your Child Trust Fund is held.

This guide explains who can have a CTF, how to find a lost account, what happens when you turn 18, what happens if your parents opened it, how the money can be accessed, and what to do if you cannot find your original documents.

How to Find and Claim a Lost Child Trust Fund

What exactly is a Child Trust Fund?

A Child Trust Fund is a long-term, tax-free savings or investment account created for eligible children in the UK.

The scheme was introduced in 2005 and was designed to give children a financial asset that they could access when they reached adulthood. It closed to new accounts in 2011, but millions of existing accounts continued to hold money.

According to HMRC, the scheme covered children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011. The money belongs to the child, not the parent who opened or managed the account.

There were different types of Child Trust Funds, including:

• Cash accounts
• Stakeholder accounts
• Non-stakeholder investment accounts

The type of account matters because investment-based CTFs could rise or fall in value, while cash-based accounts generally operated more like savings products.

Could you really have £1,900 or more waiting for you?

Yes, although £1,900 should not be treated as a guaranteed amount.

The value of a Child Trust Fund depends on several factors, including the initial government payment, additional contributions, investment performance, fees and how long the money remained invested or saved.

HMRC's latest published statistics show an average CTF market value of £2,242 in April 2025. Stakeholder accounts averaged £2,050, while non-stakeholder accounts averaged £2,737. Matured accounts that continued as CTFs averaged £1,980.

That means an account worth around £1,900 is entirely plausible, but individual balances can be much lower or substantially higher.

For example, one young person might discover an account containing only a few hundred pounds, while another could find several thousand pounds because family members regularly contributed.

The initial government payments also varied. HMRC has said eligible children received an initial government contribution of at least £250 under the scheme.

Who is likely to have a Child Trust Fund?

You may have a CTF if:

1. You were born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011.
2. You were living in the UK and met the eligibility rules at the time.
3. A Child Trust Fund was opened for you.

You do not necessarily need to remember your parents discussing the account.

That is one of the reasons so many accounts have remained unclaimed. Parents may have opened an account years ago, moved house, changed their contact details or simply forgotten about it.

In some cases, HMRC automatically opened an account when the required arrangements were not made by the child's family.

How many Child Trust Funds remain unclaimed?

The number is substantial.

In April 2026, HM Treasury and HMRC said more than 750,000 Child Trust Fund accounts remained unclaimed, with the government estimating their average value at around £2,200.

Earlier HMRC figures published in September 2025 reported approximately 758,000 matured accounts still unclaimed, with an average value of £2,242.

That makes checking particularly worthwhile if you fall within the relevant birth-date range.

How do you find a lost Child Trust Fund?

The simplest route is through HMRC's official Child Trust Fund tracing service.

HMRC provides a free online service that allows eligible people to find out which provider holds their CTF. You need to use the HMRC service and provide the required identifying information.

You can access the official service through HMRC's Child Trust Fund enquiries service.

The process is broadly:

1. Go to the official GOV.UK Child Trust Fund service.
2. Select the option to find out where your Child Trust Fund is held.
3. Sign in or obtain the required sign-in details.
4. Provide the information HMRC requests.
5. HMRC identifies the provider holding the account.
6. Contact the provider to establish the account value and arrange access.

The key point is that HMRC is normally helping you locate the provider rather than directly paying out the money.

Once you know which company or financial institution holds the account, the provider's own process takes over.

What information do you need to find your account?

You do not necessarily need your original Child Trust Fund paperwork.

HMRC's service is designed to help people who have lost track of their accounts. You will need to provide the information requested by HMRC so it can identify the correct record.

Depending on your circumstances, this can include personal information such as your name, date of birth and other identifying details.

If you have an old CTF statement, account reference or correspondence from a provider, keep it. It may make the next stage easier.

But do not assume that losing the paperwork means losing the money.

The account exists independently of the piece of paper that originally told your family about it.

What if your parents opened the account?

This is a common source of confusion.

A parent could have opened and managed a Child Trust Fund when you were younger, but the money belongs to the child.

HMRC's guidance states that the money belongs to the child and can normally be taken out when they reach 18. The child can take control of the account from age 16.

So if you are now an adult and your parents opened the account for you, you should normally be the person dealing with the provider once the account has matured.

Your parents may still have old documents, though, so it is worth asking them to check.

A simple question such as:

“Did you ever open a Child Trust Fund for me?”

could save you considerable time.

What happens when you turn 16?

At 16, the account holder can generally take control of the Child Trust Fund.

This does not mean the money can normally be withdrawn at 16.

Instead, the 16-year-old can take over responsibility for managing the account, while the normal maturity age remains 18.

This distinction matters because people sometimes assume that taking control at 16 means the money becomes immediately available.

It does not.

What happens when you turn 18?

At 18, the Child Trust Fund matures.

At that point, the account holder can generally access the money.

The account does not necessarily disappear if you do nothing. Some matured accounts continue as CTFs, while others are claimed or automatically transferred to an ISA, depending on the circumstances and provider arrangements.

HMRC's statistics show that millions of accounts have already matured since the first CTF holders reached 18 in September 2020. Between September 2020 and April 2025, around 3.043 million accounts matured, of which approximately 2.285 million had been claimed or automatically transferred to an ISA.

This is why an older account can still be worth investigating even if you turned 18 several years ago.

Can you withdraw the entire balance?

Once the account has matured and the provider has completed its required checks, you can generally access the money.

The exact procedure depends on the provider.

You may be asked to provide:

• Proof of identity
• Proof of address
• Your date of birth
• Your National Insurance number or other identifying information
• Your CTF account details

The provider will tell you what documentation it requires.

If you have moved since the account was opened, do not be surprised if your current details do not match the provider's historical records.

That does not automatically mean there is a problem. It may simply mean the provider needs additional evidence before releasing the funds.

Is a Child Trust Fund taxable?

One of the major advantages of a CTF is its tax-free status.

HMRC states that there is no tax to pay on income or profits generated within a Child Trust Fund.

For example, if an investment-based CTF grew in value while it remained within the account, the growth was not subject to ordinary income tax or capital gains tax within the CTF.

That does not mean every financial product you move the money into later will have identical tax treatment.

Once you withdraw the money, what you do with it becomes a separate financial decision.

Can you move a Child Trust Fund into a Junior ISA?

There is an important distinction between an existing CTF and a Junior ISA.

You cannot normally hold both for the same child at the same time.

HMRC says that if you open a Junior ISA, you should ask the provider to transfer the Child Trust Fund into it.

For someone who is already 18, the relevant choices may instead involve what happens to a matured account and whether it has already been transferred to an adult ISA.

Do not assume that moving money is automatically the best option. Consider the provider's investment choices, charges, accessibility and your own financial objectives before making a decision.

What if the provider has changed its name?

This is another reason people struggle to locate old accounts.

The financial company that originally held the CTF may have:

• Changed its trading name
• Merged with another company
• Transferred its CTF book
• Sold or transferred accounts to another provider
• Changed its contact details

You should not rely on an old provider name found on a decade-old statement.

HMRC maintains a current list of authorised Child Trust Fund providers, including information about providers and transfers between providers.

You can consult the official HMRC list of Child Trust Fund providers after identifying your provider.

What if you cannot remember your CTF provider?

You do not need to guess.

This is exactly what the HMRC tracing service is intended to solve.

Instead of contacting every bank, building society or investment provider individually, start with HMRC.

This is faster and reduces the risk of sending personal information to the wrong organisation.

Once HMRC tells you which provider has the account, deal directly with that provider.

Should you pay a company to find your Child Trust Fund?

Usually, there is little reason to pay someone simply to locate your CTF.

HMRC's tracing service is free.

That makes paid tracing services an unnecessary first step for most people.

Be particularly cautious if someone contacts you unexpectedly claiming that they can recover a CTF for a fee.

Before providing identification documents, bank details or payment information, verify who you are dealing with.

A legitimate financial provider should be identifiable and should have clear contact details and procedures.

The safest starting point is the official GOV.UK service.

What if you have lost the account number?

Do not panic.

The account number is useful, but losing it does not necessarily mean the account cannot be traced.

HMRC's service exists specifically to help people discover where their CTF is held.

Once the provider is identified, it can explain how to retrieve or verify the account details.

What if the account is worth less than £1,900?

The title figure should never be interpreted as a guaranteed payout.

The average is just that: an average.

Some accounts have very little money because they received limited contributions or experienced different investment outcomes. Others can be worth significantly more.

HMRC's statistics show a wide range of account values, and the average has changed over time. For example, the average CTF market value was £1,911 in 2020–21, compared with £2,242 in April 2025.

So finding £500 does not mean your account was handled incorrectly, and finding £3,000 does not mean every account should contain that amount.

The only reliable way to know your balance is to obtain it from the provider.

What if the account has been automatically transferred?

A matured Child Trust Fund may have been automatically transferred into an ISA in certain circumstances.

This is one reason someone might search for their old CTF and discover that the original account is no longer active in the form they remember.

HMRC's statistics explicitly track matured accounts that were claimed or automatically transferred to an ISA.

If the provider tells you the original CTF matured and was transferred, ask for:

• The date of maturity
• The date of transfer
• The destination account type
• The amount transferred
• The current provider or account reference

That information creates a useful paper trail.

What should you do after finding the money?

Finding the account is only the first decision.

If you are 18 or older and can access the money, avoid treating it as an unexpected spending bonus before deciding what you actually want it to do.

For example, £1,900 could potentially form part of:

• An emergency fund
• A first-home savings pot
• Education or training costs
• A larger long-term investment
• Debt repayment
• A general savings reserve

There is no universal answer.

If you have expensive unsecured debt, reducing that balance may be more valuable than investing the money. If you have no emergency savings, keeping some cash accessible may make sense.

If your financial position is already secure and the money is genuinely long term, investing may be worth considering.

The important point is to separate finding the CTF from deciding what to do with it.

A simple example: finding a forgotten £2,100 account

Imagine someone born in 2006 who vaguely remembers receiving letters about a savings account as a child.

Their parents no longer have the paperwork.

Instead of contacting multiple banks, they use HMRC's free CTF tracing service. HMRC identifies the provider.

The individual then contacts the provider and completes its identity checks.

The provider confirms that the account matured when the person turned 18 and currently contains £2,100.

At this stage, the person has several choices depending on the provider's arrangements and their circumstances.

The lesson is simple: the first challenge is often not saving more money but discovering money that already belongs to you.

What mistakes should you avoid?

Several mistakes can make the process unnecessarily complicated.

Mistake 1: Assuming your parents still control the account

They may have managed it when you were a child, but the money belongs to you.

Mistake 2: Searching only old paperwork

Old statements are useful but not essential.

Mistake 3: Paying a tracing company immediately

HMRC provides a free tracing route.

Mistake 4: Assuming every account is worth £1,900

The £1,900 figure is not a fixed entitlement. Account values vary.

Mistake 5: Spending the money before checking your options

Once you receive the balance, take a moment to decide whether you actually need the money immediately.

Mistake 6: Giving personal information to an unverified organisation

Start with GOV.UK and confirm the identity of the financial provider before sending sensitive documents.

What is the future of Child Trust Funds?

The original Child Trust Fund scheme is no longer open to new accounts, but the legacy of the scheme will continue for years because existing accounts are still maturing and being claimed.

The government's 2026 campaign shows that locating forgotten accounts remains a significant issue. HMRC said it was writing to 21-year-olds whose accounts remained unclaimed because that age is likely to coincide with more recent interactions with HMRC or student finance and therefore potentially more reliable contact information.

The broader trend is clear: as more CTF holders reach adulthood, the focus is shifting from creating accounts to helping account holders locate, understand and use them.

Technology is also likely to make financial account tracing easier over time, particularly as government and financial institutions improve digital identification and account information services.

However, the basic principle is unlikely to change: the account holder still needs to establish their identity and deal with the relevant provider before accessing the money.

What should you do if you think you have a lost CTF today?

The practical route is straightforward:

1. Check your date of birth. If you were born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011, investigate whether you were eligible.
2. Ask your parents. They may remember opening an account or have old correspondence.
3. Use HMRC's free tracing service.
4. Identify the provider.
5. Contact the provider directly.
6. Complete identity and ownership checks.
7. Find out the current balance.
8. Check whether the account has matured or been transferred.
9. Decide what to do with the money.
10. Keep the provider's documentation for your records.

You do not need to solve every part of the process at once.

The most useful first step is simply finding out whether an account exists.

Key Insights

• A forgotten Child Trust Fund could be worth thousands. The latest HMRC figures put the average CTF value at £2,242 as of April 2025.
• £1,900 is not a guaranteed balance. Individual accounts can be worth substantially less or more.
• You can trace a lost CTF for free. HMRC provides an official service to identify where an account is held.
• Parents may have opened the account, but the money belongs to the child. The account holder normally gets access at 18.
• You can take control at 16, but normal access to the money begins at 18.
• Millions of CTFs have already matured. Many have been claimed or automatically transferred to ISAs.
• Do not pay a tracing company before checking HMRC. The official tracing service is free.
• Finding the money and spending the money are separate decisions. Consider savings, debt, investment and other financial priorities before withdrawing or using the balance.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I find my lost Child Trust Fund?

Use HMRC's free online Child Trust Fund tracing service. It is designed to tell you which provider holds your account. Once the provider is identified, contact it directly to establish the balance and arrange access.

2. How much is the average Child Trust Fund worth?

HMRC reported that the average Child Trust Fund had a market value of £2,242 in April 2025. Matured accounts that were still continuing as CTFs averaged £1,980. Individual balances vary considerably.

3. Who qualifies for a Child Trust Fund?

The CTF scheme covered eligible children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011. Eligibility depended on the scheme's rules at the time, so being born within the dates alone should not be treated as an absolute guarantee that an account exists.

4. Can my parents take money from my Child Trust Fund?

The money belongs to the child. Parents could manage the account while the child was younger, but the account holder normally gains control at 16 and can access the money at 18.

5. Can I find my Child Trust Fund without the account number?

Yes. HMRC provides a tracing service specifically to help people discover where their CTF is held. You do not need to rely solely on an old account statement or account number.

6. Is the Child Trust Fund tracing service free?

Yes. HMRC's official service for finding where a Child Trust Fund is held is free. There is normally no reason to pay a third party simply to perform the basic tracing process.

7. What happens to a Child Trust Fund when you turn 18?

The account matures when the holder reaches 18. Depending on the circumstances and provider arrangements, the account may be claimed or transferred to an ISA. HMRC's statistics track both outcomes.

8. Can I withdraw my entire Child Trust Fund at 18?

Generally, once the CTF has matured and the provider has completed its required identity checks, the account holder can access the money. The exact withdrawal procedure depends on the provider.

9. Is money in a Child Trust Fund tax-free?

Yes. HMRC states that there is no tax to pay on income or profits generated within a Child Trust Fund.

10. Can I transfer a Child Trust Fund to a Junior ISA?

A Child Trust Fund and Junior ISA cannot normally be held simultaneously for the same child. HMRC says that if a Junior ISA is opened, the CTF should be transferred into it.

11. What if my Child Trust Fund provider has changed its name?

Check the current HMRC list of authorised CTF providers. Providers can change names, merge or transfer accounts, so an old statement may not show the current organisation responsible for the account.

12. How many Child Trust Funds are still unclaimed?

In April 2026, the government said more than 750,000 CTF accounts remained unclaimed. HMRC had previously reported approximately 758,000 matured accounts still unclaimed in September 2025.

13. Was every Child Trust Fund worth £1,900?

No. £1,900 is not a standard payment or guaranteed balance. The value depends on contributions, the original account type, investment performance and other factors. HMRC's current average is higher than £1,900.

14. Can I still find my Child Trust Fund if I am over 18?

Yes. The account does not become irrelevant simply because you have passed your 18th birthday. Many matured accounts remain unclaimed, and HMRC continues to encourage young adults to trace them.

15. What should I do after finding my Child Trust Fund?

First confirm the balance and whether the account has matured or been transferred. Then consider your financial circumstances before deciding whether to withdraw, save, invest or use the money for another purpose.

Final Thoughts

A forgotten Child Trust Fund is one of those financial surprises that can be easy to overlook. You may have heard about the account once as a child, seen a statement years ago or have no memory of it whatsoever.

That does not mean the money has disappeared.

The latest HMRC figures show that the average CTF was worth £2,242 in April 2025, and the government says more than 750,000 accounts remain unclaimed.

If you were born within the scheme's qualifying period, checking is worthwhile. Start with HMRC's free tracing service rather than paying someone else to search for you.

Once you locate the provider, establish the balance, confirm whether the account has matured and then decide what the money should do for you.

The biggest mistake would be assuming that a forgotten account is too

old, too small or too difficult to find.

For many people, the first step takes only a few minutes: check whether you have a Child Trust Fund and find out where it is held.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and research purposes only. Company details, features, services, and market positions may change over time. Readers are advised to visit official company websites and conduct independent research before making any business decisions or purchasing services.