Small Christmas gifts that could mean big futures

Christmas is about giving something that really matters. Imagine a gift that lasts long after the festive season - a gift that could help your child or grandchild reach life’s biggest milestones, such as:

  • Their first car
  • A dream trip abroad
  • College education
  • A deposit for their first home

Instead of cash that disappears, an investment gift can grow over time and help secure their future. With Aviva, you can make tax-smart gifts that are simple to set up and designed to grow with them.

Regular savings – little by little, it adds up

  • Give up to €3,000 per year per child (or €6,000 per couple) without affecting their lifetime tax-free allowance Footnote [1] .
  • Start from just €100 a month.
  • Growth isn’t counted as a gift for tax purposes.
  • Adults manage the funds until the child reaches 18.

Example:

This Christmas, Katie’s parents wanted to give her something more meaningful than toys. They invested their Child Benefit allowance of €140 per month Footnote [2] into an Aviva Children’s Savings Investment Trust. Over 10 years, assuming 6% annual growth and allowing for charges, their gift could grow to about €20,000 before tax by the time Katie turns 18  Footnote [3].

Katie’s grandparents decided to go even further by using the full annual gift allowance. They invested €6,000 per year for Katie for ten years through Aviva’s Children’s Savings Investment Trust. Under the same assumptions, their contribution could grow to over €70,000 before tax, giving Katie a strong financial foundation for her future Footnote [3] .

Warning: These figures are estimates only. They are not a reliable guide to future performances.

Lump sum investment – a bigger start for their future

  • A child can receive up to €40,000 from grandparents and €400,000 from parents over their lifetime without paying tax4.
  • Start with a lump sum from €10,000.
  • Irish Revenue does not treat investment growth as an extra gift.
  • Adults manage the funds until the child reaches 18.
Warning: These figures are estimates only. They are not a reliable guide to future performances.

Example

John and Mary, proud grandparents, want to give their newborn grandchild a meaningful start. This Christmas, they gift €40,000, which is within the tax-free limit for grandparents. They invest this in the Aviva Children’s Investment Trust. After 18 years, that gift could grow to around €70,000. The first €40,000 is tax-free, and the extra €30,000 growth only attracts exit tax, which Aviva deducts and pays to Revenue—not CATFootnote [4]

Warning: These figures are estimates only. They are not a reliable guide to future performances.

Why choose investments over cash?

With an investment you’re not just giving money—you’re giving possibilities. A thoughtful investment today could help them take their first steps toward a brighter future.

Ready to make it happen?

Talk to your financial broker today about Aviva’s savings and investment options. They’ll guide you through the best solution for your family.

Find a financial broker and learn more about saving for children with Aviva.

Warnings

Important information to consider.

Remember that tax laws can change over time, so it is important to check revenue.ie for the latest information.  The information provided is accurate at the time this article was created in December 2025. You should not base your decision to invest in this product solely on the information on this web page. You should seek professional tax and legal advice to satisfy yourself of your own tax position and the legal responsibilities of trustees. The information given is a guideline only. Aviva Life & Pensions Ireland DAC accepts no responsibility for monitoring CAT thresholds or for any CAT liabilities that may arise.
The funds referred to in this article may be linked to an insurance-based investment product and the Key Information Document (KID) for this product is available at www.aviva.ie/KIDs. The Risk Ratings of the funds referred to in this article differ from the corresponding Summary Risk Indicators shown in the KID.

Terms and Conditions apply.

Warning: Past performance is not a reliable guide to future performance.

Warning: The value of your investment may go down as well as up.

Warning: If you invest in this product, you may lose some or all of the money you invest.

Warning: These funds may be affected by changes in currency exchange rates.