The process of converting an individual or joint account to grantor trust account is outlined below:

1. As the trust account structure differs from that of the joint account in terms of account holder information required, legal agreements and, in certain cases, taxpayer reporting, direct conversion is not supported and a new trust account application must be completed online and the account balances transferred therafter.  The application is available on our website at: https://www.interactivebrokers.com/inv/en/main.php#open-account. Be sure to request trading permissions and, if necessary, margin status, sufficient to maintain the positions currently carried in your individual account. Note that if your account is managed by a financial advisor or you are a client of an introducing broker, please contact your advisor or broker to initiate the new application (you may need to make arrangements with your advisor or broker for fees that have accrued but not yet paid if the individual account closes).  The trust account application requires Compliance review and approval and documentation including Trustee Certification Form, proof of identity and address for trustees and grantors. A list of required documents and document submission instructions will be provided at the conclusion of the online application.
2. Once you have received an email confirming approval of the joint account application, send a request from your Message Center authorizing IB to manually transfer positions from your individual or joint account to the trust account. Prior to submitting the request you should make sure to close all open orders in the individual account to ensure that no executions take place following the transfer.

Due to the manual steps and scheduling required, you should allow a minimum of one week after trust account approval and submitting your request for the transfer to take effect.

IMPORTANT NOTES

1. Note that exchange regulations preclude ownership transfer of derivative contracts such as futures and options. If your trust results in a change in ultimate beneficial ownership and your individual or joint account is holding such positions, you would either need to close them prior to the transfer taking place or request that they remain in your individual or joint account.
2. Prior to processing the transfer, you should make sure to close all open orders in the individual or joint account to ensure that no executions take place following the transfer.
3. The SMA (Special Memorandum Account) balance in your individual or joint account will not transfer to the trust account. In certain cases this may impact your ability to open new positions in the trust account on the first day after the transfer is completed.
4. Elective options such as market data subscriptions and participation in IB's Yield Enhancement Program will not be carried over to the trust account and must be reinitiated to continue.
5. The cost basis of transferred positions as reported in the activity statements will remain unchanged for tax purposes. The cost basis as reported in your trading platform (which is not used for tax reporting purposes) will not transfer over to the trust account but may be manually adjusted.
6. Once the transfer has been completed and assuming all positions have been transferred, your individual or joint account will be designated for automatic closure. Note that certain balances such as dividend accruals can’t be transferred until paid, after which they will then be transferred and your individual or joint account closed.
7. You'll receive any applicable tax forms for the reportable activity transacted in each of your individual or joint and trust accounts at year end. Access to Account Management for you individual or joint account will remain after it has been closed for the purpose of reviewing and printing activity statements and tax forms.
8. IBKR does not provide tax advice or investment guidance and recommends that account holders consult with qualified professionals to determine any legal, tax or estate planning consequences associated with account transfer requests.