Interactive Brokers charges a $5(US) fee for each DRS transfer. This means each time you want to direct register shares of a specific stock (no matter how many shares) you are charged $5(US). You will need to make sure you have $5(US) settled in your account before you can transfer.
DISCLAIMER: If you deposit money into IBKR using a “Direct ACH Transfer”, then IBKR may hold on to any purchased shares for up to 44 days before you can direct register them. If you do a “Bank Wire” transfer there is a small fee, but you can direct register your shares 3 days after purchase.
Please Note; if you have GS2C shares, you can convert them to GME and transfer to IBKR at the same time using this guide.
How to get the $5
When your money arrives with IBKR it will be in your local currency. To convert it to US Dollars you need to:
Click on “Trade” on the menu bar and select “Convert Currency”.
A pop up will ask you what currency you want converted (your local currency), and what currency you want to convert to (USD).
Once you have filled out the boxes click on submit and your money will have converted instantly.
You now need to wait 3 days for the USD to settle before you can transfer. You can purchase more shares with the USD immediately, but for transfers you have to wait for the cash to settle.
Optional: You can select if you'd like your shares transferred as “First In, First Out” (newest shares transfer first) or “Last In First Out”(oldest shares transfer first).
To do this:
Click on “Performance & Reports” from the top menu, and select “Tax Documents”.
Underneath “Tax Optimizer” you will find an “Account Match Method” drop down list.
First In, First Out is selected as default (newest shares transfer first), but you can switch to Last in, First Out (oldest shares transfer first).
There are several other options, but these are the main two to concern yourself with.
If you transferred shares into IBKR, check your cost basis:
Often shares transferred to IBKR are missing their cost basis. It is worth double checking your cost basis is recorded properly before you start your transfer from IBKR. (Please note: IBKR have a column called cost basis on your portfolio page. If you have transferred your shares to IBKR, please ignore this cost basis, as it is not the actual cost basis of your shares).
You can find your cost basis by looking at your account statements, activity statements, or contract notes from the broker you purchased the shares with.
To update your cost basis in IBKR click on “Performance & Reports” from the top menu and select “Tax Documents”.
At the bottom of the page you will find the “Cost Basis” Section.
Click on the cog-wheel icon next to “Position Transfer”.
On the next page select the transfer from the drop down menu (labeled by the date of the transfer).
A table will appear with the quantity of shares you transferred.
To fill it out, you need to click on the “Add Lot” button.
Here you can break down the batch of shares into the batches you ordered them in. (For example, 10 shares might have been bought in 2 lots of 5).
If you are unsure about which shares you transferred, all share transfers are marked as First In, First Out by default. This means the newest shares transfer first.
To fill out each lot you will provide the quantity of shares you purchased, the date you purchased those shares, and the total cost of those shares (be sure to remove any trading fees you paid).
Once you have added enough lots to make up for the total amount of shares, you can click on “Continue” to submit the cost basis.
Please note, even at this stage Computershare may not receive your cost basis. Your best bet is to keep a hold of your records showing your cost basis. It will make things a lot smoother when it comes to tax return time.
How to Transfer:
Once your shares and $5 are settled in IBKR:
Login, and click on “Transfer & Pay” from the top menu and select “Transfer Positions”.
On the next page select “Outgoing”.
On the next page select “United Sates” from the drop down menu.
On the next page select the option “Deliver Shares to the Issuer's Transfer Agent/Registrar”.
IBKR have now streamlined the next part. You should not have to enter the Transfer Agent's info as there is only one Transfer Agent for GameStop and that's Computershare.
You are shown the name the shares will be direct registered in (same as your IBKR account name). This, along with your address is the only info needed to set up your account with Computershare. The rest you provide once it's opened.
You can leave the Tax Identification Number alone (you will give this to Computershare later).
Select which stock you'd like to transfer (GameStop) and how many shares you'd like to transfer.
Click “Continue”.
On the next page you'll see a summary of the transfer and IBKR asks you to sign your name (simply type your name to match what it says on the screen).
You will then be asked to provide your login details again as authorization. If you have 2FA activated then you will need to authorize through that as well.
Once you have done that and clicked “Submit” IBKR will review your transfer request. This takes about a day.
After you have submitted the transfer request:
IBKR will not contact you when the status of your transfer updates, even if it fails.
To check in on your transfer you can login, click on “Transfer & Pay” from the top menu, and select “Transaction Status & History”.
If you don't have an existing Computershare account:
Your broker and Computershare will take care of the transfer and open a Computershare account for you. This will take another 2-3 business days.
If you have an existing Computershare account:
Your broker will DRS transfer the shares based on your name and address. As a result, a second account may be created for you. This can be for a few reasons, such as a middle initial existing on one account, but not the other. If your name and address match exactly, then the transfer will process within the normal amount of time. If not, then it will take another 2-4 weeks for the account to be made and the DRS Account Statement sent out to you.
Your broker may ask you for a Computershare account number. For security reasons we do not recommend giving this information to your broker. With Computershare accounts, the account number is the "key" that allows brokers to authorize a transfer of shares out of the DRS and back to the broker.
After your shares leave your broker:
Now you will need to wait for the first Computershare letter to arrive.
This letter is the DRS Account Statement.
It will take another 2-6 weeks after your shares have left your broker.
If you don't want to wait around 4 weeks, you have a couple of options:
If you have transferred less than 10 shares, Computershare can give you your account number over the phone. Skipping the need for the first letter.
You can expedite the letter for $45 by giving payment details to Computershare over the phone. The letter will arrive within a week.
Computershare's non-US GME contact number is +800-3823-3823. This is a free number that can only be called from landlines in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, and the UK.
Please note: The number is only available between 08:00 and 14:00 (GMT). Otherwise you will be put through to Computershare headquarters in the USA without notice.
Otherwise, the US toll-free number is: +1 800-522-6645 and the US toll number is: +1 (201) 680 6578 (taxes may apply). If you're outside the US, you can get a free trial month of Skype to call these numbers.
If you don't hear any relevant options with the automated menu, you can keep pressing 0 to get through to a human.
If you are asked to verify your address and live outside of the US, you will have to use an ISO code instead of your country. For example, London in the UK is GB-LDN and Barcelona in Spain is ES-B. You can find your country's ISO codes through this wikipedia page.
When you have the DRS Account Statement:
Go to www.computershare.com/us
Click on “Login to Investor Center”.
Click on “Register Now”.
Make sure to select the “Holder Account Number” tab, instead of “Social Security Number”.
Select “I am not a U.S. Resident”.
Provide the Computershare account number that is on your DRS Account Statement (starts with “C”).
Provide your last name, surname, or business name.
Enter the name of the stock that you hold (GameStop).
Computershare will then prompt you to create your username, password and security questions.
Once your account is created, Computershare will send you a verification letter in the mail. This will arrive in 1 to 3 weeks.
If you'd like it sooner you can:
Call Computershare and pay a $30 fee to get the verification code via email within 48 hours.
Europeans can request the letter be sent from Computershare's UK office instead.
Computershare's non-US GME contact number is +800-3823-3823. This is a free number that can only be called from landlines in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, and the UK.
Please note: The number is only available between 08:00 and 14:00 (GMT). Otherwise you will be put through to Computershare headquarters in the USA without notice.
Otherwise, the US toll-free number is: +1 800-522-6645 and the US toll number is: +1 (201) 680 6578 (taxes may apply). If you're outside the US, you can get a free trial month of Skype to call these numbers.
If you don't hear any relevant options with the automated menu, you can keep pressing 0 to get through to a human.
If you are asked to verify your address and live outside of the US, you will have to use an ISO code instead of your country. For example, London in the UK is GB-LDN and Barcelona in Spain is ES-B. You can find your country's ISO codes through this wikipedia page.
When you receive the verification code letter:
Return to www.computershare.com/us
Click on “Login to Investor Center”.
Login using the username, and password you have created.
Then you can enter the verification code.
You now have full access to your Computershare account!
There is no more need for the verification code.
We recommend you now activate your two-step verification (2FA) to improve your account security. You can set this up by going to: "My Profile", then "Account Security Preferences".
W-8 BEN Tax Form:
At this stage it is important to first verify your tax status as a non-US citizen. While logged into your account, go to the My Profile tab, then “Tax Details”. A guide on how to fill in the W-8 BEN form is linked here.
You must fill in the W-8 BEN form before you buy any shares through Computershare, or add your banking information (especially if it's a US dollar account). Otherwise you will be assumed to be a US citizen.