How to sell investments on Interactive Investor

Do you have investments on the Interactive Investor platform? Whatever your trading goal, it’s important to know how to sell investments efficiently.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to sell investments on Interactive Investor. This includes step-by-step instructions, fees, timescales, tax implications and how to withdraw your money.

We’ll also look at strategies for reducing costs, including using accounts like ISAs and sending your funds to a Wise account if you invest internationally.

After reading this, you’ll understand how to close positions quickly and get your money into your bank account safely.

➡️ Learn more about the Wise account

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may be subject to future change. The content of this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice.

Investments in a currency other than GBP are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in GBP terms. You could lose money in GBP even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

Understanding Interactive Investor

Interactive Investor is a UK-based online investment platform that is widely known for its flat-fee pricing structure and access to a broad range of investment products.¹

It was founded in 1995,² and has grown to become one of the UK’s largest investment platforms, serving both beginner and experienced investors.

The platform allows UK customers to trade:³

• UK and international shares
• Investment funds
• Exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
• Investment trusts
• Bonds

The platform is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) which means that your money is protected and the organisation complies with UK investment regulations.⁴

What is Interactive Investor and how does it manage investments?

Interactive Investor offers several account types, including:⁵

• Stocks & Shares ISA
• SIPP (Self-Invested Personal Pension)
• Dealing account – standard taxable investment account.

Unlike other discretionary investment platforms, Interactive Investor doesn’t manage your investments for you. This means you make all the buying and selling decisions yourself. However, there are tools and resources to help you make informed decisions.

As well as this, key features of the Interactive Investor include:

• Flat monthly fees: You pay one monthly subscription rather than a percentage of your portfolio⁶
• Extensive investment access: Access to thousands of UK and international shares, funds, ETFs, and investment trusts
• ISA and SIPP support: Tax-efficient wrappers for long-term investing
• Research and guidance: Including investment news, analyst ratings and fund insights.

When you buy an asset, you open a position. This remains open until you manually sell it. Selling means closing your position and converting it back to cash.

Reasons to sell investments

Selling investments is a personal choice, but there are many reasons to do so:

• Reaching a financial goal such as buying a home or funding retirement
• Profit-taking and locking in gains when an investment has performed well
• Cutting losses and exiting underperforming investments
• Portfolio rebalancing and adjusting allocations to maintain a desired risk profile
• Reducing exposure and moving cash during market volatility
• Funding personal expenses and withdrawing funds for short-term needs
• Account closure or moving to another platform.

📚 How to sell shares

How to sell on Interactive Investor: Step-by-step guide

Selling investments on Interactive Investor is simple, but there are a few steps to follow.

Step 1: Log in to your account

Log in via interactiveinvestor.com or the mobile app using your email and password. Two-factor authentication may be required for security.

Step 2: Go to your portfolio

Select the account containing the investment you want to sell. Then, you’ll see all your holdings displayed in the portfolio view.

Step 3: Choose the investment

Click on the name of the asset you want to sell. This could be a share, ETF or fund.

Step 4: Select Sell

For shares and ETFs, click the Sell button. For funds, you may see an option to Redeem instead. You’ll be shown the current market price and your unrealised profit or loss.

Step 5: Enter order details

You can choose to:

• Sell a specific number of shares
• Sell a monetary value of shares
• Sell the entire holding

Next, select your order type:⁷

• Market order executes immediately at the best available price
• Limit order only executes at a specified price or better

Be sure to confirm all details carefully before submitting.

Step 6: Confirm the sale

Once you confirm, the trade can’t be reversed. Your position will be closed and the cash will appear in your available balance.

Receiving your money from Interactive Investor

Once you’ve sold your investment, your funds will remain in your account as available cash until you request a withdrawal. To do this:

1. Go to ‘Cash & Funds’, and then ‘Withdraw’
2. Enter the amount to withdraw
3. Select your bank account
4. Confirm the transaction.

Withdrawals can only go to accounts in your own name for security and regulatory compliance.

You can withdraw cash from your account by bank transfer. But, before you can, you need to add a nominated bank account.

📚 Withdrawing from Interactive Investor

How long will it take?

Your cash will reach your bank account by the end of the next working day if requested before 2pm. If you request your withdrawal after 2pm, you will receive your cash after two working days.⁸

Interactive Investor fees and charges

There are three different account types on the Interactive Investor platform. Understanding each of their fees is crucial to choosing the right plan and managing overall trading costs. Let’s take a look:⁹

📚 Interactive Investor fees

Moving cash to your account

Interactive Investor operates in GBP but international share sales will involve currency conversion. For example, for US shares, cash is converted from USD to GBP, and FX fees apply. Again this depends on the plan you choose:¹⁰

• Core: 0.75%
• Plus: First £50,000 = 0.75%, Over £50,000 = 0.25%
• Premium: 0.25%

For frequent international investing, the Interactive Investor exchange fees can soon add up. This is why many consider using Wise to reduce FX costs.

Can you receive your money into your Wise account?

Yes, Interactive Investor allows you to withdraw money from your account into your Wise account, which can help you save on FX fees. This is because Wise offers:

• Multi-currency accounts
• Local account details
• Mid-market exchange rates
• Low, transparent conversion fees*.

Other important factors to consider

To make the most of your investment platform, and selling your investments, there are several additional things to consider.

Tax implications

If you sell investments outside of an ISA and make a profit, you may have to pay UK Capital Gains Tax (CGT).

For the 2025/26 tax year:¹¹

• The annual CGT allowance is £3,000
• Gains above this threshold may be taxable.

If you trade very frequently, HMRC may classify your activity as trading rather than investing, meaning income tax could apply instead of CGT.

Remember, you’re responsible for:

• Calculating your capital gains
• Reporting them to HMRC
• Paying any tax due

Read more: How tax on shares transferred from the UK to an overseas broker works

Platform restrictions

Here are some of the main restrictions you may encounter when selling investments with Interactive Investor:

• Markets must be open for immediate execution
• Fund redemptions can take up to 1 working day to process
• Withdrawals must go to a bank account in your name
• Some low-liquidity stocks may have delayed execution.

Interactive Investor ISAs

If you sell assets within an Stocks & Shares ISA, your gains are completely tax-free. This includes:

• No Capital Gains Tax on profits
• No dividend tax
• No reporting to HMRC.

Withdrawals from an ISA also don’t affect your annual allowance unless you plan to replace withdrawn funds in the same tax year.

Save money when selling investments with Wise

After reading this, you should have a better idea of how to sell investments on Interactive Investor. And while the platform does come with many benefits, FX charges can quickly add up.

That’s where Wise comes in as your nominated account. In doing so, you get:

• Mid-market exchange rates
• Low, transparent fees*
• Multi-currency account functionality.

This makes Wise an excellent companion account for Interactive Investor traders, particularly if you invest internationally or trade in multiple currencies.

Plus, if you’re looking for an alternative way to help grow your income, check out Wise Interest. Simply open a Wise account online and switch on Interest to help earn returns - while still having easy access to your money.

Investments can fluctuate, and your capital is at risk. Interest is offered by Wise Assets UK Ltd, a subsidiary of Wise Payments Ltd. Wise Assets UK Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority with registration number 839689. When facilitating access to Wise investment products, Wise Payments Ltd acts as an Introducer Appointed Representative of Wise Assets UK Ltd. Please be aware that we do not offer investment advice, and you may be liable for taxes on any earnings. If you're uncertain, we urge you to seek professional advice. To find out more about the Funds, visit our website.

What’s more, you can use your Wise account to manage your money in 40+ currencies and send worldwide transfers with low fees* and at the mid-market exchange rate with no mark-ups.

➡️ Learn more about the Wise account

Additional FAQs on selling shares with Interactive Investor

How long does a withdrawal take from Interactive Investor?

Withdrawals typically land in your nominated bank account within the next working day for UK bank transfers.⁸ But, processing times can vary depending on the method and banking delays.

What does 'getting a quote' mean on Interactive Investor?

When you sell, Interactive Investor provides a quote that shows the current price. You have 15 seconds to accept it before it expires. This is to ensure the price reflects real-time market conditions.¹²

Can I sell US shares on Interactive Investor?

Yes, you can sell US shares, but FX fees will apply when converting proceeds back to GBP.

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Sources used:

1. Interactive Investor - about Interactive Investor
2. Interactive Investor - founded in 1995
3. Interactive Investor - investment types
4. Interactive Investor - FCA
5. Interactive Investor - account types
6. Interactive Investor - fees and charges
7. Interactive Investor - order types
8. Interactive Investor - withdrawing money
9. Interactive Investor - plan costs
10. Interactive Investor - FX charges
11. GOV.UK - Capital Gains Tax allowances
12. Interactive Investor - buying and selling investments

Sources last checked on date: 13-Feb-2026