Also known as: Dormancy fee, Account inactivity charge, Dormant account fee
An Inactivity Fee is a recurring charge a broker deducts from a trader's account balance when the account has had no trading activity — and sometimes no login — for a set period, commonly 3 to 6 months. It is typically a flat monthly amount, often around $10 to $15.
Brokers justify the fee as covering the cost of maintaining dormant accounts, including regulatory reporting and platform upkeep. The clock usually starts from the last executed trade; some brokers count any login or the client simply having an open position as activity, while stricter ones require an actual trade to reset the timer.
The amounts are meaningful for small accounts. A broker charging $10/month after six months of dormancy will drain $120 a year from a client who forgot about a $300 balance — 40% of their capital gone to fees. Well-known brokers publish these terms: many CFD and FX firms charge $10–$15/month, and some charge only up to the remaining balance so the account cannot go negative from the fee alone.
For an IB, inactivity fees are a double problem. A dormant client generates no volume rebates, and the fees quietly eroding their balance create a bad experience that can surface as negative reviews — damaging the very reputation the IB relies on to attract new referrals.
The broker's system tracks the timestamp of each account's last qualifying activity — usually the last trade, sometimes the last login. Once that gap exceeds the defined dormancy window (for example, 90 or 180 days), the account is flagged inactive and the fee begins accruing on a monthly cycle.
Each cycle the broker deducts the flat fee from the available balance. Placing a qualifying trade resets the timer and stops the fee. Most regulated brokers cap the deduction at the remaining balance so the account is not pushed negative, and they disclose the fee in their terms and fee schedule as required by regulators.
The broker records the date of the account's last qualifying trade or login.
The account stays inactive beyond the set period, commonly 3 to 6 months.
The system marks the account dormant and starts accruing the inactivity fee.
A flat monthly charge, often $10–$15, is taken from the balance each cycle.
A qualifying trade or login stops the fee and restarts the activity clock.
Why it matters for partnership: Dormant clients stop paying you volume rebates, and inactivity fees quietly draining their balance breed bad reviews that hurt your reputation. Warn clients about the fee terms and run re-engagement campaigns before the dormancy deadline to protect both income and trust.
IG and many CFD brokers charge roughly $12 a month after two years of no activity, while some FX brokers apply the fee after just three months. An IB's client leaves a $250 balance idle; at $10/month starting after six months, that account loses $10 every month, and within roughly two years the fees would consume most of the balance — exactly the kind of silent erosion that triggers a one-star review.
Set a reminder in your CRM and email dormant clients a fresh market-opportunity nudge just before their inactivity-fee deadline, so a single re-engaging trade both resets their fee clock and revives your rebate stream.
Promoting a broker without checking its inactivity-fee terms, then having referrals discover surprise charges eating their balance — anger that turns into negative reviews and lasting damage to your credibility as an IB.
Commonly around $10 to $15 per month, charged after 3 to 6 months of no trading, though the amount and trigger period vary by broker. Always check the specific fee schedule.
Place a qualifying trade before the dormancy window closes; that usually resets the clock. Some brokers also count a login, but relying on a trade is safest.
Most regulated brokers cap the fee at the remaining balance so the account cannot go below zero from the fee alone. Confirm this in the broker's terms.
No. Many do, but some advertise no inactivity fee as a selling point. It is worth comparing when choosing which broker to promote.
Indirectly. A dormant client generates no trading volume, so you earn no rebates, and the fee draining their balance can push them to close the account entirely.
Yes, when disclosed in the broker's published terms as regulators require. The issue is client awareness, so make sure your referrals know the terms upfront.