Interactive Brokers for expats in Switzerland (2026)
Fees, CHF funding, safety and taxes: what expats in Switzerland need to know before opening an Interactive Brokers account.
Can I use Interactive Brokers in Switzerland?
Yes. Switzerland is on IBKR's list of supported countries and the account opening is fully online. You apply with your Swiss residence, verify your identity and fund the account by bank transfer (ibkr.com).
What does an account cost?
Nothing to hold: no account minimum, no inactivity fee and no maintenance fee (IBKR Pro). For US stocks and ETFs you pay per trade: tiered pricing from USD 0.0035 per share (minimum USD 0.35 per order) or fixed USD 0.005 per share (minimum USD 1) (ibkr.com).
Can I deposit Swiss francs?
Yes. CHF can be your base or funding currency, and IBKR supports 29 currencies. Converting CHF to USD costs 0.20 basis points of the trade value, with a minimum of USD 2 per conversion; automatic conversion adds about 0.03% to the exchange rate (ibkr.com).
Is there a minimum deposit?
No. IBKR has a USD 0 account minimum, so you can start with any amount (ibkr.com).
How safe is my money with IBKR?
Your account is cleared and carried by Interactive Brokers LLC, regulated by the US SEC and CFTC. Securities accounts are protected by SIPC up to USD 500,000 (including USD 250,000 cash), plus an excess policy up to USD 30 million. This covers broker failure, not market losses (ibkr.com).
Does IBKR handle my Swiss taxes?
No. IBKR does not file anything with the Swiss tax office. Each February you receive an Annual Statement with your gains, dividends, interest and fees, available online for 5 years. You declare your assets and income in your own Swiss tax return (ibkr.com).