How to transfer shares online

If you want to transfer shares to another person, company or bank account, you can do this through an off-market or online transfer. The option you choose will depend on how your shares are registered and where the shares are being transferred from and to.

To transfer your shares to another trading platform, you need to complete a Clearing House Electronic Subregister System (CHESS) sponsorship form that will allow you to transfer your existing holdings from a certain issuer or broker to another sponsoring participant.

CHESS is the computer system used by the ASX to record shareholdings and manage share transaction settlements.

Disclaimer: Trading CFDs and forex on leverage is high-risk and losses could exceed your deposits.

5 steps to transfer shares

It will be slightly different for every provider, but the general steps are as follows:

1. Log in to your account and click the "Start new form" from your account.
2. Fill in the form. This includes your details and your old broker's details, HIN and SRN if you bought it as an IPO. Keep in mind that your name and address must match.
3. Print the form as it will need to be physically sent to the provider and you will not be able to use an e-signature.
4. Consider capital gains if you are transferring from a single to a join account as that will be a capital gains event.
5. You will have to wait 2–3 days after the form is received until the shares you nominated are transferred successfully.

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Important: The standard brokerage fee displayed is the trade cost for new customers to purchase $1,000 of either Australian or US shares. Where a platform charges different fees for both US and Australian shares we show the lower of the two. Where both CHESS sponsored and custodian shares are offered, we display the cheapest option.

How are your shares registered?

Essentially, your share transfer will depend on how your shares are sponsored.

They will either be:

1. Issuer sponsored
2. CHESS sponsored
3. Custodian

Issuer-sponsored holdings are those that you may have purchased as a new issue, earned through a demutualisation, been allocated by your company, inherited from a family member or transformed from broker sponsorship. Your ownership is recorded by the registration company that initially issued the shares.

CHESS-sponsored holdings, on the other hand, are those registered via a stock broker on the ASX's registry. These are usually given an HIN (Holder Identification Number) by the broker. These shares are likely to have been purchased through a broker.

Custodian shares are held on your behalf, either by a broker or other financial institution. Your ownership of the shares is managed by that broker. These are also likely to have been purchased through a broker.

How to transfer shares online: the Big Four banks

Westpac

Online

1. Download a CHESS sponsorship and broker-to-broker transfer form from Westpac’s website.
2. Fill in your details and the old and new brokers’ details – make sure that these details are correct and match the ones in the old broker. Then sign the Declaration & Sign/s section. Note: For broker-sponsored shares, you will have an HIN instead of a Securityholder Reference Number (SRN) allocated to your shares, which starts with an "X".
3. Print out the form and complete any outstanding information.
4. Email it to online@westpac.com.au.

You will have to wait 2–3 days after the form is received until the shares you nominated are transferred successfully.

Fax

1. Download a CHESS sponsorship and broker-to-broker transfer form from Westpac’s website.
2. Fill in your details and the old and new brokers’ details – make sure that these details are correct and match the ones in the old broker. Then sign the Declaration & Sign/s section. Note: For broker-sponsored shares, you will have an HIN instead of an SRN allocated to your shares, which starts with an "X".
3. Print out the form and complete any outstanding information.
4. Fax the form on 1300 130 493.

This type of transfer is free of cost. You will have to wait 2–3 days after the form is received until the shares you nominated are transferred successfully.

Post

Post the completed CHESS form to:

Westpac Securities
Reply Paid 85157
AUSTRALIA SQUARE NSW 1214

Otherwise, you can transfer shares through an off-market transaction. This is also referred to as a standard transfer.

Transfer shares from another broker’s CHESS-sponsored account

Here are the steps to transfer your shares to a Westpac Securities CHESS-sponsored account.

1. Complete the standard transfer form from Westpac’s website.
2. Fill in all required details. You can refer to the second page of the form for guidelines.
3. Send the completed form to Westpac Securities:
   Westpac Securities
   Reply Paid 85157
   Australia Square NSW 1214

This post transfer costs $50 per transfer. You will have to wait 2–3 days after the form is received until the shares you nominated are transferred successfully.

CommBank

Online

1. Create or sign in to your CommSec account.
2. Download the CHESS sponsorship form from Commonwealth Bank’s website.
3. Nominate whether you would like your HIN or some of your nominated shares to be transferred to CommSec then sign the “Agreement” section.
4. Email the completed form to shares@commsec.com.au.

You will have to wait 2–3 days after the form is received until the shares you nominated are transferred successfully.

Post

Post the completed CHESS form to:

CommSec
Locked Bag 22
Australia Square NSW 1215

Otherwise, you can transfer shares through an off-market transaction. This is also referred to as a standard transfer.

Transfer shares from another broker’s CHESS-sponsored account

Here are the steps to transfer your shares to a CommSec CHESS-sponsored account.

1. Complete the off-market transfer form from CommSec’s website.
2. Fill in all required details. You can refer to the first 2 pages of the form for guidelines.
3. Send the completed form to:
   CommSec
   Locked Bag 22
   Australia Square NSW 1215

This post transfer costs $54 per transfer. You will have to wait 2–3 days after the form is received until the shares you nominated are transferred successfully.

ANZ

Online

1. Download the broker-to-broker transfer form from ANZ Securities.
2. Fill in your details as well as the holdings details, then complete and sign the declaration section.
3. Email the form to requests@anzshareinvesting.com

This type of transfer is free of cost. You will have to wait 2–3 days after the form is received until the shares you nominated are transferred successfully.

Fax

1. Download the broker-to-broker transfer form from ANZ Securities.
2. Fill in and complete the form before signing the declaration section.
3. Fax the form on 1300 553 589.

This type of transfer is free of cost. You will have to wait 2–3 days after the form is received until the shares you nominated are transferred successfully.

Post

Post the completed broker-to-broker transfer form to:

ANZ Share Investing
Reply Paid 1346
Royal Exchange NSW 1224

Otherwise, you can transfer shares through an off-market transaction. This is also referred to as a standard transfer.

Transfer shares from another broker’s CHESS-sponsored account

Here are the steps to transfer shares to an ANZ Securities CHESS-sponsored account.

1. Complete the off-market transfer form from ANZ Securities or download the form.
2. Fill in all required details in the form.
3. Send the completed form to ANZ Securities:
   ANZ Share Investing
   Reply Paid 1346
   Royal Exchange NSW 1224

There is a post transfer fee of $55 for each transfer. You will have to wait 2–3 days after the form is received until the shares you nominated are transferred successfully.

NAB

Online

1. Log in to nabtrade.
2. Navigate to Admin > Permissions > Broker Sponsored > Apply > Submit to download the broker-to-broker transfer request form.
3. Complete all information on the form.
4. Send the form to enquiries@nabtrade.com.au.

This transfer is free of cost. You will have to wait 2–3 days after the form is received until the shares you nominated are transferred successfully.

Fax

1. Log in to nabtrade.
2. Navigate to Admin > Permissions > Broker Sponsored > Apply > Submit to download the broker-to-broker transfer request form.
3. Complete all information on the form.
4. Fax the completed form on 1300 368 758.

This transfer is free of cost. You will have to wait 2–3 days after the form is received until the shares you nominated are transferred successfully.

Post

Post the completed broker-to-broker transfer request to:

nabtrade
GPO Box 4545
Melbourne VIC 3001

Otherwise, you can transfer shares through an off-market transaction. This is also referred to as a standard transfer.

Transfer shares from another broker’s CHESS-sponsored account

Here are the steps to transfer shares to a nabtrade CHESS-sponsored account.

1. Complete the off-market transfer form from nabtrade’s website or download.
2. Fill in all required details. You can refer to the third page of the form for guidelines.
3. Send the completed form to:
   nabtrade
   GPO Box 4545
   Melbourne VIC 3001

There is a post transfer fee of $55 for each transfer. You will have to wait 2–3 days after the form is received until the shares you nominated are transferred successfully.

• How long does it take to transfer shares?

  Most share transfers are completed within a few days, though the exact time can vary depending on the type of transfer and the broker or share registry involved. Broker-to-broker transfers using a Holder Identification Number (HIN) are typically processed in 2–5 business days, while issuer-sponsored transfers via a Securityholder Reference Number (SRN) might take longer.

• Is there a fee to transfer shares between brokers?

  Yes, some brokers charge a fee for transferring shares out, while others don’t. The cost varies depending on the broker and the number of holdings. It’s best to check the fee schedule of both brokers before initiating the transfer so there are no surprises.

• Can I transfer shares from a deceased estate?

  Yes. Shares held by a deceased person can be transferred once probate or letters of administration have been granted. The executor or administrator must provide certified copies of the relevant legal documents to the registry or broker to complete the transfer to the rightful beneficiaries or sell the shares.

• Can I transfer international shares to an Australian broker?

  It depends on whether your Australian broker supports international holdings and is connected to the same markets. Some brokers only handle ASX or Cboe-listed shares. In many cases, you’ll need to sell international holdings and repurchase them through your Australian trading account if they can’t be directly transferred.

• What’s the difference between HIN and SRN when transferring shares?

  A Holder Identification Number (HIN) is linked to a CHESS-sponsored account managed through your broker, while a Securityholder Reference Number (SRN) applies to issuer-sponsored holdings managed directly by the share registry. You’ll need the correct number when transferring shares to ensure they move to the right account type.

• Can I transfer shares between family members?

  Yes, you can transfer shares as a gift or part of an estate settlement. You’ll need to complete an off-market transfer form through the share registry or broker and stamp duty may apply depending on the state or territory. Always keep documentation for tax purposes.

• Will transferring shares trigger a capital gains tax event?

  Yes, in most cases an off-market share transfer between unrelated parties is considered a disposal for capital gains tax (CGT) purposes. The transfer date will determine the CGT event and any profit (or loss) should be reported in your tax return. Transfers between spouses or under certain trust or inheritance arrangements may be exempt.

• Can I transfer shares from a joint account?

  Yes, but all joint holders must authorise the transfer. For CHESS-sponsored holdings, the HIN must be in both names; for issuer-sponsored holdings, the share registry will require signatures from all parties before the transfer can be processed.

• What happens to my dividends during a transfer?

  If a dividend record date falls while your transfer is being processed, the dividend will usually be paid to the registered holder at the record date. Once the transfer is complete, future dividends will be paid to the new account details or linked bank account you’ve nominated.

Written by

Cameron Micallef

Journalist

Cameron Micallef is a personal finance journalist with eight years of experience, specialising in investing, property and household bills. He has written for Smart Property Investment, nestegg and Investor Daily. Cameron holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Media Studies and Commerce, as well as a Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification (RG146), ensuring compliance with ASIC standards. See full bio

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