The process of converting from an individual account to a Limited Liability Company (LLC) account is outlined below:
1. As the LLC account structure differs from that of the individual in terms of account holder information required, legal agreements and, in certain cases, taxpayer status, direct conversion is not supported and a new LLC account application must be completed online.
The online LLC application may be initiated by visiting www.ibkr.com and clicking the "Open Account" button. 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 when the individual account closes).
2. The LLC account application requires Compliance review and approval and documentation evidencing the creation of the LLC as well as the identity and address of each member may be required. If this is the case, notice as to the required documents and how to submit will be provided at the conclusion of the online application.
3. Once you have received an email confirming approval of the LLC account application, send a request from your Message Center authorizing IB to manually transfer positions from your Individual to LLC 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 LLC 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 you are holding such positions you would either need to close them prior to the transfer taking place or request that they remain in your individual account.
2. Prior to processing the transfer, you should make sure to close all open orders in the individual account to ensure that no executions take place following the transfer.
3. The SMA (Special Memorandum Account) balance in your individual account will not transfer to the LLC account. In certain instances, this may impact your ability to open new positions in the LLC 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 LLC account and must be re-initiated to continue. Note that LLC’s are classified as Professionals for market data subscription purposes which generally implies higher subscription rates than that for Non-Professionals.
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 LLC account but may be manually adjusted.
6. Once the transfer has been completed and assuming all positions have been transferred your individual 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 account closed.
7. You'll receive any applicable tax forms for the reportable activity transacted in each of your individual and LLC accounts at year end. Access to Account Management for your individual 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 holder consult with qualified professionals to determine any legal, tax or estate planning consequences associated with individual to LLC transfer requests.