What corporate action services does Interactive Brokers provide?
Interactive Brokers services relating to corporate actions are as follows:
1. The processing of mandatory corporate actions (e.g. prompt dividend recovery, spin-offs, stock splits, effective mergers and etc.) at no extra cost; and
2. Providing, on a best efforts basis, details of corporate action announcements associated with stock and option positions held in your account. These details are provided in the form of a web ticket posted to the Corporate Actions tab of your Message Center. Account holders may also elect to set their preferences so as to receive a copy of such details via email. Information provided includes
- Mandatory offers - general information regarding mandatory offers
- Voluntary offers - eligible account holders may submit elections directly through Account Management
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Interactive Brokers does not provide any guidance, consultation or advice regarding corporate actions to its customers. IB customers are solely responsible for the monitoring of the existence of a corporate action, understanding the rights and terms of any corporate action and providing timely and accurate instructions regarding the handling for any voluntary corporate action.
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Which Tax Form Should I Select?
Overview:
3 simple questions can help you choose a tax certification form. Read the questions and select the form. For more detailed help, see Tax Information & Reporting.
Question # 1: Are you a U.S. Person or a U.S. Entity?
| • U.S. Citizen | • U.S. Business or Organization |
| • U.S. Green Card Holder | • U.S. Domestic Trust |
| • U.S. Legal Resident | |
If the answer is YES, complete Form W-9
If the answer is NO, go to # 2.
Question # 2: Do you have a U.S. Visa?
| • H-1B Visa Holder | • TN Visa Holder |
| • O-1 Visa Holder | |
If the answer is YES, find your status by the "substantial presence test." See More U.S. Legal Resident Info
If the answer is NO, go to # 3.
Question # 3: Are you a Legal Resident or Entity of another country?
*Question does Not apply to U.S. Citizens/Entities or Green Card Holders
| • Permanent Home Outside of U.S | • Entity Formed Outside of U.S. |
| •Business or Organization formed outside of U.S. | |
If the answer is YES, complete Form W-8 (U.S. Citizens, Green Card Holders, and Entities still complete the W-9.)
NOT SURE because you work, live, or study in the U.S. then, see More U.S. Legal Resident Info
Disclaimer: IB does not provide tax advice. These statements are provided for information purposes only, are not intended to constitute tax advice which may be relied upon to avoid penalties under any international, federal, state, local or other tax statutes or regulations, and do not resolve any tax issues in your favor. We recommend that you consult a qualified tax adviser or refer to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
How to Deposit Funds Via an ACH Initiated by Interactive Brokers
How to transfer funds from your bank account to your Interactive Brokers account via an ACH deposit initiated by IB
Enter KB567 into the search engine for additional information regarding ACH deposits
How to Transfer Funds Via an ACH Initiated by Your Bank
How to transfer funds between your bank account and your Interactive Brokers account via an ACH initiated at your bank.
Enter KB567 into the search engine for additional information regarding ACH deposits.
How to Deposit Funds Via a Wire Transfer
How to deposit funds via a wire transfer
Enter KB834 in the Knowledge Base search engine for additional information on how to deposit funds via a bank wire transfer
Setting preferences to receive SMS text messages
Short Message Service, or SMS, allows for the interchange of short text messages between mobile phone devices. IB uses this technology to allow customers to receive text messages when, for example, a response to your webticket or a corporate action notification has been sent to your Message Center. As SMS accommodates messages of only up to 160 characters, the text message solely serves to advise one that a message has been posted and is viewable through login to Account Management. Character limitations and security concerns preclude sending a message which contains the complete text of the Message Center item.
To request this feature, log into Account Management, click on the Message Center icon and then the Preferences link. A window will open which allows you to select the SMS/CELL notification check box after which you will need to specify the country code along with the phone number (including city code) of your mobile device.
This feature may be disabled at any time by un-checking the SMS/CELL notification check box.
SIPP Overview
What is a SIPP?
A SIPP account is a pension account that allows customers to control their retirement savings and where they are invested. SIPPs provide customers with more flexibility and self control over their savings, and are available to all UK residents between the ages of 18 and 75. Customers who are employed or self-employed may contribute up to 100% of their earnings (up to £235,000) in any one tax year. Further they allow retired and unemployed customers to invest up to £3,600 per year. You can trade financial products, property and other items in a SIPP.
Interactive Brokers (UK) Limited does not accept SIPP’s outright, rather it does accept a SIPP Administrator of a SIPP to open a master account. Afterwards, a SIPP Administrator's clients can open sub accounts and trade their SIPP through Interactive Brokers (UK) Limited.
For more information about SIPP’s in the UK, refer to the HM Revenue & Customs website www.hmrc.gov.uk
Can I open a SIPP account with Interactive Brokers LLC (US) or (Hong Kong)?
No, the SIPP Administrator account and its sub accounts can only open an account with Interactive Brokers (UK) Limited.
Can I trade property and other acceptable investments through my SIPP at Interactive Brokers (UK) Limited?
You can only trade regulated financial products through your SIPP that is held with us.
What is a SIPP Administrator?
A SIPP Administrator is a regulated company that acts as the trustee of the SIPP. Further it provides various administrative duties on behalf of the SIPP e.g., reporting to HM Revenue & Customs.
How do I get my SIPP Administrator to open a master account?
Refer to our Interactive Brokers (UK) Limited website www.interactivebrokers.co.uk under Account, then under SIPP. From here a SIPP Administrator can open a master account (at no cost). Alternatively you can contact an Interactive Brokers (UK) Limited sales representative.
What qualifies a SIPP Administrator to open a master account?
We only accept UK registered companies with the Financial Conduct Authority which are authorised SIPP Administrators that are in good standing and adhere to our terms and conditions.
Is there a cost to open a master account?
No, unless the master account wants to view market data then fees apply.
Can anyone trade a SIPP sub account with Interactive Brokers?
Only UK residents and individuals between the ages of 18 and 75 who have good or extensive knowledge of any product they wish to trade and that we support, prior execution of 100 or more trades (of any product) and will make a minimum deposit of $5,000 or equivalent in stock.
Can I trade on margin (leverage)?
No, all SIPP sub accounts can only trade in a cash account.
What is a cash account?
A cash account only allows a sub account to trade stocks, bonds, equity options, futures, futures options, single stock futures (SSFs), ETFs, forex and warrants. An individual can only deposit one base currency that Interactive Brokers supports, but can trade products denominated in other currencies after using a Forex transaction to acquire the currency. You must wait for the Forex trade to settle (two business days following trade date) before the currency is available for trading. Cash accounts can only trade the following stock/option order types:
- Long Stock (no shorting)
- Long Call or a Long Put
- Covered Calls
- Short Naked Put: only if covered by cash
- Call Spread: Only European style cash settled
- Put Spread: Only European style cash settled
- Long Butterfly: Only European style cash settled
- Iron Condor: Only European style cash settled
- Long Call and Put (long straddle)
Can I trade my ISA through Interactive Brokers?
Yes, please click on the link below to learn more about our Stocks & Shares ISA account.
Does Interactive Brokers give advice in trading within your SIPP?
No, Interactive Brokers give no trading advice as it is a non discretionary broker.
Do you accept cheques to fund my SIPP?
No we only accept wire transfers or positions (FREE of PAYMENT).
What is a FREE of PAYMENT transfer?
The transfer of securities for which there is no need for a cash exchange. Rather the securities are already paid up in full.
Can I transfer physical shares (FREE of PAYMENT) in my sub account?
No we only accept dematerialized shares.
How many users can trade my SIPP sub account?
Only one.
Adding a second user for an individual account holder
Overview:
Individual account holders have the ability to add multiple users to their IBKR account. The account holder may wish to add a second user registered under their own name for the purpose of opening two TWS sessions simultaneously (one for normal access and the other for connecting via an API). The account holder may also provide access to up to 5 (non-employee) individuals, such as a family members, pursuant to a Limited Power of Attorney agreement. In addition, each of these individuals may also be provided with a second user access. A second user of an account cannot be provided with funding rights. All other power of attorney users may have funding access if granted by the account holder.
In each case, the additional user will be assigned a unique user name which is required for log in both to Client Portal and the trading platform of choice. Procedures for adding a second user account for access by the existing account holder are outlined below (search KB1001 for procedures for adding non-employee users).
Background:
Procedures for adding a second (account holder) user are as follows:
- Log into Client Portal.
- Click the User menu (head and shoulders icon in the top right corner) followed by Manage Account.
- The Users & Access Rights panel is displayed to the right in the Configuration column and shows all of the users that you have added to your account.
- Click the Configure (gear) icon to open the Users & Access Rights screen.
- Click on the Add "+" icon next to Users. You will be presented with the Add Users page where you will need to specify the new user name and the password you wish to use for the new user name.
- Select Yes for the secondary user, since you are creating this user as a secondary username.
- Click on the Continue button.
- Verify details and click on the Continue button.
- If you do not participate in the Secure Login System for two-factor authentication, you will receive an email with a confirmation number. Enter the confirmation number sent to you via email, then click Continue. If you have not received a confirmation number, click Request Confirmation Number to have a new confirmation number sent to your email address.
- Click OK to save the new user, which the primary account holder can now use as a secondary username.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
1. In accordance with market data vendor requirements, market data services are user-specific and any username subscribed will be assessed a separate market data subscription fee.
2. Account holders may delete a 2nd user account by clicking on the Delete link next to the user name located within the Users & Access Rights section.
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Free of Payment (FOP) Transfers
Overview:
Free of Payment (FOP) is term used by IB to refer to a process of transferring long US securities between IB and another financial institution (e.g. bank, broker or transfer agent) through the Depository Trust Company (DTC).
The FOP transfer method is often used when:
1. The delivering form is not a DTC ACAT (Automated Customer Account Transfer) Participant.
2. The customer would like to expedite the delivery of their securities. The processing time frame for securities transferred via FOP may, in certain instances, be less than that associated with an ACATS transfer.
The following steps are to be followed in order to create a FOP notice:
1. Log into Account Management.
2. Select Funding or Funds Management and then Position Transfers.
3. From the drop-down list, select the Transfer Method: Free of Payment.
4. Select the applicable transaction Type: Deposit or Withdraw.
5. In the case of a FOP Withdrawal, the steps are as follows:
- Select the Destination to whom the securities are being transferred.
- Enter your account number of the Third Party Broker Acount Information.
- Specify the security (Stock, Warrants or US Bonds).
- Enter the Symbol, Shares and the Exchange (optional) and click Add.
- Provide your electronic signature authorizing the transfer request and clicking on the Continue button.
- Verify your identity by entering your password and clicking on the Confirm Request button;
- If your account is enrolled in the Secure Transaction Program (STP), the processing of your request will take place once you enter your confirmation code and click on the Confirm Request button. If not STP enrolled, your request will be subject to security verification, requiring that you contact our Customer Service Center to validate your identity and request.
6. In the case of a FOP Deposit, the steps are as follows:
- Select the Source to whom the securities are being transferred.
- Enter your account number of the Third Party Broker Acount Information.
- Specify the security (Stocks, Warrants or US Bonds).
- Enter the Symbol, Shares and the Exchange (optional) and click Add.
- Provide your electronic signature authorizing the transfer request and clicking on the Continue button.
- A printable version of the FOP request is made available should your transferring firm require an authorization form.
7. Transfer requests are typically completed within five business days.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
While IB does not assess a fee to process FOP transfers, other firms may and we therefore recommend that you confirm with the contra-firm their policies in this regard prior to submitting a request. In the event a contra-firm does charge a fee to IB, the fee will be passed to the IB account holder.
Glossary terms:
Adding (non-employee) users to an individual account
Overview:
Individual account holders have the ability to add multiple users to their IBKR account. The account holder may wish to add a second user registered under their own name for the purpose of opening two TWS sessions simultaneously (one for normal access and the other for connecting via an API). The account holder may also provide access to up to 5 (non-employee) individuals, such as a family members, pursuant to a Limited Power of Attorney agreement. In addition, each of these individuals may also be provided with a second user access.
In each case, the additional user will be assigned a unique user name which is required for log in both to Client Portal and the trading platform of choice. Procedures for adding a (non-employee) individual user are outlined below (search KB1004 for procedures for adding a second user for an individual account holder).
Background:
Procedures for adding a non-employee user are as follows:
- Log into Client Portal.
- Click the User menu (head and shoulders icon in the top right corner) followed by Manage Account.
- The Users & Access Rights panel is displayed to the right in the Configuration column and shows all of the users that you have added to your account.
- Click the Configure (gear) icon to open the Users & Access Rights screen.
- Here there are two panels: the Users panel shows those individuals added to your account, as well as their relationship to the primary account holder; the User Roles panel shows all user roles that you have created.
- Add, edit, or delete Users using the set of icons to the right.
- The process of adding a user and assigning access rights is divided into several screens. When you complete each screen, click Continue to advance to the next screen. If you want to make changes to a previous screen, click Back.
- On the first screen, enter information about the user, including the username, password, name, relationship to the primary account holder and email address.
- On the next screen, select a user role, if you have saved any. User roles automatically apply a set of previously configured access rights to the new user. If you do this, you can skip any additional screens and continue to the review screen.
- Each screen that follows lets you give the new user rights to access a specific group of functions. On each screen, grant access to functions by clicking the box next to each one.
- The last screen in the process lets you review all of the information about the new user, including access rights. Rights that have been assigned to the new user are shown checked and in green; rights that have not been assigned to the new user are shown crossed out. Click Continue if everything is correct. Click Back to make changes.
- If you do not participate in the Secure Login System for two-factor authentication, you will receive an email with a confirmation number. Enter the confirmation number sent to you via email, then click Continue. If you have not received a confirmation number, click Request Confirmation Number to have a new confirmation number sent to your email address.
- Click OK to save the new user, which will appear in the Users & Access Rights panel.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
1. In accordance with market data vendor requirements, the primary user on the account will be assessed a separate market data subscription fee for each user account added.
2. Account holders may delete a user account by clicking on the delete link next to the user name located within the Users & Access Rights menu options.
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