“I'm on F-1 STEM OPT and a nonresident alien for tax purposes looking to open a brokerage account. Which broker allows me to sign up with a W-8BEN, issues a proper 1042-S, lets me keep my account if I move abroad, and makes it easy to switch to a W-9 when my tax status changes?”
You do not need to choose a W-9 just because you live in the United States on STEM OPT: the controlling question is your U.S. tax status. The part no broker can promise without your destination is uninterrupted overseas account access.
IBKR offers the documented tax-form and reporting route, while your eventual destination determines whether its overseas-account route remains available.
IBKR expressly includes U.S.-based F-1 students in its guidance, describes reporting for covered U.S.-source income, and provides an individual-account Tax Forms editing screen for a later . Its relocation policy permits retention when it can serve the destination, subject to a possible new application and transfer. [IBKR W-8BEN guidance](https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/support/tax-nonus-initial.php); [IBKR tax forms](https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/support/tax-nonus-forms.php); [IBKR profile guide](https://www.ibkrguides.com/clientportal/profile.htm); [IBKR relocation policy](https://www.interactivebrokers.com/campus/trading-lessons/trading-overseas-with-ibkr/)
If your destination is a country where sanctions prohibit IBKR from doing business, its published keep-your-account promise does not apply. This branch cannot be decided for you without the destination. [IBKR relocation policy](https://www.interactivebrokers.com/campus/trading-lessons/trading-overseas-with-ibkr/)
An allowed move can still require a new application and a manual transfer of eligible assets.
These actions establish the correct tax certification now and keep your IBKR account records current through a later move or tax-status change.
Before applying
Gather your identity, address, and tax details
IBKR lists identification and residential-address evidence for an individual application at https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/general/what-you-need-inv.php. For W-8BEN line 6a, the IRS sets out when a foreign tax identification number is required; line 6b covers the stated no-number exception at https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iw8ben. [IBKR application requirements](https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/general/what-you-need-inv.php); [IRS W-8BEN instructions](https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iw8ben)
Requisitos
While you remain a tax nonresident
Apply for an IBKR individual account using W-8BEN
Start IBKR's individual application at https://ndcdyn.interactivebrokers.com/Universal/Application and complete its tax certification truthfully. IBKR expressly identifies a U.S.-based F-1 student as a W-8BEN case. Its published individual account minimum is USD 0; that is not a promise that every trade or service is free. [IBKR F-1 guidance](https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/support/tax-nonus-initial.php); [IBKR account minimums](https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/accounts/required-minimums.php)
Requisitos
After an income year
Download a 1042-S if IBKR issues one
Sign in through IBKR's Account Management menu and go to Reports > Tax > Tax Forms. A is for covered payments, not a guaranteed annual form for every account; IRS instructions require it to be furnished by March 15 of the following calendar year when reporting applies. [IBKR tax-form instructions](https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/support/tax-nonus-forms.php); [IRS 1042-S instructions](https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i1042s)
Requisitos
When your residence changes
Update your legal-residence country if you move
In IBKR Client Portal, use the user-menu icon > Settings > Account Profile > the pencil edit icon > Profile to change your details. IBKR says retention depends on whether it can do business in the destination; even an allowed move may require a new application followed by a manual transfer of eligible assets. [IBKR profile guide](https://www.ibkrguides.com/clientportal/profile.htm); [IBKR relocation guidance](https://www.interactivebrokers.com/campus/trading-lessons/trading-overseas-with-ibkr/)
Requisitos
Within 30 days of the change
Replace W-8BEN with W-9 when you become a U.S. tax person
Notify IBKR within 30 days after a change makes your W-8BEN incorrect. In Client Portal, use the user-menu icon > Settings > Account Profile > the pencil edit icon > Tax Forms to update your certification and provide as a U.S. tax person. Give W-9 to IBKR as requester, not directly to the IRS. [IRS W-8BEN instructions](https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iw8ben); [IBKR profile guide](https://www.ibkrguides.com/clientportal/profile.htm); [IRS Form W-9](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf)
Requisitos
You are not the first to go through this. Here is how it went for others who asked the same thing.
u/the_peaceful_kidr/tax20 ene 2026
This answer relies on the IRS's tax-form instructions and student-residency guidance, together with Interactive Brokers' own account, tax-reporting, and relocation instructions.
IBKR W-8BEN guidance
IBKR expressly addresses an F-1 student's W-8BEN during account tax certification.
Form W-8BEN eligibility
If you are a student in the US who is not a US Citizen or green card holder on an F-1 Visa even though you are considered a US Resident.
IBKR non-U.S. tax forms
IBKR identifies the kinds of income for which it describes issuing Form 1042-S.
Form 1042-S
Form 1042-S reports US source income earned by non-US persons subject to US withholding tax, including interest, dividends, substitute payments in lieu and fees earned (paid to and for account managers) on your account for the year.
IBKR non-U.S. tax forms
IBKR gives the route to retrieve an issued tax form.
Accessing tax forms
Your Forms are available to view and print by accessing IBKR’s website, selecting Account Management from the Login menu, and then clicking **Reports > Tax > Tax Forms** .
2026 Instructions for Form 1042-S
A covered payment can require a 1042-S despite zero withholding under a treaty or tax-law exception.
Amounts subject to reporting
Amounts subject to reporting on Form 1042-S are amounts from U.S. sources paid to foreign persons (including persons presumed to be foreign) or included in a U.S. payee pool that are reportable under chapters 3 and 4, even if no amount is deducted and withheld from the payment because of a treaty or Internal Revenue Code exception to taxation or if any amount withheld was repaid to the payee.
2026 Instructions for Form 1042-S
The IRS states when a reportable 1042-S must be provided to its recipient.
When to file
Forms 1042-S, whether filed on paper or electronically, must be filed with the IRS and be furnished to the recipient of the income by March 15 of the following calendar year.
IBKR Trading Overseas guidance
IBKR's account-retention policy depends on its ability to serve the new country.
Relocating abroad
If you relocate to a different country, you will be able to retain your account as long as you are not moving to a country that IBKR is prohibited from transacting business in due to government sanctions.
IBKR Trading Overseas guidance
Account retention does not guarantee that no new application or transfer is needed.
Relocating abroad
However, even if relocating to a permissible country, you may be required to initiate a new application and request a manual transfer of eligible assets once your new application has been approved.
IBKR Trading Overseas guidance
The account-migration requirement cannot be fixed without both countries.
Relocating abroad
Whether this step will be required depends upon the country you were residing in and the one that you are moving to as IBKR maintains multiple entities each of which has been formed to carry client accounts based upon local regulatory requirements and IBKR policies.
IBKR Client Portal Profile guide
IBKR publishes the individual-account route to edit account-profile information.
Edit Your Profile
Click the **User menu** (head and shoulders icon in the top right corner) **> Settings > Account Profile.**
IBKR Client Portal Profile guide
The individual IBKR profile flow includes a Tax Forms editing choice.
Edit Your Profile
Click **Profile** or **Tax Forms** .
Instructions for Form W-8BEN (10/2021)
An incorrect W-8BEN must be reported promptly and replaced.
Change in circumstances
If a change in circumstances makes any information on the Form W-8BEN you have submitted incorrect, you must notify the withholding agent, payer, or FFI with which you hold an account within 30 days of the change in circumstances and you must file a new Form W-8BEN or other appropriate form.
Instructions for Form W-8BEN (10/2021)
A U.S. tax person, including a resident alien, uses W-9 instead of W-8BEN.
Do not use Form W-8BEN
You are a U.S. citizen (even if you reside outside the United States) or other U.S. person (including a resident alien individual). Instead, use Form W-9 to document your status as a U.S. person.
Form W-9 (Rev. March 2024)
W-9 is for a U.S. person and supplies that person's taxpayer identification number.
Purpose of form
Use Form W-9 only if you are a U.S. person (including a resident alien), to provide your correct TIN.
Form W-9 (Rev. March 2024)
The completed W-9 goes to the requesting broker, not directly to the IRS.
Page 1
Give form to the requester. Do not send to the IRS.
IRS Exempt Individual Who Is a Student
F-1 presence-day exclusions have a five-calendar-year limit with a further conditional exception.
Student exception
You will not be an exempt individual as a student if you have been exempt as a teacher, trainee, student, Exchange Visitor, or Cultural Exchange Visitor on an "F, " "J, " "M, " or "Q " visa for any part of more than 5 calendar years, unless you establish to the satisfaction of the IRS that you do not intend to reside permanently in the United States, and you have substantially complied with the requirements of your nonimmigrant status.
IRS Exempt Individual Who Is a Student
A student excluding qualifying U.S. presence days must file Form 8843.
Student exception
If you qualify to exclude days of presence as a student, you must file a fully-completed Form 8843, Statement for Exempt Individuals and Individuals with a Medical Condition with the IRS.
Instructions for Form W-8BEN (10/2021)
The IRS provides an exception to entering a foreign tax identification number in the specified circumstances.
Line 6b
You may check the box in this line 6b if you are an account holder as described for purposes of line 6a and you are not legally required to obtain an FTIN from your jurisdiction of residence (including if the jurisdiction does not issue TINs).
IBKR Individual Application Requirements
IBKR specifies the recency of its residential-address evidence.
Proof of Residential Address
The document must clearly list the applicant's name and the relevant address and must be less than **six months old** unless otherwise specified.
These are the IRS rules and IBKR policies published on the cited pages and reviewed for this answer as of September 25, 2026; they can change.
This is general information about official processes, not legal advice, and SettleKit is not a law firm.
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