The Best Transfer Card

You can still bag a top-paying cash Isa for this tax year

Move fast and you can still bag a top-paying Isa for this tax yearIf you haven't used your cash Isa allowance for this year, there's still time to grab a top tax-free savings account. But you'll have to move fast if you want to get your money in place by the end of the tax year.

Savers technically have until midnight on Tuesday (5 April) to use this year's tax-free allowance of £5,100 – the amount each of us is allowed to put in a cash Isa for this tax year. In reality, you need to get on the case right now.

There are three top-paying instant access cash Isa accounts still available for this tax year. They are:

• The Barclays Golden Isa (Issue 3), paying a variable 3.25%, which includes a fixed-rate, 12-month introductory bonus of 1%. Non-Barclays customers must apply in branch before closing time on Tuesday. Existing online customers can apply online or by phone until 11pm on Tuesday. This account doesn't allow "transfers in" of existing Isa balances.

• Halifax's Isa Direct Reward , which pays a variable 3% (some existing current account holders get 3.2%). Branch applications in person close on Tuesday at 5pm. If you are phoning, you have until 8pm, while online applicants have until midnight. You can transfer previous Isas into this account.

• The Santander Flexible Isa pays the top rate of 3.3%. It tracks at 2.8% above the Bank of England base rate for 12 months, and 3.3% is the "guaranteed minimum" during that period. But after 12 months the rate will fall to just 0.5%. The online application deadline has passed, but you can still apply in branch or by phone up until close of play on Tuesday, though you should make an appointment for a branch visit. Again, no transfers in are allowed.

If you applying for this tax year, you need to hand over the cash by the deadline. If you are applying in person, a cheque is usually deemed acceptable. If you are opening an account online or by phone, you need to transfer the money across. It is worth making sure the money will get into the account before the midnight deadline.

Equally, don't worry if you miss the deadline, as it looks as if these three accounts will still be available into the new tax year, which starts on Wednesday. The maximum savers will be allowed to deposit in a cash Isa in the new tax year will rise to £5,340.

Another account worth mentioning is Nationwide's e-Isa . It pays 3.1% (which includes a 1.35% bonus fixed until 31 July 2012), but you need to be an existing card account holder to open it. It allows transfers in of previous balances but you have left it too late to deposit any of this tax year's allowance.

What is the best credit card to get with low interest where you ...

I assume you feel you are paying too much in interest charges? Second, there is no such thing as a perfect credit card. I know you might not like my answer, but if you take your annual savings in interest and just invest it in a good "Money Market Account", you will then earn interest (around 4-5 percent annually, It will keep your money ahead of inflation) instead of paying interest each and every month. If you want a little more aggressive investment you could look at some good mutual funds. You could easily earn between 8-10 percent a year on your money. The savings alone from not paying any interest will more than make up for a few lost travel points. I mean think about it. They really do not just give you those points… Somebody has to pay from them. Why pay more than you have to.

Sincerely

Debt Free

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