Doesn't IB's definition of margin trading permissions that I posted earlier contradict your statement that trades must settle in an IRA account?Quote from efficiency:
There is NO margin availability toward an IRA account. Concerning equities, call up a full commission broker and see IF they'll accomodate you. You already know the discounts won't.
Per Reg T, it's CASH. Consequently, you have no benefit (or detriment) of leverage and trades must SETTLE. In effect, you can only trade 1/3 of your account each day, and not to the frequency your fantacizing about if you want activiity each day. Of the one third of the dollars available, each dollar has just one "opportunity"
US resident customers may open cash or margin Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA). IRA margin accounts may never borrow, but are afforded all the other benefits of a margin account such as the ability to day trade, and the ability to trade multiple currencies and multiple currency products. IRA accounts may be opened in any base currency, but when trading in a non-base currency product (margin accounts only) a currency trade must first be executed as you cannot borrow currencies. Customers are advised to consult a tax specialist for further details on IRA rules and regulations.
Quote from Toonces:
I'm thinking about daytrading an IRA, and the biggest pitfall to a successful trader would be having the IRS declare that your trades are taxable right now, and then penalize you in addition. (Do they do that too?) But I'm wondering, how would they ever know that you're trading too often for a retirement account? Do they ever see those trades? Do they sometimes do audits on retirement accounts?
Quote from JackR:
Her is an extract from the IB site. I think it makes things pretty clear. I've added some bolding inside the quote.
Hope that helps.
Jack
