Calculating Irish tax? Use the Interactive Brokers Irish CGT export guide.
FiscalFox reads original Interactive Brokers Activity Statement and Activity Flex Query CSV files with individual trades. It validates any broker-supplied GBP rates and uses dated published reference rates when the export does not provide a complete, reliable conversion route.
How to download your IBKR Activity Statement CSV
The standard Activity Statement is the recommended export. It includes individual trades and supporting sections without needing to configure a Flex Query or select custom columns.
- Sign in to Interactive Brokers Client Portal.
- Open Performance & Reports → Statements.
- Run the Activity Statement and select Custom Date Range.
- Include your full relevant trading history. If you opened the account this year, start from the account opening date.
- Choose CSV, download the full statement and upload the original file.
Which dates should I choose?
For a completed UK tax year, cover 6 April to 5 April and include purchases in the following 30 days for share matching. Existing holdings need their earlier purchase history or verified opening pooled costs. You can upload several statements if needed. For a calculation so far this year, export through the latest available date and add later activity when it is available.
Keep the full statement, including Trades, Financial Instrument Information and any Forex rows. Upload the CSV, rather than a PDF or positions-only summary. IBKR’s statement download instructions explain the export options.
FiscalFox verifies the GBP conversion method
FiscalFox first checks any FXRateToBase or dated rate rows supplied by IBKR. It retains consistent broker rates and records the conversion source on each imported transaction.
When rates are missing, repeated across too many dates, equal to 1 for a non-GBP currency, or materially inconsistent, FiscalFox uses dated published reference rates instead. It stops safely if complete replacement coverage is unavailable.
Once the CSV is ready, open the FiscalFox calculator with Interactive Brokers already selected and upload the file. FiscalFox parses the export in your browser where possible. A copy is also kept privately for support and troubleshooting, whether or not you are signed in, normally for 14 days, with the exceptions explained in our privacy policy.
Alternative: Activity Flex Query CSV
Flex Query exports remain supported. Open Performance & Reports → Flex Queries, create or edit an Activity Flex Query, and add the Trades section. Include the fields below and DateTime (or TradeDate). Include FXRateToBase or dated currency-rate rows when available, then run the query for the same relevant history and download it as CSV.
FiscalFox recognises Interactive Brokers Flex Query trade rows with columns such as:
- ClientAccountID -- optional IBKR account identifier
- Symbol and Description -- the traded instrument
- AssetClass -- recommended; for example STK for shares or OPT for options. If omitted, FiscalFox only infers the class when the remaining fields are unambiguous.
- CurrencyPrimary -- the trade currency, such as USD or GBP
- Buy/Sell, Quantity and TradePrice (or Price) -- the core trade economics; TradeMoney is optional when a safe total can be derived
- Proceeds, IBCommission and Multiplier -- used where available to calculate totals and fees
- Open/Close Indicator and Notes/Codes -- tick both. They show whether each trade opened or closed a position, so a short sale can be matched to the later purchase that covered it. Without them FiscalFox cannot tell a short sale from shares bought before the export starts.
The parser reads Flex Query FX fields and Activity Statement Forex rows where present. It checks those rates against their date coverage and a published reference series. Missing or unsafe rates are replaced only when complete dated coverage is available. If the upload has no review queue after calculation, the supported share, ETF and resolved listed-option rows produce detailed SA108 working figures for filing review.
How FiscalFox processes IBKR data
- Stocks and ETFs are imported as share transactions and matched using the same-day rule, 30-day rule and Section 104 pooling.
- Fees and commissions are converted to GBP and included as allowable costs where relevant.
- Options are kept separate from shares. FiscalFox automates buy-to-sell close-outs, written option buy-backs, expiries, and matched exercise or assignment into the underlying stock trade.
- Open written options are shown as review items because a later exercise or assignment can change how the premium is reported.
- Cash and FX-only rows are ignored for standard share CGT calculations.
For example, if IBKR reports a GOOG share trade at USD 344.90, FiscalFox records the original USD amount and the dated GBP rate used. A separate GOOG option premium, such as a USD 473 option contract row, is treated as an option instrument rather than as the GOOG share price.
The Activity Statement's Dividends and Interest sections are also imported as income, separately from the capital gains calculation. Activity Flex Query files bring in interest from Cash Transactions, but not dividends, so use the Activity Statement if you want both.
Common Interactive Brokers upload issues
Missing GBP FX rates
Upload the original file even when it contains USD trades without a GBP FX table. FiscalFox uses the published daily rate for each trade date, or the most recent available rate within the documented carry window, and shows the provider in the import verification. Do not paste a single rate across a tax year or set a non-GBP rate to 1. The US shares and exchange rates guide explains why the sterling gain can differ from IBKR's realised profit in dollars.
Options and derivatives
Interactive Brokers is popular with active traders, so exports may include options, futures, forex and other instruments. FiscalFox handles listed stock option close-outs, expiries and matched exercise or assignment rows. Treat an SA108 that contains review items as a draft until those positions have been checked.
Incomplete date ranges
A tax-year-only export may not include earlier purchases that still sit in your Section 104 pool. For accurate calculations, include your full history for any securities sold during the tax year.
Supported transaction types
| IBKR Row Type | How FiscalFox Uses It |
|---|---|
| STK buy | Adds shares to the relevant Section 104 pool in GBP |
| STK sell | Creates a disposal matched under HMRC share matching rules |
| OPT buy / sell | Processes listed option close-outs and expiries; folds matched exercise or assignment premiums into the underlying stock trade |
| FX fields or dated reference rate | Converts proceeds, costs and commissions to GBP with recorded provenance |
If your Interactive Brokers export still looks wrong after following these download instructions, contact support with the file type and the transaction you are checking. For complex options, derivatives or tax residency questions, review the output with a qualified tax adviser before filing.
Frequently asked questions
Does FiscalFox support Interactive Brokers?
Yes. FiscalFox supports Interactive Brokers Activity Statement and Activity Flex Query CSV exports containing individual trades. It checks broker FX data and can add dated published GBP reference rates when needed.
Which Interactive Brokers file should I upload to FiscalFox?
Use an original Activity Statement CSV containing individual Trades, downloaded from Performance & Reports → Statements. No custom column selection is needed. Activity Flex Query CSV exports are also supported. Do not add FX rates manually.
How does FiscalFox convert IBKR trades to GBP?
FiscalFox validates broker-provided FX rates when present. If an IBKR export has no usable GBP rate, or its supplied rates fail consistency checks, FiscalFox uses dated published reference rates and records the source for each transaction.
Official UK tax references
This guide is checked against published GOV.UK and HMRC material. FiscalFox is a calculation tool, not personal tax advice; review unusual transactions with a qualified adviser.