Transfer your US stock plan shares or cash to Fidelity
Welcome to our dedicated page which will help you move your Stock Plan Account shares or cash held in the US with Fidelity Stock Plan Services (SPS) to a new investment account with Fidelity in the UK.
Important information - please keep in mind that the value of investments can go down as well as up, so you may get back less than you invest. Tax treatment depends on personal circumstances and all tax rules may change in the future. You cannot normally access money in a SIPP until age 55 (57 from 2028). This information is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment you should speak to one of Fidelity’s advisers or an authorised financial adviser of your choice.
Moving your shares or cash from your US stock plan account
As you have a Stock Plan Account held by Fidelity SPS in the US and live in the UK, you have the option of transferring some or all of your shares or cash to Fidelity in the UK and enjoying more control over what you choose to do next with your rewards.
Hold or sell shares
There is no cost to transfer and hold your shares or cash. If you decide to sell online or by phone then fees and charges apply.
Spouse transfer
Make the most of your Capital Gains Tax (CGT) allowances by transferring some or all of your shares to your spouse.
Diversify your investments
Choose from our wide investment choice, which includes thousands of funds and shares, to help spread your risk.
Be more tax efficient
Investing in a tax efficient ISA or Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) helps you make the most of your money with no income or capital gains tax. Fees and charges will apply.
Transfer cash to a Fidelity account
By moving cash from any dividend payments or shares you sell with SPS* to your bank, you could use this to open or top up an account with us.
Bring together your investments
Transfer any other investments you hold elsewhere, which could make it easier to manage them all in one place
*Please note this will take you to a separate website called Fidelity NetBenefits for Fidelity SPS. Review the new site's terms, conditions, and privacy policy, as they will be different.
Important information - if you want to transfer your shares and cash, you’ll need to complete these two separate steps, as we don’t currently offer the ability to transfer shares and cash in one go. Please note it is your responsibility to comply with any trading restrictions ('blackout periods') your company places on you when trading in company shares. If you still hold share awards that have not yet been distributed, then these will remain in your Stock Plan Account and can be transferred once the shares have been distributed.
More reasons to transfer your stock plan shares and cash
If you transfer your shares or cash to Fidelity in the UK, you'll not only benefit from no account service fee as shares and cash are free to hold in an Investment Account, but you'll also be able to do more with your money. Compare the following:
Fidelity SPS US
|
Fidelity UK
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
Sell my shares and withdraw as cash in pounds sterling |
|
|
|
Access a wealth of investment choice - choose from thousands of funds, shares, exchange-traded funds and investment trusts to help achieve my financial goals |
 |
 |
|
Invest in a tax-efficient ISA or Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) alongside my Investment Account |
|
|
|
Transfer my other investments - held elsewhere, such as ISAs and pensions so I can see them all in one place |
|
|
|
Help and guidance - access online tools and expert investment insights to help you decide where to invest your money |
|
|
|
Automatic Compliance reporting functionality (should you need to report details of your investments to your employer) |
|
|
|
Wealth Management Service - invest over £250,000 and get exclusive benefits and a dedicated Relationship Manager to help you achieve your financial goals |
|
|
Please make sure you have the following to hand before you start the transfer process:
- The number associated with your Fidelity Stock Plan Account in the US. This is known as the participant number. You can find this by logging into NetBenefits, which is the platform that holds your shares in the US. Alternatively, you can find it on your most recent correspondence from Fidelity SPS in the US.
- Your National Insurance number if you’re going to be opening a new Investment Account with Fidelity in the UK. If you already have an Investment Account with Fidelity in the UK, then you’ll be directed straight through to your account during the transfer process.
- When you submit a transfer request, if you haven't already set up an Investment Account with us then we will take you through our online account opening.
- Whole shares only will be transferred over to your Fidelity Investment Account in the UK. This transfer is known as an 'in specie' transfer, which means that the shares won't be sold when they're brought over, so you won't be liable for capital gains tax.
- Fractional shares will be left in your US Stock Plan Account held on the NetBenefits platform. You may take action on fractional shares by logging in to NetBenefits.
-
W-8BEN form to pay less tax - At the end of your transfer, depending on the type of shares you hold, you may be asked to complete a W-8BEN form, (we need this even if you've already completed one on NetBenefits), which is used to certify that a person’s country of residence for tax purposes is not the United States. It's quick and easy to complete online and, if required, you’ll be directed to this form at the end of the transfer process. You can read more about the W-8BEN form here.
- It typically takes 3 weeks to move your shares from the US to the UK, subject to all information being in good order.
- So that you can keep an eye on how things are progressing, we'll send you updates via text or email depending on how you've chosen to be contacted. You can also check on progress by logging into your account, going to 'Manage Investments' then clicking on 'Track your transfer'.
- Please remember that once the transfer has begun, you’ll be unable to act on the shares you’re moving until the process is complete.
- Once the transfer is complete, we'll send you a confirmation letter by post.
- If you need any support then please call us on 0800 368 6811.
- You'll need to make sure you have set up your personal bank details in NetBenefits* first.
- By moving cash from any dividend payments or shares you sell in NetBenefits* to your bank, you could use this to open a new ISA or pension account or top up an existing account with us.
- Before selling any shares you'll need to make sure you comply with any blackout restrictions that are currently in place with your employer.
- Follow the instructions in our guide to open a Fidelity account in the UK and transfer any cash. Fees and charges may apply.
- If you need any support with the cash or share transfer process, then please call us on 0800 368 6811.
*Please note this will take you to a separate website for Fidelity SPS. Review the new site's terms, conditions, and privacy policy, as they will be different.
Why invest with us?
A trusted provider
With over 50 years’ investing experience, we are trusted by over 1.6 million UK customers*.
Award winning products and services
Including Best Buy ISA 2024, Best Buy Pensions 2024, Best for Customer Service 2024 by Boring Money
We put our customers first
We're proud to have been awarded Best for Customer Service and winners of the vulnerable customer support award in 2024 by Boring Money.
*Source: Fidelity, as at 31.12.24
Transfer FAQs
Fidelity SPS and Fidelity International are separate companies that operate in different jurisdictions. If you live in the UK, you can still hold shares in a Fidelity Stock Plan Account in the US, but there are limits on what you can do with them.
A Stock Plan is a benefit that companies provide to grant their employees the ability to receive or buy shares of company stock as part of their employee compensation. The shares are held in an account called a Stock Plan Account.
When you transfer your Stock Plan Account shares into an Investment Account with us, they'll be transferred as they are, without having to sell your shares to cash, and then you can choose to:
- sell or keep them as they are
- diversify and take advantage of our award-winning products and services
- transfer any other investments you hold elsewhere, so that everything can be managed in one place.
Whole shares will be brought over to your Fidelity Investment Account in the UK as they are (this transfer is known as an ‘in specie’ transfer), without the need to convert the shares to cash.
If your Stock Plan Account still holds share awards that have not yet been distributed, then these will remain in your Stock Plan Account. Once you've received confirmation that the shares have been distributed, you can then choose to transfer these from your Stock Plan Account to a Fidelity UK account using the transfer process.
You can only transfer to a Fidelity UK Investment Account once the awards are vested and any active instructions are executed or cancelled.
You won’t be liable for capital gains tax (CGT) as we're transferring your shares 'in specie', without having to sell your shares to cash. If you are unsure about your overall tax position, you should consult HMRC guidance or a tax adviser.
Yes you can, once your US shares have been transferred to your UK Investment Account. Simply log in to your account at fidelity.co.uk and go to 'Documents & Help' in the main menu. Click on 'Upload forms and documents'. Read the instructions and then choose 'Stock transfer form' and click on 'Download now'.
You'll need to print, complete and sign the form before scanning it and uploading it using the scan and upload tool. Once uploaded, we'll let you know when we've completed your instruction.
Yes, just enter the number of whole shares you would like to transfer when you apply to transfer them online.
There are options for transferring cash held in your US Stock Plan Account - see our cash transfer guide for more details. You can leave it in the account for now or send instructions to NetBenefits to withdraw the cash. Foreign exchange charges may apply on cash transactions.
We will only transfer across whole shares of any stocks currently held in your Stock Plan Account. Any fractional shares will be left in the Stock Plan Account held with Fidelity SPS. You may take action on fractional shares by logging into NetBenefits.
As you live in the UK and have US stocks, depending on the type of shares you hold, you may need to complete a new W-8BEN form (even if you've already completed one on NetBenefits), which reduces the amount of tax the US government charges you on any income earned from US shares from 30% to 15%. Fidelity, in common with other investment platforms, requires customers dealing in US shares to provide a W-8BEN form within two weeks of the transfer request. It's quick and easy to complete your W-8BEN online and, if required, you’ll be directed to this form once you start the transfer process.
Once you’ve completed the W-8BEN in the Profile section of your account, under 'Preference centre' > 'Investing in US shares (W-8BEN)', the form will be valid for 3 years. You won’t need anything else to trade and hold US shares.
Once you've submitted the necessary information online, it typically takes three weeks to move your shares from the US to the UK, subject to all information being in good order. We’ll update you as your transfer progresses and when it completes.
We cannot reinvest dividends from the US directly into your Fidelity UK Investment Account, so these dividend amounts will be converted into cash and will remain in your US Stock Plan Account. You can then choose to withdraw the cash into a bank account (fees and charges may apply).
Any dividends or interest that you’ve earned, but not received, at the time of the transfer will remain in your Stock Plan Account and you can see them on NetBenefits.
A blackout period is a specific window of time determined by your employer during which you cannot trade in your company's stock.
Yes, If you have an active US Stock Plan arrangement with your company, you must check whether any trading restrictions are in place with your current employer before selling any of your company shares.
We'll send you updates via text or email depending on how you've chosen to be contacted, except for the acknowledgement letter and confirmation letter which you'll receive by post. You can also check on progress by logging into your account, going to 'Manage Investments' then clicking on 'Track your transfer'.
For help with your Stock Plan please choose from one of the numbers listed here.
Please note: Fidelity International and Fidelity Stock Plan Services, LLC are separate companies that operate in different jurisdictions through their subsidiaries and affiliates.
