Also known as: IB Migration, Account Transfer, IB Reassignment, Client Re-tagging
A client transfer is the administrative process of reassigning an existing trader's account from one IB to another, or attaching a previously unaffiliated client to an IB's tracking so that IB begins earning rebates on that client's trades. It re-links who gets paid for a live account.
Brokers guard transfers tightly because they sit on the fault line between two commercial interests: an IB who wants to monetise a client, and another IB who may have originally introduced that client. To prevent 'poaching', most brokers require the client's explicit written consent and will refuse a transfer if the client was recently active under another partner. Cooling-off windows of 3 to 6 months of inactivity are common before a previously tagged client can move.
The legitimate use case is real. A trader may have opened an account months ago with no IB attached, then joined an IB's VIP Telegram group for daily analysis and want to reward that IB with their rebate. In that case the client emails broker support requesting the reassignment, the broker verifies consent, and re-tags the account. From then on, every lot the client trades generates commission for the new IB — for example, at $7 per lot, a client trading 40 lots a month becomes $280 of monthly rebate.
For partners, transfers are a way to monetise relationships that started outside the standard sign-up funnel, but they are governed by strict rules and the client always holds the deciding vote.
A transfer is triggered by the client, not the receiving IB — that is the core anti-poaching safeguard. The client submits a written request (usually a support email or a signed form) naming the IB they want to be attached to. The broker's partnership desk then checks the account's history: is it currently tagged to another IB, and has it been active recently?
If the account is untagged or has been dormant beyond the cooling-off window, the broker re-tags it and the receiving IB starts earning on future trades. If the client is freshly active under another partner, the request is usually frozen or rejected, and an IB found orchestrating covert poaching can face rebate clawbacks or termination. The client's consent and the account's activity history are the two decisive factors.
The trader sends broker support a written request naming the IB they want their account moved under.
The broker confirms the request genuinely came from the account holder, not the IB.
The broker reviews whether the account is tagged to another IB and how recently it traded.
If eligible, the account is reassigned; if it is another active IB's client, the request is frozen.
Once re-tagged, all future trades generate commission for the receiving IB.
Why it matters for partnership: Transfers let you monetise traders who already have an account but want to join your VIP group. Brokers enforce strict consent and anti-poaching rules, so done right it grows your book — done wrong it gets you penalised.
A trader has an untagged IC Markets account opened six months ago. After joining an IB's paid analysis group, they email IC Markets support requesting their account be moved under that IB's number. The broker confirms consent, re-tags the account, and the IB begins earning roughly $3.50 per lot on the client's 30 monthly lots — about $105 a month — on trades placed from that point forward.
| Aspect | Legitimate transfer | Poaching |
|---|---|---|
| Who initiates | The client, voluntarily | The IB, covertly |
| Client status | Untagged or long-dormant | Freshly active under another IB |
| Broker outcome | Approved and re-tagged | Frozen, rejected, or penalised |
| Risk to IB | None | Rebate clawback or termination |
Give followers a ready-made, correctly worded email template naming your IB number so their transfer request is clear, consent-based, and unlikely to be delayed by support.
Attempting to secretly poach active clients from another affiliate usually gets the transfer frozen and the offending IB penalised with clawbacks or account termination.
No. Most brokers require written consent from the client and will scrutinise or refuse the request if the account was recently active under another partner.
No. The request must come from the client with explicit consent. Attempting it covertly is treated as poaching and can trigger clawbacks or termination.
No. Rebates apply only to trades placed after the account is re-tagged to you — transfers are never retroactive.
It varies by broker, but cooling-off windows of roughly 3-6 months of inactivity under the previous IB are common before a reassignment is allowed.
Internal reassignments within one partner network are usually simpler, but still follow the broker's process and consent rules — check your partnership agreement.
The broker decides based on the tagging history and the client's written statement. The account holder's documented choice is normally the deciding factor.
A practical framework for deciding when a broker partnership has gone bad, and a step-by-step exit process that protects your commissions, your data, and your traders.