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Frequently asked questions

Quick answers on eligibility, deposits, fees, coupons, withdrawals, settlement timing, and risk, with links to the full articles.

Who can open an account?

US residents aged 21 and over, on mobile or desktop. Who can open an account →

How do I deposit money?

Linked bank account (ACH), one-time ACH transfer, or wire. ACH deposits are free; linked-account funds are typically available almost instantly. Funding your account →

What does trading cost?

One fee: the ForecastEx transaction fee of $0.01 per contract, per side, charged at execution. Lumina adds nothing on top, and there are no account or inactivity fees. Fees and costs →

Do I earn anything while I hold a position?

Yes. Open positions accrue an incentive coupon daily and are paid monthly, at a rate tied to the Effective Federal Funds Rate. Both sides of a market earn it, whichever way the contract resolves. Incentive coupons →

How do withdrawals work?

ACH or wire, initiated from the app. Your first two withdrawals each calendar month are free; after that, fees depend on the method. Withdrawing from your account →

Where is my money held?

At Interactive Brokers (Nasdaq: IBKR), segregated from broker funds under CFTC rules and reconciled daily. Where your money is held →

What do the prices mean?

A contract's price reads as a probability: Yes at 40¢ means the market prices a 40% chance. What prices mean →

When do I get paid after a market resolves?

Settlement occurs daily at 1:00 PM Central Standard Time: contracts resolved before 12:00 PM Central Standard Time settle the same day, and contracts resolved at or after 12:00 PM Central Standard Time settle the next day. The winning side receives $1.00 per contract. How markets resolve and settle →

Can I get out of a position before resolution?

Yes. You can close any position while the market is open, to lock in a gain or limit a loss. Buying Yes vs. No →

Can I lose more than I put in?

On a simple position in a $1 binary contract, your maximum loss is what you paid plus the transaction fee.

Where are my tax forms and statements?

Settings → Reports: activity statements, trade confirmations, and official IBKR-generated tax forms (1099, 1099-R, 1042-S, 8949) per tax year, downloadable as PDF, HTML, or CSV. Taxes and documents →

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