As previously explained, Interactive Brokers Luxembourg SARL ("IBLUX") will no longer provide brokerage services to investors and is ceasing regular operations. In June 2021, we invited IBLUX’s existing clients to transfer their account to another Interactive Brokers entity or to otherwise move their account to a bank or a broker outside of the Interactive Brokers family. Despite being reminded repeatedly, you did not to take the actions required to move the assets held in your IBLUX account. As such we are transferring your account to our affiliate, Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited ("IBIE") ("Transfer") where your assets will remain in safe custody until we receive transfer instructions from you. These FAQs provide important factual, legal and regulatory information regarding the Transfer.
1. What does the Transfer mean for me? What terms and conditions will govern my relationship with IBIE following the Transfer?
Following the Transfer, IBIE will be responsible for ensuring the safe custody of your assets and the following terms ("Account Terms") will govern your account and assets. You will not be able to place trades or make other financial decisions on your account and IBIE will not provide any investment services to you unless you sign the IBIE Customer Agreement and complete any other open steps needed to open an IBIE account. IBIE will send you an email following the Transfer with the steps to take to secure your login credentials to access your account at IBIE.
2. What do I have to do if I want to continue doing business with Interactive Brokers?
If you want to continue doing business with Interactive Brokers, we require your cooperation and action in order for IBIE to provide you investment services. Specifically, we need you to open a new account with IBIE, agree to and sign the Customer Agreement and any other required documents and provide any additional documents or information requested.
If you do not want to continue doing business with Interactive Brokers, you may instruct IBIE to transfer your assets to another broker or bank, and IBIE will comply with your instructions subject to applicable laws and IB's standard procedures.
3. How will my assets be custodied with IBIE?
Until you agree to and accept the Customer Agreement and open a brokerage account with IBIE, IBIE will provide custody services in limited scope:
· for any cash balance transferred to IBIE, you will be entitled to the amount of the cash balance in your account base currency on the date it is transferred to IBIE and IBIE will not convert your cash balance to another currency or pay any interest on cash that it holds in custody for you.
· for any financial instruments transferred to IBIE, you will be entitled to those financial instruments and IBIE will not provide any investment services in relation to your financial instruments while they are in IBIE’s custody. For example, IBIE will not take any measures to mitigate losses resulting from market movements. However, in the event your account has insufficient margin, IBIE will take appropriate measures and liquidate positions, without issuing a margin call to you, to bring your account in compliance with margin requirements which are subject to change. More information is provided in FAQ 10.
If you open an IBIE account, Irish custody rules will fully apply to your relationship with IBIE. Further information is provided in the IBIE Client Assets Key Information Document. Like the Luxembourg custody rules, the Irish conduct of business rules are based on the recast Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, the Markets in Financial Regulation and various delegated directives and regulations (collectively, "MiFID").
4. Am I protected against loss? Are there any material differences that will apply to my relationship with IBIE compared to those that apply to my existing relationship with IBLUX?
After the Transfer, the Ireland Investor Compensation Scheme may apply to your account. Ireland’s compensation scheme is similar to the compensation scheme you have access to in Luxembourg. The purpose of the Irish Investor Compensation Scheme is to pay compensation to you (subject to certain limits) if you have invested money or investment instruments in either of the following cases:
· A firm goes out of business and cannot return your investments or money; and
· A Central Bank of Ireland determination or a court ruling has been made under the Investor Compensation Act 1998.
The Investor Compensation Company DAC (ICCL) administers the scheme. IBIE will be a member of the scheme.
The scheme covers investment products including:
- Public and private company shares
- Units in collective investment schemes
- Life insurance policies (including unit-linked funds)
- Non-life insurance policies
- Tracker bonds
- Futures and options
Usually, you can only make a claim after a firm goes out of business and its assets have been liquidated and distributed to those who are owed money. Please check the details of the schemes for any limits that apply – not all losses will be covered as there are maximum levels of compensation. The ICCL will pay you compensation for 90% of the amount you have lost, up to a maximum of €20,000.
5. How do I make a complaint to IBIE? What if my complaint relates to something that happened while I was a customer of IBLUX?
The IBIE complaints handling procedures are materially similar to those that apply to your existing relationship with IBLUX, but the scope of the complaint provisions is much narrower as the services provided to you are limited to IBIE's holding your assets in safe custody until you submit transfer instructions or become a full IBIE client. All formal complaints should be made using one of the following means: (i) by WebTicket in Account Management on the IBIE website; (ii) by letter to Complaints Handling, Compliance Department, IBIE Dublin Landings, North Wall Quay, North Dock, Dublin 1, Ireland; or (iii) by email to complaints@interactivebrokers.ie.
If the substance of your complaint relates to something that happened prior to the Transfer, then you should address your complaint to IBLUX.
6. After the Transfer, will I still have access to the CSSF to file a complaint?
In case of a complaint, investors should follow the complaints procedure as referred to in the IBLUX Customer Agreement. Once the Transfer has taken place, the CSSF will cease to have jurisdiction over any complaints that you may have in respect of IBLUX. However, please be aware that Ireland has a dispute resolution scheme in the form of the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman ("FSPO"). The FSPO is a free and independent statutory dispute resolution scheme for financial services. You may be eligible to make a complaint to the FSPO if you are an "eligible complainant". Details of who are “eligible complainants” can be found on www.fspo.ie. The FSPO can be contacted at:
Postal Address
Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman
Lincoln House,
Lincoln Place
Dublin 2
D02 VH29
Telephone
+353 (0)1 567 7000
Info@fspo.ie
7. How will my personal data be processed and protected? Are there any material differences that will apply to my relationship with IBIE compared to those that apply to my existing relationship with IBLUX in this context?
Your data will be processed and protected in accordance with the Interactive Brokers Group Privacy Policy which can be found at: https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/index.php?f=305. There will be no material change.
8. Will the range of services be the same?
No. This account has been created solely for the safe custody of your assets while we wait for you to instruct us on where to transfer your assets or elect to become a full IBIE client. As a result, our services are limited to holding your assets and where relevant taking action to ensure you meet applicable margin requirements.
9. Did you liquidate some or all the positions in my account to facilitate the Transfer?
As we previously wrote to you explaining, in many cases we liquidated positions in client accounts, back to the account’s base currency, to facilitate that Transfer to IBIE. Where positions remain, FAQs 10-11 address how they will be transferred and custodied at IBIE.
10. I have a margin account. Are the margin terms governing my account different following the Transfer to IBIE?
No. Your obligations and responsibilities in connection with your margin account and trading on margin remain following the Transfer as they were at IBLUX. However, you are not able to freely operate the account, including opening of new positions, unless you become a full IBIE client. Please review the Account Terms for more information.
11. What happens to any security I have granted to IBLUX as part of a margin loan?
If you have granted security or collateral to IBLUX this will transfer to IBIE upon the Transfer taking place.
12. Will all account balances be transferred at the same time and what is the timing?
All cash balances will be transferred at the same time, and your current account at IBLUX will be closed and inaccessible for trading purposes. You will still be able to access this closed account via the Client Portal for purposes of viewing and printing historical statements.
13. Will IBKR’s commissions and fees change when my account is migrated?
IBKR commissions and fees do not vary by the broker your account is maintained with.
However, while your assets are held in safe custody at IBIE until you either transfer your assets to another financial institution or to a new account with IBIE, IBIE will apply a monthly fee to hold your account initially set at Euro 100. The monthly fee can be amended at any time in IBIE’s sole discretion notification to you, which might be by way of email or IBIE’s website.
In addition, IBIE will not pay interest to you but shall charge interest to you at such interest rates and on credit or debit balances as are then set forth on the IBIE website.
Keep in mind, when the cash balance of your account is insufficient to cover these fees, IBIE may liquidate assets in the same manner IBLUX would liquidate assets before the Transfer.
14. I have other questions about what will and will not be changing following the Transfer?
If you still have questions, please contact IBKR Client Services.
As previously explained, Interactive Brokers Luxembourg SARL ("IBLUX") will no longer provide brokerage services to investors and is ceasing regular operations. In June 2021, we invited IBLUX’s existing clients to transfer their account to another Interactive Brokers entity or to otherwise move their account to a bank or a broker outside of the Interactive Brokers family. Despite being reminded repeatedly, you did not take the actions required to move the assets held in your IBLUX account. As such we are transferring your account to our affiliate, Interactive Brokers Central Europe Zrt ("IBCE") ("Transfer") where your assets will remain under custody in trust until we receive instructions from you. These FAQs provide important factual, legal and regulatory information regarding the Transfer.
1. What does the Transfer mean for me? What terms and conditions will govern my relationship with IBCE following the Transfer?
Following the Transfer, IBCE will be responsible for ensuring the safe custody of your assets. The IBCE General Business Terms [https://gdcdyn.interactivebrokers.com/Universal/servlet/Registration_v2.formSampleView?formdb=4500] ("GBR") will govern your account and assets while they are held under custody in trust at IBCE in this limited capacity. You will not be able to place trades or make other financial decisions on your account and IBCE will not provide any investment services to you unless you expressly agree to the GBR and sign the Client Agreement and complete any other open steps needed to open an IBCE account. IBCE will send you an email following the Transfer with the steps to take to secure your login credentials to access your account at IBCE.
2. What do I have to do if I want to continue doing business with Interactive Brokers?
If you want to continue doing business with Interactive Brokers, we require your cooperation and action in order for IBCE to provide you investment services. Specifically, we need you to open a new account with IBCE, expressly agree to the GBR and sign the Client Agreement and any other required documents, and provide any additional documents or information requested.
If you do not want to continue doing business with Interactive Brokers, you may instruct IBCE to transfer your assets to another broker or bank, and IBCE will comply with your instructions subject to applicable laws and IB's standard procedures.
3. How will my assets be custodied at IBCE?
Until you agree to and accept the GBR and the Client Agreement and open a brokerage account with IBCE, IBCE will provide custody services in limited scope:
· for any cash balance transferred to IBCE, you will be entitled to the amount of the cash balance in your account base currency on the date it is transferred to IBCE and IBCE will not convert your cash balance to another currency or pay any interest on cash that it holds in custody for you.
· for any financial instruments transferred to IBCE, you will be entitled to those financial instruments and IBCE will not provide any investment services in relation to your financial instruments while they are in IBCE’s custody. For example, IBCE will not take any measures to mitigate losses resulting from market movements. However, in the event your account has insufficient margin, IBCE will take appropriate measures and liquidate positions, without issuing a margin call to you, to bring your account in compliance with margin requirements which are subject to change. More information is provided in FAQ 10.
If you open an IBCE account, Hungarian custody rules will fully apply to your relationship with IBCE. Like the Luxembourg custody rules, the Hungarian conduct of business rules are based on the recast Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, the Markets in Financial Regulation and various delegated directives and regulations (collectively, "MiFID").
4. Am I protected against loss?
The Hungarian Investor Protection Fund according to Act CXX of 2001 on the Capital Market may protect your assets from loss, at an amount up to a maximum of EUR 100,000, should IBCE default and be unable to meet its obligations to you. To be eligible for the Fund, you must have a contractual relationship with IBCE.
The compensation provided by the Fund covers claims arising from contracts entered into within the agreement with IBCE of brokerage activity, securities custody, securities account management and client account management activities performed by IBCE.
Hungary's compensation scheme is similar to the compensation scheme you have access to in Luxembourg. The purpose of the Fund is to pay compensation to you in the event that:
· the Central Bank of Hungary initiates liquidation proceedings of IBCE, or
· a court orders the liquidation of IBCE.
IBCE is a member of the Fund (please see https://bva.hu/en/ipf/ipf-members/).
If you are eligible, you can only make a claim after a firm goes out of business and its assets have been liquidated and distributed to those who are owed money. Please check the details of the schemes for any limits that apply – not all losses will be covered as there are maximum levels of compensation. The Fund will pay you compensation for the amount you have lost up to a maximum of EUR 100,000.
The amount paid by the Fund is:
· 100% up to the limit of the EUR equivalent of one million forints (EUR 2,805 on 5th September 2021),
· above one million forints: 1 million forints and 90% of the part above one million forints to a maximum of EUR 100,000.
5. How do I make a complaint to IBCE? What if my complaint relates to something that happened while I was a customer of IBLUX?
The GBR sets out how to lodge a complaint with IBCE. The IBCE complaints handling procedures are materially similar to those that apply to your existing relationship with IBLUX, but the scope of the complaint provisions is much narrower as the services provided to you are limited to holding your assets under custody in trust until you submit transfer instructions or become a full IBCE client.
If the substance of your complaint relates to something that happened prior to the Transfer, then you should address your complaint to IBLUX.
6. After the Transfer, will I still have access to the CSSF to file a complaint?
In case of a complaint, investors should follow the complaints procedure as referred to in the IBLUX Customer Agreement. Once the Transfer has taken place, the CSSF will cease to have jurisdiction over any complaints that you may have in respect of IBLUX. However, please be aware that Hungary has a dispute resolution scheme operated by the Central Bank of Hungary in the form of the Financial Arbitration Board ("FAB"). The FAB is a free and independent statutory dispute resolution scheme for financial services. You may be eligible to make a complaint to the FAB if you are a retail customer. Details of FAB can be found on https://www.mnb.hu/en/hungarian-financial-arbitration-board
The FAB can be contacted at:
Postal Address
Financial Arbitration Board
1525 Budapest
Pf. 172
ugyfelszolgalat@mnb.hu
7. How will my personal data be processed and protected? Are there any material differences that will apply to my relationship with IBCE compared to those that apply to my existing relationship with IBLUX in this context?
Your data will be processed and protected in accordance with the Interactive Brokers Group Privacy Policy which can be found at:https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/index.php?f=305. There will be no material change.
8. Will the range of services be the same?
No. This account has been created solely for the safe custody of your assets while we wait for you to instruct us on where to transfer your assets or elect to become a full IBCE client. As a result, our services are limited to holding your assets and where relevant taking action to ensure you meet applicable margin requirements.
9. Did you liquidate some or all the positions in my account to facilitate the Transfer?
As we previously wrote to you explaining, in many cases we liquidated some or all positions in client accounts back to the account’s base currency to facilitate that Transfer to IBCE. Where positions remain, FAQs 10-11 address how they will be transferred and custodied at IBCE.
10. I have a margin account. Are the margin terms governing my account different following the Transfer to IBCE?
No. Your obligations and responsibilities in connection with your margin account and trading on margin remain following the Transfer as they were at IBLUX. However, you are not able to freely operate the account, including opening of new positions, unless you become a full IBCE client.
Please review the provisions relating to margin in the IBCE Client Agreement [https://gdcdyn.interactivebrokers.com/Universal/servlet/Registration_v2.formSampleView?formdb=4501], as they will apply to your account and assets while they are held under custody in trust at IBCE.
11. What happens to any security I have granted to IBLUX as part of a margin loan?
If you have granted security or collateral to IBLUX this will transfer to IBCE upon the Transfer taking place.
12. Will all account balances be transferred at the same time and what is the timing?
IBCE will support a limited number of deposit currencies. The following ten cash deposit currencies, the "Allowed Deposit Currencies" are: EUR, USD, GBP, CHF, DKK, NOK, SEK, HUF, CZK and PLN
Where appropriate to facilitate the Transfer, we converted long cash balances in other currencies to one of the Allowed Deposit Currencies before migration.
In accordance with the client asset protection rules in Hungary, client funds must be protected in the same form that they were received by the broker. This contrasts with your previous broker, IBLUX, whose regulatory client asset rules allowed them to protect your funds in equivalent value in another currency. Short currency balances are unaffected.
All cash balances will be transferred at the same time, and your current account at IBLUX will be closed and inaccessible for trading purposes. You will still be able to access this closed account via the Client Portal for purposes of viewing and printing historical statements.
13. Will IBKR’s commissions and fees change when my account is migrated?
IBKR commissions and fees do not vary by the broker your account is maintained with.
However, while your assets are held in custody in trust at IBCE until you either transfer your assets to another financial institution or to a new account with IBCE, IBCE will apply a monthly fee to hold your account initially set at Euro 100. The monthly fee can be amended at any time in IBCE’s sole discretion notification to you, which might be by way of email or IBCE’s website.
In addition, IBCE will not pay interest to you but shall charge interest to you at such interest rates and on credit or debit balances as are then set forth on the IBCE website. IBCE will also charge a currency handling fee for cash balances in currencies that have negative interest rates.
Keep in mind, if the cash balance of your account is insufficient to cover these fees, IBCE may liquidate assets in the same manner IBLUX would liquidate assets before the Transfer.
14. I have other questions about what will and will not be changing following the Transfer?
If you still have questions, please contact IBKR Client Services.
1. What is an ISA and what benefits does it offer me?
An ISA (Individual Savings Account) is a tax-free savings or investment account that gives you the opportunity to save or invest a certain amount of money every year, without having to pay tax on any growth in your investments or savings. There are 4 types of adult ISA available (stocks & shares ISA, cash ISA, innovative finance ISA , and lifetime ISA). The interest on cash accumulates on a tax-free basis, as does income and capital gains made on investments.
A stocks and shares ISA lets you invest in “qualifying instruments” such as stocks and shares, funds, etc. A stocks and shares ISA is not an investment in its own right. The best way to think of a stocks and shares ISA is as a ‘wrapper’ with which you can shelter your savings and investments from both Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax. The IBUKL Stocks and Shares ISA lets you choose from a range of investments to invest in (see below section 10 ‘What can I invest in?’). You can select and manage your IBUKL Stocks and Shares ISA yourself or arrange for your financial advisor to do so on your behalf (see below section 8 ‘Can I appoint a financial advisor to manage, on a discretionary basis, my IBUKL Stocks and Shares ISA?’).
When deciding which type of ISA to open, you should consider the pros and cons of each so that you can choose the type that best fits with your personal needs, circumstances and financial goals. We offer stocks and shares ISAs only.
Tax treatments depend on your individual circumstances and may change in the future.
2. What ISA types are offered at IBUKL?
Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited (IBUKL) only offers stocks and shares ISAs (including, Junior Stocks and Shares ISA). IBUKL does not offer cash ISAs (including, Junior cash ISA).
3. Who is eligible for an IBUKL Stocks and Share ISA?
In accordance with HMRC regulations, any individual who is a resident for tax purposes in the UK and over the age of 18 is eligible to open a stocks and share ISA.
Click on the link for additional details:
https://www.gov.uk/tax-foreign-income/residence
4. How many ISAs can I have?
There is no overall limit on the number of ISA accounts, but you can only subscribe to one type of each ISA in the same tax year. This means if you have already subscribed to a Stocks & Shares ISA with a different provider in the current tax year, you cannot also subscribe to an Interactive Brokers Stocks & Shares ISA.
5. What is a flexible Stocks and Shares ISA?
ISA flexibility refers to whether you’re able to withdraw from your ISA without affecting your annual allowance. A flexible stocks and shares ISA allows the individual to withdraw funds from their stocks and shares ISA and put them back into it, within the same tax year, without affecting their annual ISA allowance.
6. Does IBUKL offer a flexible Stocks and Shares ISA?
No, an IBUKL Stocks and Shares ISA isn't flexible. That means you can take money out, but it'll count towards your annual ISA allowance if you pay it back in the same tax year.
https://www.gov.uk/tax-foreign-income/residence
7. Can you lose your money paid into a Stocks and Shares ISA?
The value of investments you hold in your IBUKL Stocks and Shares ISA and the income received from them can fall as well as rise. As a result, you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is not an indication of future performance, and some investments need to be held for the long term to achieve a return. The IBUKL Stocks and Shares ISA is an execution only service, Interactive Brokers does not provide investment advice. If you need advice about whether an investment is suitable, you need to consult a suitably qualified financial advisor.
8. Can I appoint a financial advisor to manage, on a discretionary basis, my IBUKL Stocks and Shares ISA?
Yes, you can appoint a financial advisor to manage your IBUKL Stocks and Shares ISA on your behalf. Click on the link for additional details:
9. Can I trade on margin under the IBUKL Stocks and Shares ISA?
No. You can only open an IBUKL Stocks and Shares ISA under a GBP cash account type. A cash account requires that all transactions are made with available cash or long positions.
10. What can I invest in?
Under a stocks and shares ISA you can invest in any of the following investments (also known as 'qualifying investments'):
Full details can be found on the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) website.
Please Note: Ineligible investments
· ISA accounts cannot hold non-qualifying investments.
11. What is a non-qualifying investment in an IBUKL ISA (Individual Savings Account)?
Examples of non-qualifying investments include warrants or delisted securities. On occasion a corporate action (on a qualifying investment) may result in your IBUKL ISA account holding a non-qualifying investment.
12. What happens to non-qualifying investments held in an IBUKL ISA (Individual Savings Account)?
Where such a situation arises, HMRC regulations require IBUKL to remove the non-qualifying investments from the ISA account within 30 calendar days. To do this IBUKL will open a non-ISA account in your name if you do not have one already open and you may be asked to complete that application.
Once the non-ISA account is opened, IBUKL will transfer the non-qualifying investments to ensure we continue to operate your ISA account in accordance with HMRC regulations. If you already have a non-ISA account with IBUKL, then the non-qualifying investments will be transferred to your existing account.
13. What exchanges does IBUKL support?
HMRC recognised exchanges supported by IBUKL:
Country |
Exchange |
Australia |
The Australian Stock Exchange (and any of its stock exchange subsidiaries) |
Austria |
Vienna Stock Exchange |
Belgium |
NYSE Euronext Brussels |
Canada |
Toronto Stock Exchange Montreal Stock Exchange Toronto Venture Exchange (TSX Venture Exchange) |
France |
MATIF |
Germany |
Frankfurt Stock Exchange Stuttgart Stock Exchange |
Hong Kong |
Hong Kong Stock Exchange |
Italy |
Italian Stock Exchange (Borsa Italia) |
Japan |
Tokyo Stock Exchange Osaka Stock Exchange |
Lithuania |
NASDAQ OMX Vilnius |
Mexico |
Mexico Stock Exchange |
Poland |
Warsaw Stock Exchange |
Singapore |
Singapore Exchange Limited |
South Korea |
Korea Exchange |
Spain |
Spanish Stock Exchange (Bolsa de Valores in Madrid) |
Switzerland |
Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX Swiss Exchange) |
United Kingdom |
London Stock Exchange |
United States of America |
BATs Exchange Inc Chicago Board Options Exchange Chicago Stock Exchange International Securities Exchange National Stock Exchange New York Stock Exchange NYSE ARCA NASDAQ OMX PHLX NASDAQ |
14. What is the ISA Allowance for 2023/2024 tax year?
Tax year runs from 6 April to the following 5 April. Each tax year’s ISA subscription limit is specific to that year and can be checked on the HMRC website.
For the 2023/24 tax year the annual ISA allowance is £20,000 per person. Any of the ISA allowance that goes unused in the current tax year cannot be rolled over to the subsequent tax year. You can divide this cash allowance across multiple ISAs, provided that not more than 1 of each type of ISA is subscribed to in any given tax year. NB. If you are already subscribed to another stocks and shares ISA in the current tax year, you are not permitted to subscribe to our stocks and shares ISA for the remainder of the tax year.
NB. For each tax year, you can check (via the funding page in Client Portal) how much you have subscribed to your IBUKL Stocks and Shares ISA and the maximum amount that you can contribute to your IBUKL stocks and shares ISA in that tax year, assuming you have not contributed to another ISA away from Interactive Brokers.
15. How do I make subscriptions to my IBUKL Stocks and Shares ISA?
You can make one-off payments (wire transfers deposits) as and when you choose, but the combined total of all payments (or subscriptions) must not exceed any given annual tax year allowance (see section 12. What is the ISA Allowance for 2023/2024 tax year?).
Interactive Brokers accepts wire transfers only, and there is a minimum subscription amount of £1. Your IBUKL Stocks and Shares ISA can only have GBP cash.
16. Can I fund my ISA via Internal Transfer from my existing Interactive Brokers account?
Yes, as long as the existing account is an individual account in the same name, an internal transfer can be requested to fund your ISA account.
Internal transfer from non-ISA to ISA will be considered as a contribution and only allowed if within the yearly contribution limits. Positions cannot be transferred between these accounts.
17. Can I check the tax-year to date contributions i have made into my ISA account?
Yes, if you create a deposit notification for a fund transfer, before selecting "Get Transfer Instructions" on the final page there is a contribution tracker showing how much you have contributed so far during the current tax year.
18. What happens if I exceed my ISA allowance?
If you have accidentally paid too much into your ISAs you won’t get any tax relief on the excess payments you’ve made. The ISA allowance is a combined annual limit across all adult ISA types (e.g. stock & shares ISA, cash ISA, innovative Finance ISA , and lifetime ISAs).
19. What should I do if I exceed my ISA allowance?
In the event you oversubscribe to your ISA (in other words your ISA annual allowance was exceeded), you should not attempt to correct the mistake by withdrawing the excess funds from an ISA (including, but not limited to, your IBUKL Stocks and Shares ISA). Instead, you should call HMRC’s ISA helpline to explain the situation and inform them about the oversubscription. HMRC will advise you on the next steps. NB. The ISA allowance for the tax year 2023/2024 is GBP 20,000 (this is a combined limit across all 4 types of ISA (stock & shares ISA, cash ISA, innovative finance ISA , and lifetime ISAs).
20. What is the annual fee for the IBUKL Stocks and Shares ISA?
There is no annual ISA fee at IBUKL. Other costs and charges apply, see below section 19 for more information.
21. What are the charges for the IBUKL Stocks and Shares ISA?
Click here for an overview of our commissions:
https://www.interactivebrokers.co.uk/en/index.php?f=39753&p=stocks
22. What transactions are allowed and what transactions are not allowed in an ISA?
a) Example of allowed transactions
An individual subscribes £15,000 into a stocks and shares ISA, £3,000 into a cash ISA and £2,000 into a lifetime ISA. No more than 1 of each type of ISA was subscribed to in the tax year, and the annual ISA allowance of £20,000 was not exceeded.
b) Example of disallowed transactions
An individual subscribes £10,000 into one stocks and shares ISA, £2,000 into another stocks and shares ISA, and the remaining £8,000 into a cash ISA. While the individual did not exceed the annual ISA allowance of £20,000, they subscribed funds into more than 1 stocks and shares ISA.
23. How do I transfer my stocks and shares ISA from my current ISA manager to IBUKL?
Position/in-specie transfers are now available from certain ISA managers. When requesting a transfer in the client portal supported providers will have a position transfer option within the form.
You will need to submit a transfer instruction to Interactive Brokers (go to Client Portal, Transfer & Pay, then Transfer Existing ISA), and if, in IBUKL’s discretion IBUKL decides to accept the transfer, IBUKL will instruct your existing ISA manager to transfer your investments (where IBUKL supports such investments) and/or cash into your IBUKL Stocks and Shares ISA. Where IBUKL does not support all your investments held at your existing ISA Manager, you can either liquidate these investments yourself prior to submitting your transfer instruction to IBUKL via Client Portal (any cash proceeds of such liquidation will be transferred into your IBUKL Stocks and Shares ISA) or you can instruct IBUKL (as part of your transfer instruction via Client Portal) to do so on your behalf.
Note Interactive Brokers does not support partial transfers, only full account transfer requests can be made.
24. How do I transfer an ISA out of IBUKL to another provider?
Any transfer out request from IBUKL must be requested via the receiving ISA provider. The requesting broker can email a client-signed transfer form to isa-transfer@interactivebrokers.com or the client may attach a completed form to a web ticket.
25. What are the Transfer Charges?
Interactive Brokers does not charge for transfers (the transferring ISA manager may charge you for transferring investments or cash proceeds to us).
26. Can I cancel my IBUKL Stocks and Shares ISA?
You have a legal right to cancel your IBUKL Stocks and Shares ISA if you change your mind but there are time limits on doing so, see below section 25 for more information.
27. How can I cancel my IBUKL Stocks and Shares ISA?
If you want to cancel your IBUKL Stocks and Shares ISA, you must do so within 14 days from the date you receive our email confirming the establishment of your IBUKL Stocks and Shares ISA (a cancellation must be requested from the Client Portal).
Cancellation rights will also apply to the receipt of transfer payments. You have 14 days from the date you receive our email acknowledging the transfer to exercise your right to cancel (a cancellation must be requested from the Client Portal). NB. If you cancel the transfer of your stocks and shares ISA from another ISA manager to IBUKL, that ISA manager may not agree to accept the stocks and shares ISA back. This may result in that stocks and shares ISA being closed, and the tax benefits being lost.
28. How safe is your IBUKL Stocks and Shares ISA?
IBUKL is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and is approved by HMRC to act as an ISA manager (including in respect of stocks and shares ISAs).
Under our client terms, and in accordance with the FCA rules relating to client money and assets (Assets), IBUKL will be responsible for holding and protecting your Assets. IBUKL is required to separate your Assets from its own resources. IBUKL is not permitted to use your Assets to carry out its business activities.
In the unlikely event that IBUKL became insolvent, an administrator would be appointed to return your money/assets to you. If there is any shortfall, eligible claims will be covered by the UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). The FSCS is an independent body set up by the UK Government to pay compensation if a UK firm, such as IBUKL is in default and cannot meet any valid claims against it. FSCS claims are limited to £85,000 per client. Please note, the FSCS applies to designated investments and may not cover all investments or transactions (and in particular these protections don’t apply to investment losses). For more information on the FSCS see www.fscs.org.uk.
29. How can I file a complaint with IBUKL?
Customers are actively encouraged to use the WebTicket system for prompt attention.
A copy of our Complaints Procedure is available here https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/index.php?f=292 You can also direct your ISA specific complaints via email to isa@interactivebrokers.co.uk (Please note that in order to ensure that your complaint is flagged and given the required attention, Interactive Brokers kindly asks you to state "COMPLAINT" in the subject header field of the email).
30. Are Corporate Actions allowed under my IBUKL Stocks and Shares ISA?
Allowed to participate but cannot exceed the annual ISA subscription limit. If it were to exceed the subscription limit, the shares should be transferred to a non-ISA account (see above sections 17 ‘What should I do if I exceed my ISA allowance?’.
31. FX Handling and your IBUKL Stocks and Shares ISA
Interactive Brokers will automatically convert currencies when trading non-GBP denominated securities. To do this, Interactive Brokers will engage in “spot” currency transactions on your behalf in order to settle your buy orders or convert the proceeds of a sell order. For opening orders Interactive Brokers will base the exchange rate off the spot exchange rate at the time of trade plus our 0.03% fee. For closing orders any non GBP balances will be closed at the end of the trading day at the closing exchange rate of the day plus our 0.03% fee.
The below example illustrates the cost in GBP of a $1,000 USD Trade
Example GBP/USD Spot Rate: 1.3432/1.3433
Order Type |
FX Conversion Rate inc 0.03% fee |
Cost of $1000 USD Trade |
Buy |
1.3430 |
£744.61 |
Sell |
1.3435 |
£744.31 |
32. What if I have additional questions?
Our customer services team are on hand to help via phone or email. If you have any questions about your IBUKL Stocks and Shares ISA, please contact our dedicated ISA Support team who are available 8am to 6pm GMT Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.
33. Can I open a Joint ISA account?
ISA account must be individual accounts in accordance with HMRC ISA guidelines at this time.
34. What is a Cash ISA?
Cash ISAs include savings in bank and building society accounts and some National Savings and Investment products.
Please Note : Cash ISAs are not offered by Interactive Brokers.
35. How can I view statements from my previous ISA IBUK since migration to IBUKL?
You can view the IBUK ISA accounts by following these steps in the Client Portal:
36. Can I trade fractional shares in an IB UKL ISA account?
It is not possible to trade fractional shares in the IBUKL ISA account in accordance with HMRC ISA guidelines at this time.
37. Can I set up a recurring investment in an IBUKL ISA account?
No, recurring investments are not allowed in an IBUKL ISA account.
Please Note: Recurring investments require fractional shares trading permissions. Fractional shares trading permissions are not allowed in an IBUKL ISA account.
38. Can I use a Referral Link in my IB UKL ISA account?
No, ISA accounts are not eligible for the referral program.
39. Do I need National Insurance Number to open an ISA?
Yes, you will need a National Insurance Number to open an ISA account.
Please Note: If not already listed then you need to enter the National Insurance Number in the Tax ID section of your profile to open a linked ISA account. The system will return an error if you do not.
(Client Portal -> User Menu -> Settings -> Account Settings -> Account Profile -> Profile -> Edit Profile and on the 'Tax Residency' page you may edit the information or remove Tax Residency and add another Tax Residency.)
40. I have UK Citizenship. However, I am resident of Hong Kong. Can I open an IB UKL ISA account?
You can only open an IBUKL ISA account if you are a full tax resident of the United Kingdom with a National Insurance Number.
Les titulaires de compte individuel ont la possibilité d'ajouter plusieurs utilisateurs à leur compte IBKR. Le titulaire de compte peut souhaiter ajouter un deuxième utilisateur enregistré sous son propre nom dans le but d'ouvrir 2 sessions de TWS en même temps (une avec un accès normal et une pour se connecter via un API). Le titulaire de compte peut également fournir l'accès à jusqu'à 5 personnes (non employées), comme des membres de la famille, conformément à l'accord de procuration. De plus, chacune de ces personnes peut également fournir un accès à un deuxième utilisateur.
Dans tous les cas, l'utilisateur supplémentaire aura un nom d'utilisateur unique qui sera requis pour se connecter au Portail Client et à la plateforme de trading de son choix. La procédure pour ajouter un utilisateur (non employé) est expliquée ci-dessous (voir KB1004 pour la procédure pour ajouter un deuxième utilisateur pour un titulaire de compte individuel).
Procédure pour ajouter un utilisateur non employé :
IMPORTANT:
1. Conformément aux exigences du fournisseur de données de marché, l'utilisateur principal du compte paiera des frais d'abonnement aux données de marché séparés pour chaque compte utilisateur ajouté.
2. Les titulaires de compte peuvent supprimer un compte utilisateur en cliquant le lien Supprimer à côté du nom d'utilisateur, dans la section Utilisateurs et droits d'accès.
Comme indiqué précédemment, IB va cesser l'activité d'IBLUX et devra donc effectuer certains changements quant à l’entité juridique qui travaillera avec vous. Nous souhaitons donc que tous vos comptes, investissements et services actuellement gérés par IBLUX, soient gérés par IBCE à la place.
Avant la proposition de transfert, certains éléments doivent être complétés dans le Portail Client. Ces éléments peuvent inclure :
- Envoi de documents de preuve d'identité
- Envoi de documents de justificatif de domicile
- Réalisation d'un selfie de vérification d'identité
- Modifications du portefeuille d'investissement
Veuillez lire attentivement cette FAQ pour réaliser les tâches nécessaires et faciliter la proposition de transfert. Pour plus d'informations, veuillez consulter la FAQ pour IBCE.
Comment accéder aux éléments en attente dans le Portail Client ?
Suivez la procédure ci-dessous pour accéder aux éléments en attente dans le Portail Client :
Quels documents sont acceptés pour ces tâches ?
Les documents acceptés pour preuve d'identité et justificatif de domicile sont les suivants :
Catégorie de document | Documents acceptés un seul document par catégorie est nécessaire) |
Preuve d'identité du titulaire de compte Veuillez fournir un (ou des) document en cours de validité qui contient les informations suivantes : nom complet, date et lieu de naissance, photographie claire, signature du titulaire, numéro du document, date d'expiration et pays de délivrance. Si les informations sont sur plusieurs pages, veuillez fournir une copie de toutes ces pages. |
• Passeport • Carte nationale d'identité • Permis de conduire |
Justificatif de domicile du titulaire de compte Le document doit indiquer clairement le nom du demandeur et l'adresse appropriée, et doit dater de moins de 6 mois sauf indication contraire. Veuillez fournir une version scannée d'une facture papier. |
• Facture de service, par exemple une facture d'électricité, gaz, eau, téléphone fixe, ligne à haut débit ou télévision. Les factures de téléphone portable ne sont pas acceptées comme justificatif de domicile. • « Council tax bill » (taxe foncière) • Facture d'assurance habitation • Relevé bancaire, hypothécaire ou de courtage • Lettre signée et estampillée de votre banque avec l'en-tête de la banque confirmant l'adresse • Relevé de carte de crédit (pas plus de 6 semaines) • Lettres ou relevés délivrés par le gouvernement. Par exemple, nous acceptons une facture de taxe foncière, confirmation de l'adresse résidentielle des autorités locales ou un relevé de pension. Doit être sur un papier à en-tête officiel du gouvernement. • Permis résident • Permis de conduire ou carte nationale d'identité. Si vous utilisez un de ces deux documents pour preuve d'identité, vous ne pouvez pas les réutiliser comme justificatif de domicile. • Pour la HONGRIE uniquement : CARTE D'ADRESSE qui indique l'adresse résidentielle actuelle. |
Quelles modifications du portefeuille d'investissement dois-je effectuer ?
IBCE prendra en charge un nombre limité de devises de dépôt. Les cinq devises de dépôts suivantes, les « devises de dépôt autorisées », sont :
• EUR, USD, GBP, CHF, DKK, NOK, SEK, HUF, CZK et PLN
Vous devrez choisir une devise de base parmi ces devises autorisées et si vous détenez des soldes longs dans d'autres devises, vous devrez convertir ces soldes dans une des devises autorisées avant le transfert.
Selon les règles de protection des actifs client en Hongrie, les fonds clients doivent être protégés dans la même forme qu'ils ont été reçus par le courtier. Cela change de votre ancien courtier, IBLUX, dont les règles de protections des actifs client l'autorisait à protéger vos fonds d'une valeur équivalente dans une autre devise.
Les soldes de compte à découvert ne sont pas impactés. Vous pouvez emprunter dans toutes les devises proposées par le groupe IBKR.
Tous les soldes, à l'exception des provisions (ex : intérêts et dividendes) seront transférés en même temps. Quand toutes les provisions seront liquidités, elles seront automatiquement déplacées chez IBCE. Quand toutes les provisions auront été transférées, votre compte courant chez IBLUX sera fermé et inaccessible pour trading. Vous pourrez toujours accéder à ce compte fermé par le Portail Client pour visualiser ou imprimer vos relevés.
Les CFD sur métaux sont proposés par IBCE mais pas les contrats à terme sur les métaux OTC et comptants. Il vous sera demandé de vous défaire de ces positions avant de passer à un compte IBCE.
Comme indiqué précédemment, IB va cesser l'activité d'IBLUX et devra donc effectuer certains changements quant à l’entité juridique qui travaillera avec vous. Nous souhaitons donc que tous vos comptes, investissements et services actuellement gérés par IBLUX, soient gérés par IBIE à la place.
Avant la proposition de transfert, certains éléments doivent être complétés dans le Portail Client. Ces éléments peuvent inclure :
- Envoi de documents de preuve d'identité
- Envoi de documents de justificatif de domicile
- Réalisation d'un selfie de vérification d'identité
- Modifications du portefeuille d'investissement
Veuillez lire attentivement cette FAQ pour réaliser les tâches nécessaires et faciliter la proposition de transfert. Pour plus d'informations, veuillez consulter la FAQ pour IBIE.
Comment accéder aux éléments en attente dans le Portail Client ?
Suivez la procédure ci-dessous pour accéder aux éléments en attente dans le Portail Client :
Quels documents sont acceptés pour ces tâches ?
Les documents acceptés pour preuve d'identité et justificatif de domicile sont les suivants :
Catégorie de document | Documents acceptés un seul document par catégorie est nécessaire) |
Preuve d'identité du titulaire de compte Veuillez fournir un (ou des) document en cours de validité qui contient les informations suivantes : nom complet, date et lieu de naissance, photographie claire, signature du titulaire, numéro du document, date d'expiration et pays de délivrance. Si les informations sont sur plusieurs pages, veuillez fournir une copie de toutes ces pages. |
• Passeport • Carte nationale d'identité • Permis de conduire |
Justificatif de domicile du titulaire de compte Le document doit indiquer clairement le nom du demandeur et l'adresse appropriée, et doit dater de moins de 6 mois sauf indication contraire. Veuillez fournir une version scannée d'une facture papier. |
• Facture de service, par exemple une facture d'électricité, gaz, eau, téléphone fixe, ligne à haut débit ou télévision. Les factures de téléphone portable ne sont pas acceptées comme justificatif de domicile. • « Council tax bill » (taxe foncière) • Facture d'assurance habitation • Relevé bancaire, hypothécaire ou de courtage • Lettre signée et estampillée de votre banque avec l'en-tête de la banque confirmant l'adresse • Relevé de carte de crédit (pas plus de 6 semaines) • Lettres ou relevés délivrés par le gouvernement. Par exemple, nous acceptons une facture de taxe foncière, confirmation de l'adresse résidentielle des autorités locales ou un relevé de pension. Doit être sur un papier à en-tête officiel du gouvernement. • Permis résident • Permis de conduire ou carte nationale d'identité. Si vous utilisez un de ces deux documents pour preuve d'identité, vous ne pouvez pas les réutiliser comme justificatif de domicile. • Pour la HONGRIE uniquement : CARTE D'ADRESSE qui indique l'adresse résidentielle actuelle. |
Quelles modifications du portefeuille d'investissement dois-je effectuer ?
IBIE proposera la même gamme de produits d'IBLUX avec des produits supplémentaires tels que les (i) obligations ; (ii) métaux précieux OTC, et (iii) contrats à terme sur métaux OTC. IBIE proposera également la possibilité de participer au Programme d'amélioration du rendement des actions. Veuillez consulter l'Accord du Programme d'amélioration du rendement des actions si vous êtes intéressé.
As previously noted, IBKR will cease IBLUX’s regulated business, and as a result, will need to make some changes in relation to which legal entity does business with you. It is our intention that all of your accounts, investments and services currently provided to you by IBLUX will instead be provided by IBCE.
Prior to the Proposed Transfer occurring, certain action items must be completed in the Client Portal. These action items may include:
- Submission of Proof of Identity documentation
- Submission of Proof of Address documentation
- Completion of Identity Verification Selfie task
- Investment Portfolio Changes
Please carefully review this FAQ in order to complete the necessary action items and facilitate the Proposed Transfer. For more information on this transfer, please review the FAQs for IBCE.
How do I access pending items in Client Portal?
Follow the below procedure to access pending items in Client Portal:
What documents are acceptable for these tasks?
Acceptable documents for Proof of Identity and Proof of Address action items include the following:
Document Category | Acceptable Documents (only one document per category is needed) |
Proof of Identity of the Account Holder Please provide a current and valid document (or documents) that contains the following: full name, date and place of birth, clear photograph, signature of the holder, document number, expiration date, and country of issue. If the information required is on multiple pages, please provide copies of all of those pages. |
• Passport • National Identity Card • Driver’s License |
Proof of Residential Address of the Account Holder The document must clearly list the applicant's name and the relevant address and must be less than six months old unless otherwise specified. Please provide a scanned version of a hard copy bill. |
• Utility Bill: For example, a bill for electricity, gas, water, landline telephone, home broadband, or TV. Mobile phone bills are not acceptable forms of proof of address. • Council tax bill • Home insurance bill • Bank, mortgage or brokerage statement • Signed and stamped letter from your bank on the bank’s letterhead confirming address • Credit card statement (not older than six weeks) • Government issued letters or statements: For example, we would accept a property tax bill, confirmation of residential address from the local authorities or a pension statement. Must be on official government letterheaded paper. • Resident permit • Driver’s license or national identity card: If you use your driver's license or national identification card as proof of identity, it cannot also be used as proof of address. • For HUNGARY only: ADDRESS CARD which shows the current residential address. |
What Investment Portfolio Changes do I need to make?
IBCE will support a limited number of deposit currencies. The following ten cash deposit currencies, the “Allowed Deposit Currencies” are:
• EUR, USD, GBP, CHF, DKK, NOK, SEK, HUF, CZK and PLN
You will be required to nominate a base currency from the Allowed Deposit Currencies and if you hold long cash balances in other currencies, you will be required to convert those balances to one of the Allowed Deposit Currencies before migration.
In accordance with the client asset protection rules in Hungary, client funds must be protected in the same form that they were received by the broker. This contrasts with your previous broker, IBLUX, whose regulatory client asset rules allowed them to protect your funds in equivalent value in another currency.
Short currency balances are unaffected. You may borrow in any currency that the IBKR group offers.
All cash balances, with the exception of accruals (e.g., interest, dividends) will be transferred at the same time. Once accruals have been settled and posted to cash, they will automatically be swept to IBCE. Once all accruals have been swept, your current account at IBLUX will be closed and inaccessible for trading purposes. You will still be able to access this closed account via the Client Portal for purposes of viewing and printing historical statements.
Metals CFDs are offered by IBCE but spot and OTC metals futures are not. You will be requested to trade out of those positions before conversion to an IBCE account.
As previously noted, IBKR will cease IBLUX’s regulated business, and as a result, will need to make some changes in relation to which legal entity does business with you. It is our intention that all of your accounts, investments and services currently provided to you by IBLUX will instead be provided by IBIE.
Prior to the Proposed Transfer occurring, certain action items must be completed in the Client Portal. These action items may include:
- Submission of Proof of Identity documentation
- Submission of Proof of Address documentation
- Completion of Identity Verification Selfie task
- Investment Portfolio Changes
Please carefully review this FAQ in order to complete the necessary action items and facilitate the Proposed Transfer. For more information on this transfer, please review the FAQs for IBIE.
How do I access pending items in Client Portal?
Follow the below procedure to access pending items in Client Portal:
What documents are acceptable for these tasks?
Acceptable documents for Proof of Identity and Proof of Address action items include the following:
Document Category | Acceptable Documents (only one document per category is needed) |
Proof of Identity of the Account Holder Please provide a current and valid document (or documents) that contains the following: full name, date and place of birth, clear photograph, signature of the holder, document number, expiration date, and country of issue. If the information required is on multiple pages, please provide copies of all of those pages. |
• Passport • National Identity Card • Driver’s License |
Proof of Residential Address of the Account Holder The document must clearly list the applicant's name and the relevant address and must be less than six months old unless otherwise specified. Please provide a scanned version of a hard copy bill. |
• Utility Bill: For example, a bill for electricity, gas, water, landline telephone, home broadband, or TV. Mobile phone bills are not acceptable forms of proof of address. • Council tax bill • Home insurance bill • Bank, mortgage or brokerage statement • Signed and stamped letter from your bank on the bank’s letterhead confirming address • Credit card statement (not older than six weeks) • Government issued letters or statements: For example, we would accept a property tax bill, confirmation of residential address from the local authorities or a pension statement. Must be on official government letterheaded paper. • Resident permit • Driver’s license or national identity card: If you use your driver's license or national identification card as proof of identity, it cannot also be used as proof of address. • For HUNGARY only: ADDRESS CARD which shows the current residential address. |
What Investment Portfolio Changes do I need to make?
IBIE will offer the same range of products as IBLUX plus some additional products such as (i) Bonds; (ii) OTC Precious Metals, and (iii) OTC Metal Futures. IBIE will also offer the ability to participate in the Stock Yield Enhancement Programme. Please review the Stock Yield Enhancement Programme Agreement if you are interested in participating.
Ce document concerne la proposition de transfert de votre compte IBLUX vers IBCE et requiert votre attention. Veuillez lire l’intégralité de ce document avant de prendre quelconque mesure adressée dans la lettre d’accompagnement que nous vous avons envoyée par e-mail.
Veuillez prendre le temps de lire cette FAQ qui résume certains des changements clés du cadre réglementaire provoqués par la proposition de transfert (décrite ci-dessous) et répond aux questions plus générales que vous pourriez avoir. La FAQ doit être lue avec la lettre d’accompagnement et les documents joints à la lettre. Pour toute information supplémentaire, veuillez nous contacter aux coordonnées fournies dans la-dite lettre.
Ce document concerne la proposition de transfert de votre compte IBLUX vers IBIE et requiert votre attention. Veuillez lire l’intégralité de ce document avant de prendre quelconque mesure adressée dans la lettre d’accompagnement que nous vous avons envoyée par e-mail.
Veuillez prendre le temps de lire cette FAQ qui résume certains des changements clés du cadre réglementaire provoqués par la proposition de transfert (décrite ci-dessous) et répond aux questions plus générales que vous pourriez avoir. La FAQ doit être lue avec la lettre d’accompagnement et les documents joints à la lettre. Pour toute information supplémentaire, veuillez nous contacter aux coordonnées fournies dans la-dite lettre.