How to Transfer RSUs from Interactive Brokers (IBKR) to Rovia
IBKR is the most common "intermediate" broker for Indian residents holding US stock — a parking spot between an employer plan and a fully India-compliant setup. This is the playbook to move from IBKR to Rovia.
Why IBKR is in the conversation
Unlike Schwab, Morgan Stanley, Fidelity, and E*TRADE, IBKR is not where most US tech employers settle their RSU grants. So why does this guide exist?
Because IBKR is the most common “intermediate broker” for Indian residents who already moved their US stock out of an employer plan. The pattern: an Indian engineer ACATS their RSUs out of Schwab / Morgan Stanley / Fidelity / E*TRADE to IBKR (because the FX spread is ~20 bps vs the employer broker's 50–100 bps), then later realizes the India-side compliance — Schedule FA, INR cost basis, Form 67, 24-month LTCG clocks — is still not handled.
If that's you, this is the playbook to move from IBKR to a fully India-aware setup.
1. What IBKR does well, and what it doesn't
IBKR solves the FX cost and lot selection layers cleanly. It does not solve any of the India-side reporting or compliance layers — which is what most Indian residents eventually need.
2. The transfer playbook
Path A — Sell at IBKR, wire INR to your Indian bank
Simplest, realizes capital gains:
- Trader Workstation or Client Portal → place sell orders with specific lot identification. Use the “Tax optimizer” tool to pre-classify the resulting STCG vs LTCG (in US terms — India terms are different, see RSU Taxation pillar).
- Funds → Transfer → outgoing wire → USD destination = your Indian bank in INR-equivalent. IBKR's FX spread is ~20 bps; the rate quoted is essentially interbank.
- Wire fee = $0 for the first outbound wire per calendar month, ~$10 for each subsequent wire that month.
Path B — ACATS-out to a different broker
Less common from IBKR (it's usually the destination, not the source for further transfers). But possible if you're consolidating elsewhere:
- Client Portal → Settings → Transfer & Pay → Transfer positions out. Provide receiving broker DTC and account number.
- ACATS settles in 5–7 business days. Cost basis (USD) and acquisition dates carry over.
3. Costs at IBKR
4. IBKR-specific issues for India
Issue 1 — Tax statements are US-format. The IBKR Year-End Tax Summary is built for US filers. It does not translate to Indian ITR Schedule FA columns. You (or your CA) reformats it manually.
Issue 2 — No INR cost basis. IBKR knows your USD cost basis (and preserves it across ACATS). It does not know — and cannot generate — your INR cost basis at the original vest-day RBI TT rates. For RSUs that were ACATS'd in from an employer plan, this is the everything-data you need for Indian capital-gains computation.
Issue 3 — LRS misconception. Indian residents sometimes confuse LRS limits with IBKR funding rules. LRS ($250K/year/PAN) governs INR-to-USD outward remittance — relevant only if you're sending money FROM India TO your IBKR account, not when you're bringing money home. Covered in the FX & Repatriation pillar.
Issue 4 — Schedule FA disclosure of IBKR account. Even though IBKR is not an employer broker, holding equity there triggers Schedule FA disclosure. The IBKR account itself goes in Table A2 (custodial); each US equity position goes in Table A3. Same calendar-year accounting period (Jan-Dec). Covered in the Schedule FA pillar.
5. What Rovia does
- IBKR Activity Statement parsing — including ACATS-in records that preserve the original vest dates from the source employer broker.
- Original-vest-day INR cost basis reconstruction from RBI historical TT rates, even when the lots have been at IBKR for years.
- Schedule FA generation covering both the IBKR custodial account (Table A2) and each underlying equity position (Table A3), with calendar-year accounting period and peak-value computation.
- 24-month LTCG clock per lot, anchored to the original vest date — not the ACATS-in date.
- 0-markup FX channel — even tighter than IBKR's 20 bps when available.
For most users, the combination is: keep shares at IBKR for the trading flexibility and FX, layer Rovia on top for the India compliance. This is the pattern that works best.
Frequently asked questions
Can Indian residents open IBKR accounts directly?
Yes. IBKR LLC and IBKR International accept Indian residents with KYC documentation. The application is online, takes 1–3 weeks for approval depending on documentation completeness, and requires W-8BEN.
I moved my RSUs to IBKR as an intermediate step. Was that a mistake?
Not necessarily. IBKR is a defensible intermediate spot for tighter FX and lot-level control. But it does not solve the India-side problem: Schedule FA generation, INR cost basis at the original vest dates, Form 67, and the 24-month LTCG clock per lot still need separate management. Most users who park at IBKR eventually want a fuller India-facing setup.
What does IBKR charge for an outbound USD wire to India?
IBKR offers 1 free outbound wire per month and charges ~$10 for each subsequent wire that month. International destinations follow the same fee structure.
What is the FX spread at IBKR?
Approximately 20 basis points — the tightest of any retail-accessible broker. IBKR is widely considered the FX cost benchmark.
Will my IBKR lot history transfer if I ACATS to another broker?
Yes for in-kind ACATS to a broker that accepts foreign-equity transfers. Cost basis (in USD) and acquisition dates carry over. INR cost basis still has to be reconstructed at the original vest-day RBI TT rates separately.
Is there an inactivity fee?
Historically IBKR charged $10/month if account balance was under $100K — this was waived for many tiers in 2021 and further relaxed since. Verify current state in your account.
Last reviewed June 5, 2026. IBKR fees and inactivity policies change frequently — verify current state in your account before initiating. Informational only, not personalised tax or financial advice.