A successful ACATS transfer depends on aligning several key details between your delivering account and your IBKR account, most importantly, matching account titles, account types, and Tax ID information. Transfers can also be rejected if they include assets that are not eligible for transfer. Even small mismatches or missing details can trigger a rejection.
To avoid these issues before you submit, see 'What are the criteria for a successful ACATS transfer?' for a pre-submission checklist.
Below are the most common reasons for rejection, along with steps to resolve each one.
| Rejection Reason | What it Means | How to Resolve |
| Account Title Mismatch | The name(s) on the sending account do not exactly match the name(s) on your IBKR account. Differences like a missing middle initial, nickname, or recent name change can lead to a rejection. | Request your delivering broker to update the account title to match your IBKR account exactly, including middle initials or full legal name. Also confirm the account type matches (e.g., individual vs. joint). Click here for more information about minor title mismatches What is "One-and-the-Same" for an ACATS transfer? |
| Account Type Mismatch | The account type at the delivering firm (e.g., individual, joint, IRA, trust) does not match the account type on your IBKR account. | Your account type must match both broker's account structures exactly (Individual, Joint, Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, etc.). Confirm the account type with your delivering broker. If there is a mismatch, you may open a matching account type at IBKR. |
| Tax ID Mismatch | The SSN/Tax ID on your IBKR account does not match what your sending broker has on file. | For ACATS, both accounts must have matching tax IDs. If there is a mismatch, check with your other broker on the tax ID they have on file. For more information on how to resolve, refer to Tax ID requirements here TAX Identification Number Requirements for ACATS Transfers |
| Invalid Account Number | The account number entered does not match the format or record the delivering firm expects. Some institutions may also have multiple account numbers, so it is important to use the one associated with your brokerage account. | Verify the account number against your statement. Formats vary by broker and may even require to add or remove digits from what you see on your statement. Some institutions issue multiple account numbers, so confirm you are using the one tied to your brokerage account. See common number formats by broker here. ACATS Transfer: Account Number Format Requirements. |
| Account Restricted/Not Eligible for Transfer | The account has a restriction that is blocking the transfer. Restrictions can include, but are not limited to: Restrictions placed by your current (delivering) broker. Rule-based blocks, such as certain asset types (such as MLP holdings) that are not eligible for transfer into specific account types like an IRA. | Contact your delivering broker to confirm and resolve any restriction blocking the transfer. If the restriction is due to a rule-based block (e.g., an asset type not eligible for your account type), exclude that asset from the transfer and resubmit. |
| Credit Policy Violation | Accepting the transfer would violate IBKR's credit/margin policies for the receiving account. | Review your account's margin/credit requirements and resolve any shortfall before resubmitting. |
| Expiring or Expired Options | ACATS requests cannot be processed during options expiration week, and expired options in the transfer will cause a rejection. | Wait until after expiration week to submit if your transfer includes options. |
| Account Flat (No Assets) | The sending account shows no assets or balance available to transfer. | Confirm with your delivering broker that the assets are still held in your account and not already moved, liquidated, or restricted. |
| Transfer Lock | Some financial institutions offer a "transfer lock" feature to protect against unauthorized transfers; if you enabled at the other institution, it may cause your inbound transfer to reject. | Contact your delivering broker to address the transfer lock on the account before resubmitting the transfer request. |
| Unsupported or Restricted Assets | The position is not supported by IBKR or is restricted for this account type, such as micro-cap securities, fractional shares (other than supported mutual funds), or specific securities IBKR cannot accept (e.g., certain foreign ADRs). | If a position is not accepted by IBKR: Check Transfer Funds → Transaction Status & History for more information on which assets were not accepted, then resubmit the transfer excluding those assets. To verify supported assets in advance, use the Products and Exchange Search page. US Micro-Cap Stocks: We only accept micro-cap stock deposits in block form, and only from eligible clients. For more information, click here. If the delivering broker has restricted certain assets from transfer: Contact your delivering broker to identify the ineligible asset(s) and exclude them before resubmitting the transfer. |
| Unsettled Trades / Position Unavailable | Your ACATS request was rejected, either due to unsettled trades or missing positions in your portfolio. | Please resubmit the request via Client Portal once trades have settled and positions are available. |
| Cash Account; Debit Cash Balance Not Allowed | Your account is a cash account, and the transfer would create a debit (negative) cash balance, which is not allowed. | Resolve the debit balance at your sending broker, or ensure sufficient funds are available in your IBKR account to cover it, then submit a new transfer. |
| Duplicate Request | Your recent ACATS Transfer is under review as a potential duplicate of a previously rejected ACATS Transfer | If the issue that caused a previous ACATS rejection has since been resolved and your new transfer request is valid, please contact Client Services through the Secure Message Center to confirm the request. Once confirmed, IBKR will proceed with the transfer. |
| Resubmit as Full Transfer | A partial transfer was rejected by the delivering firm and needs to be resubmitted as a full account transfer instead. | Resubmit your ACATS request via Client Portal, selecting 'Yes' for Transfer All Assets (Full Transfer) rather than a partial transfer. If you are unsure why the partial transfer was rejected, please reach out to the delivering broker for clarification. |
| Generic Reject (Reason Not Specified) | The transfer was rejected, but no specific reason code was provided by the delivering broker. | Contact your delivering broker for clarity on exact reason of rejection. If necessary, submit a ticket to Client Services via the Secure Message Center in Client Portal for further assistance. |