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US citizens in the UK · Institutions

Which IG accounts accept US citizens

Last checked

IG has been checked for US citizens across 3 account types. All 3 are open to a US person (all with strings).

If you already have an account with IG, a second one there is usually the easier application, because IG has already checked who you are. Each account below carries its verdict, the evidence behind it and the date it was checked.

At a glance

Account Verdict Last checked
Stocks & shares ISAs With strings
Brokerage accounts With strings
SIPPs With strings

Stocks & shares ISAs

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With strings

US persons: you can open it, but not buy US-incorporated stock inside it

The ISA page says any UK resident over 18 can open one, and the help centre carries the catch: IG allows a US citizen to buy US-incorporated stock only as a derivative, never through a share dealing account, which is what an ISA is. So you get the wrapper and the UK, European and Australian lines, but not the US stock most people open it for.

FSCS £85,000 investment cover · online and app

Account Terms The catch
Share dealing ISA
Annual fee
None
Dealing fee
No commission on UK, US, EU and Australian shares on the default setting
Can hold
Over 12,000 shares and ETFs across four regions, but not US-incorporated stock if you are a US citizen. The UCITS ETFs are PFICs.
Individual shares
Yes
US-domiciled ETFs
No
 Currency conversion 0.49%, a discretionary rate held until at least 4 September 2026.
Smart Portfolio ISA
Annual fee
From 0.50%, capped at £250 a year
Dealing fee
None
Can hold
Managed portfolios of iShares ETFs. All pooled, so all PFICs.
Individual shares
No
US-domiciled ETFs
No
 Minimum £500 to start, with no exit or inactivity fees.

Source: IG help centre on W-8BEN and US citizens, 2026-08-17 Last checked IG's own page

Brokerage accounts

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With strings

US persons: barred from US-incorporated stock in the share dealing account, and a paper Form W-9

IG will open the account and then bar the thing you most likely wanted it for. Its help centre says a US citizen files a Form W-9 and may only buy US-incorporated stock as a CFD or spread bet, never through the share dealing account, which leaves you holding non-US shares and PFICs.

FSCS £85,000 investment cover · client assets held in segregated trust accounts

Account Terms The catch
IG share dealing account
Annual fee
None. No platform, custody or inactivity fee
Dealing fee
No commission on shares and ETFs. FX 0.49%, a reduced rate held until 4 September 2026
Can hold
UK and international shares and ETFs, but not US-incorporated stock if you are a US citizen. Every UCITS ETF you can buy here is a PFIC for US tax.
Individual shares
Yes
US-domiciled ETFs
No
 Switching to manual currency conversion removes the FX fee but brings back £3 commission on UK shares.

Source: IG help centre, W-8BEN and US citizens, 2026-08-17 Last checked IG's own page

SIPPs

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With strings

US persons: a Form W-9 on file, and no US-incorporated shares through the pension

IG sets no citizenship test on the pension, asking only that you are 18 and UK resident, and it has a documented route for US citizens who complete a Form W-9. The string is on what you may buy rather than whether you may open: IG does not offer US-incorporated stock to US citizens through share dealing, only as a derivative, which leaves you holding non-US shares inside the wrapper.

FSCS £85,000 · operated by Options UK Personal Pensions · £210 a year admin

Account Terms The catch
Share Dealing SIPP
Annual fee
£210 a year including VAT to the administrator, with no custody fee from IG
Dealing fee
No commission on shares, with 0.49% currency conversion
Can hold
Over 11,000 shares, ETFs and investment trusts, but not US-incorporated stock if you are a US citizen. The UCITS ETFs are PFICs; the non-US direct shares are not.
Individual shares
Yes
 You need £10,000 to start, by transfer or single contribution, or more than £1,000 a month.
Smart Portfolio SIPP
Annual fee
£210 a year to the administrator plus 0.50% capped at £250, plus ETF costs
Dealing fee
None, with rebalancing included
Can hold
One of five managed iShares ETF portfolios. All pooled, so all PFICs.
Individual shares
No
 The 0.50% applies to the first £50,000 only. Same £10,000 minimum.

Source: IG SIPP FAQs and US citizen guidance, 2026-08-17 Last checked IG's own page

Account names link to the provider's own site. momo has no active affiliate partnerships; if that changes it will be disclosed and will never change a verdict. Every institution, A to Z.

Confirm your own position with a cross-border specialist. Acceptance policies and tax rules change, and your facts may differ from the general case. Rates and terms here are the provider's published figures rather than an offer, and the provider decides each application on its own criteria. Use this as a map, not a ruling. Last checked .
Tax

PFIC

Almost every UK-domiciled fund is a PFIC, taxed by the US at punitive rates with heavy filing. This is why US citizens hold individual shares, not UK funds.

 Tax

ISA US tax

The IRS does not recognise the ISA wrapper. Cash ISA interest and stocks ISA gains are taxable on your US return, and fund holdings drag in PFIC rules.

 Tax

FATCA

FATCA makes UK banks report accounts held by US persons to the IRS. It is not a tax; it is a reporting trail. Where it bites is access.

 Tax

SIPP US tax

The treaty generally lets a UK SIPP grow tax-deferred for US purposes, but the protection has limits. How the US treats contributions, growth and drawdown.