Trading US shares

International orders are dealt directly through the ‘order book’ at face value. Trading in this way allows us access to a much wider range of markets at a much lower cost, however this also means that a live quoting service is not available.

As international orders are placed directly on the relevant market's order book you will need to specify a quantity to trade and will not have ability to use an ‘invest’ option.

As well as UK shares you can also trade on six global stock markets with our range of trading accounts. International markets have different opening times from the London Stock Exchange, which allows you to trade shares from 8am until 9pm, Monday to Friday.

Opening hours of international stock markets

Trading international shares

When investing in international shares you’re required to have an additional 10% of the total value of the trade (the total value is based on the estimated price) as a buffer to possible fluctuations in share price.

It’s worth noting that whilst you don’t need a 10% buffer in your account to sell international shares, you do need to understand that because of how the order book works you may not be able to sell your full order.

All international orders are placed on the order book and removed at the end of that working day - so if your order doesn’t go through or is only partially completed then you’d need to place a new order for the next trading day.

Trading UK shares

When you get a quote for a UK share we use automated systems to request quotes at the same time from all available market counterparties. Once we've received these quotes, we will automatically take the best price available and display this to you. Your order will be executed at the best price available.

When you trade UK shares there is also no 10% buffer, you’ll only need to cover the cost of your trade with the money in your share dealing account.

Because we get a quote instantly for you we will have the ability to use an ‘invest’ option which lets you trade up to the full amount of money held in your share dealing account rather than specifying a number of shares to buy.

When dividends, interest payments or some other types of corporate settlement are made by foreign corporations or governments, Withholding Tax will usually be deducted at the point of payment and paid to the government of the country initiating that payment. The amount of Withholding Tax deducted can differ from country to country and will affect the value of the returns.

If you receive foreign payments from trading international securities through us, the amount of Withholding Tax you have paid will appear on your consolidated tax certificate, which can be viewed online. If you are not registered online we post this certificate to you at the end of the tax year.

UK listed shares paying US sourced dividends

Ordinarily if you complete a W-8BEN form you will only pay the 15% Withholding Tax rate instead of 30% on US listed shares paying US sourced dividends. For UK listed shares paying US sourced dividends a 30% Withholding Tax rate is applied even if you have a W-8BEN form in place.

For example, you would receive $70 on a $100 dividend.

W-9 form

A US person would ordinarily complete a W-9:

• Download a W-9 form (PDF, 130KB)
• Further information on completing a W-9 (PDF, 146KB)
   

Return the form by email

IMPORTANT: We can only accept completed forms from the email address you have registered with us.

There are two ways you can email the completed form:

1. Complete the form and digitally sign (with date and time stamp) and email an electronic copy of the form to us, or;
2. Complete the form then print, sign, scan and email the form to us.

Please email your completed form to StockbrokingUSTaxForm@lloydsbanking.com. We aim to log all forms within one working day and we’ll text you confirmation when it’s complete.
 

Return the form by post

Please send your completed form to:

Customer Registration Department
Bank of Scotland Share Dealing
Lovell Park Road
Leeds
LS1 1NS

The form we receive from you must be completed and signed in pen, and not a copy.
 

The Bank of Scotland Share Dealing Self Invested Personal Pension service is unable to arrange for US sourced income to be paid entirely exempt from tax in the US. Within our SIPP 30% Withholding Tax rate is applied to all US sourced dividends except where the shares are US listed and you’ve completed a W-8BEN form when 15% Withholding Tax will apply.

Please note, we don't currently offer a zero rate of Withholding Tax on US sourced dividends.

How this affects your holdings?

US listed shares

If you wish to buy US listed shares that pay US sourced dividends we require you to complete a W-8BEN form. Once we have this form we can apply a reduced 15% Withholding Tax rate.

For example, you would receive $85 on a $100 dividend. Other SIPP providers, depending on their arrangements, may pass on the full $100.

UK listed shares paying US sourced dividends

Ordinarily if you complete a W-8BEN form you will only pay the 15% Withholding Tax rate instead of 30% on US listed shares paying US sourced dividends. For UK listed shares paying US sourced dividends a 30% Withholding Tax rate is applied even if you have a W-8BEN form in place.

For example, you would receive $70 on a $100 dividend. Other SIPP providers, depending on their arrangements, may pass on the full $100.