Personal Finance

How to transfer US shares to a UK account

Emma-Jane Stogdon

06.12.24

Read time 4 minutes

Have investments in the US, but have recently moved to the UK? You might want to transfer them over to a UK account. It can make managing your investments easier, especially if you have separate UK stocks and want to bring everything together all in one place.

But how easy is it to transfer US shares to a UK account? Find out everything you need to know here in this handy guide, where we’ll answer all your burning questions about US to UK stock transfers.

We’ll run through how share transfers between countries work, what kinds of accounts you can transfer to and how to gift shares to family members and spouses.

Can you transfer US shares to a UK account without selling?

Yes, you can transfer US stock to your UK investment account without having to sell your shares.

As long as your new broker or investment platform can hold the asset in question, you can do it through something known as an in-specie transfer. You’ll need to apply for it, and once approved your US and UK platforms or account providers will handle the transfer.

How does transferring shares work?

As the owner of the shares, you’ll need to apply to your new investment platform in the UK for an in-specie transfer.

You may have a choice of ways to request a transfer. For example, investment platforms like Webull let you make transfer requests online, via app or through a desktop application.¹

The two brokers - one based in the US, the other in the UK - then communicate with each other to complete the transfer.

Transferring US shares to a UK account

Let’s take a look at the steps involved in transferring US shares over to an account or broker in the UK:

Check that the UK platform, account or broker holds the asset or product you want to transfer. You might also need to check that the new platform has a matching brokerage account type available, and that it accepts transfers in.
Apply for a transfer with your new UK provider, making sure to check all details carefully. Mistakes can mean delays.
Wait for your transfer to complete. It can take just a few days, but it depends on the platforms involved. For example, Trading 212 says it can take up to 30 days to complete transfers.²

Can I give my shares to a family member or beneficiary?

Yes, you can transfer shares to another person or even a company. To do it, you’ll need to complete a stock transfer form (known as a J30 form) and send it to HMRC. You can get the form from your UK brokerage.³

Bear in mind that there may be tax implications when you give shares away, so it could be worth getting professional advice first.

How to transfer US shares to a spouse with a UK account

It may be possible to transfer US shares directly to a spouse with a UK account, but you might find it complicated. You may need to contact your broker to find out about their processes.

The best way to do it may be to apply for a transfer of your US shares into a UK account in your own name, then complete a J30 stock transfer form to give them to your spouse.

Is it possible to transfer US shares to an ISA?

You can’t directly transfer US shares from a trader account into a UK ISA, but there is an alternative way to do it. The process is called ‘Bed and ISA’, which is where your broker sells your shares and immediately repurchases them in your ISA.⁴

You’ll need to contact your UK broker platform to find out more about whether it offers this for international shares. Bear in mind that this may also have tax implications.

Can I transfer US shares using a share certificate?

Yes, it is possible to transfer US shares with a share certificate, although how exactly it works may vary depending on your broker. The share certificate will need to be signed and this signature ‘guaranteed’ before a transfer can take place.⁵

Don’t let currency conversion trip you up when trading - use Wise

In this article, we’ve looked at how to transfer US shares to a UK account, including a few different ways to do it.

But it’s important to remember that if you trade in different currencies, you need to keep an eye on the costs of currency conversion. This can be a particular issue when trading and buying shares overseas from UK accounts, as your money will need to be converted between USD and GBP.

The good news is that you can use Wise to avoid hidden currency exchange markups. Open a Wise account to convert currency at mid-market exchange rates, for low, transparent fees*.

You may wish to hold your money in a Wise account until you decide to invest it in your chosen platform or wait until the conversion rate is more favourable.

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You can get in contact with our expert team via email, request a callback or learn more below.

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And don’t forget, you can turn on the Wise Interest feature in your Wise account to earn returns on GBP, USD and EUR. This works by investing in a fund that holds government-guaranteed assets. Capital at risk.

How Wise Interest works

Capital at risk. Growth not guaranteed. Wise Assets UK Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority with registration number 839689. When facilitating access to Wise investment products, Wise Payments Ltd acts as an Introducer Appointed Representative of Wise Assets UK Ltd. Please be aware that we do not offer investment advice, and you may be liable for taxes on any earnings. If you’re uncertain, we urge you to seek professional advice. To find out more about the Funds, visit our website.