IG Index referral: get a free share worth £50–£1,000
IG is a UK investment and trading platform offering share dealing, exchange-traded funds and other investment products through accounts such as a General Investment Account, Stocks and Shares ISA and SIPP. The supplied IG referral link is https://refer.ig.com/faisaln-185.
Under the referral details provided for this offer, an eligible new friend who opens a qualifying IG account and makes a first investment of at least £1,000 within 30 days of account opening can receive a randomly allocated US-listed share worth between £50 and £1,000. The free share is credited to the friend’s General Investment Account, or GIA. The friend must then maintain an Average Invested Value of at least £1,000 for three months from the date of the first qualifying investment.
The share is non-GBP denominated, so its value in pounds depends on the exchange rate IG applies when it is credited. The market value can also rise or fall. This is an investment promotion rather than guaranteed cash, and the £1,000 qualifying investment remains exposed to market risk.
IG referral offer at a glance
Referral link: open the supplied IG referral link before opening the account.
Friend’s reward: a randomly allocated share worth £50–£1,000, selected from eligible US-listed stocks under the promotion’s probability table.
Qualifying account: the free share is credited to the friend’s General Investment Account.
Minimum first investment: £1,000.
Activation deadline: the first investment of at least £1,000 must be made within 30 days of account opening.
Holding period: maintain an Average Invested Value of at least £1,000 for three months from the first qualifying investment.
Currency: the reward share is not denominated in GBP; its GBP value is affected by IG’s exchange rate on the credit date.
Referrer reward: IG’s current public referral page says the referrer receives £100 cash after the qualifying steps are completed.
Important limitation: investments can fall in value, the free share’s final value can differ from its stated range because of market and currency movements, and the live promotion terms control eligibility.
How to use the IG referral link
- Open the supplied IG referral link before starting an account application. A tracked referral route is important because a later manual claim may not be possible.
- Read the current offer terms and confirm that you are eligible to open the relevant UK investment account. The supplied promotion information refers to the friend receiving the free share in a GIA.
- Complete IG’s identity and suitability checks. Provide accurate personal information and read the account and investment-risk disclosures.
- Open the qualifying account through the referral journey. Note the account-opening date because the 30-day deadline is measured from that date.
- Fund the account and make the first investment of at least £1,000 within 30 days. The promotion calls this the first qualifying investment.
- Keep an Average Invested Value of at least £1,000 for three months from the first qualifying investment. Do not withdraw or sell in a way that takes the Average Invested Value below the threshold.
- Complete the W-8BEN form if requested. IG’s public referral page says this standard US tax form is required before a US-share reward can be issued.
- Wait for the reward and check the GIA. The free share is selected from the eligible US-listed list according to the promotion’s stated probability table.
Do not transfer money or buy an investment solely because a free share is advertised. The qualifying £1,000 is your capital and remains exposed to the market. Compare the platform, account type, fees, tax position and risks with your own circumstances before proceeding.
What is the free share?
The promotion describes a randomly allocated share worth between £50 and £1,000. The share is selected from a list of US-listed stocks identified in the promotion terms. The probability table determines the allocation, so a £1,000 reward is the maximum outcome and not the expected or guaranteed outcome.
The share is non-GBP denominated. When IG credits it to the friend’s GIA, the GBP value is affected by the exchange rate applied on that date. The price of the underlying US-listed stock can then move. The value you see after crediting may therefore differ from the initial advertised range, and the value can rise or fall after receipt.
A free share is an asset, not a fixed cash voucher. Check whether the reward can be sold, what dealing or foreign-exchange charges may apply and how the proceeds are treated in the account. The promotion’s live terms determine any restrictions or administrative steps.
The £1,000 first-investment requirement
The supplied referral conditions require a first investment of at least £1,000 on the account within 30 days of opening. The amount is more than a deposit: it must be invested through the account. Read the terms carefully to see which instruments and transactions count as the first qualifying investment.
Plan the date rather than waiting until the last day. Account verification, bank-transfer timing, market hours and the time needed to place an order can affect whether an investment is recorded inside the 30-day window. Keep the account confirmation and trade record until the promotion is complete.
The first investment should be a genuine investment decision. If the £1,000 is invested in shares or an ETF, the market price can move immediately. A promotion should not change how much investment risk you can afford to take or cause you to use money needed for rent, bills, tax or emergencies.
Understanding the three-month holding period
After the first qualifying investment, the friend must maintain an Average Invested Value of at least £1,000 for three months. This is measured from the date of the first qualifying investment, not simply from the account-opening date. The holding period is a condition of the reward.
The supplied terms contain an important clarification: if the Average Invested Value falls below £1,000 solely because the market value fluctuates, that does not affect eligibility, provided the reduction was not caused by a withdrawal or sale. In practical terms, a market decline is treated differently from deliberately taking money out or reducing the investment position.
Do not assume that every asset or cash balance counts as invested value. The promotion wording and account records determine how IG calculates the Average Invested Value. Avoid making changes that could be interpreted as a sale, withdrawal or transfer below the threshold until the three months have ended.
GIA, ISA and SIPP: what is the difference?
IG offers several account types, but the reward in this promotion is credited to the friend’s GIA. A GIA is a standard investment account without an ISA tax wrapper. It normally has no annual contribution limit, but investment returns are subject to the ordinary UK tax framework.
A Stocks and Shares ISA is a tax-efficient wrapper with a £20,000 annual ISA allowance for 2026/27 across an individual’s ISAs. Investment gains and dividends inside the ISA are generally protected from UK capital-gains and dividend tax, subject to the rules. A SIPP is a pension account with its own tax and withdrawal restrictions.
Do not choose an account type solely because another promotion mentions it. The referral terms for this offer specify that the free share goes into the friend’s GIA. Check whether opening another account affects the reward, whether the investment is eligible and whether the account fits your tax and access needs.
Tax considerations for a GIA
IG’s GIA guide explains that a GIA has no tax wrapper. Capital gains, dividends and interest can therefore be taxable above the relevant UK allowances. The tax treatment depends on your income, gains, dividends, other investments and the rules for the tax year.
A free US share can create additional considerations. Its value is converted into GBP when credited, and a later sale can produce a gain or loss measured in pounds. Dividends from US companies can involve withholding-tax paperwork and currency conversion. The W-8BEN form is a standard US tax form that IG says is required before the US-share reward can be issued; it is not a guarantee that no UK tax will arise.
This is general information rather than personal tax advice. Keep the reward notice, credit value, sale confirmation, exchange-rate information and dividend records. If the amount is material or your affairs are complex, speak to a regulated tax adviser or check HMRC’s current guidance.
IG fees and dealing costs
IG’s current investment pages advertise commission-free dealing on shares and ETFs traded within a UK GBP GIA, ISA or SIPP, while warning that other fees and foreign-exchange fees may apply. The precise fee depends on the account, instrument, market, currency and transaction.
Non-GBP investments can involve an FX conversion charge. US-listed shares are priced in dollars, so the exchange rate affects both the initial purchase and the value of the free share. UK-listed shares can also be subject to stamp duty or other market charges. Check the current pricing page and trade preview before placing an order.
Interest on uninvested cash is not the same as an investment return. IG’s public referral page currently describes variable interest on eligible GBP cash balances, subject to conditions such as holding an open position or trading during the calendar month. Rates and eligibility can change, so read the account terms rather than treating the headline rate as guaranteed.
Investment risk and the value of the reward
Shares can fall as well as rise. A free share worth £50–£1,000 at allocation can be worth less later, especially because the underlying stock and the dollar-to-pound exchange rate can both move. The reward does not protect the £1,000 qualifying investment from loss.
Concentration risk also matters. Receiving one US-listed share exposes the reward to one company, one sector and one currency. You may be able to sell or diversify after the reward is credited, but the terms, dealing charges and tax position should be considered first.
Use the promotion only if the investment account and the £1,000 holding requirement fit your existing plan. Do not borrow to invest, use emergency savings or treat the reward as a guaranteed return. Investment value and access can change with markets and operational processing.
When is the reward issued?
IG’s public referral page says the reward is paid by the end of the calendar month following the three-month holding period. The supplied promotion conditions also require the W-8BEN form before a US-share reward can be issued. Allow time for verification and processing after the holding period ends.
If the share has not appeared when expected, check that the first investment was recorded within 30 days, the Average Invested Value condition was met and the W-8BEN form was completed. Keep evidence of the account-opening date, first trade, investment value and any communications from IG.
The referrer’s reward is described separately by IG as £100 cash. Referral limits can apply: IG’s current public page says a referrer can refer up to 10 friends per calendar month. The friend’s reward depends on the friend meeting the promotion’s account, investment and holding conditions.
What happens if the share price changes?
The reward is allocated by reference to a value range, but the share can move between selection, crediting and sale. IG’s public referral page warns that share prices can rise or fall and that the final value may differ between award and receipt.
Currency movement creates a second source of variation because the stock is non-GBP denominated. A stronger pound can reduce the sterling value of a dollar share, while a weaker pound can increase it, all else being equal. This is separate from the company’s share-price movement.
Do not treat the top of the reward range as a likely outcome. The probability table in the current terms determines the random allocation. If you need certainty over the value of a reward, a random share promotion may not be appropriate for your expectations.
Checklist before joining
- Open the account through the supplied referral link.
- Confirm the 30-day deadline from the actual account-opening date.
- Invest at least £1,000 in a transaction that the promotion recognises.
- Keep an Average Invested Value of at least £1,000 for three months.
- Avoid sales or withdrawals that reduce the qualifying invested value.
- Complete W-8BEN before the share-reward stage.
- Read current IG fees, account terms and risk warnings.
- Keep trade, account and reward records.
Verdict
The IG referral link is potentially valuable for a new investor who already intends to invest at least £1,000 and can keep at least £1,000 invested for three months. The friend can receive a randomly allocated US-listed share worth £50–£1,000, while IG’s current public referral page says the referrer receives £100 cash.
The offer is not free money: the qualifying investment is exposed to market and currency risk, the reward is random, and the GIA may create tax-reporting obligations. Use the referral link before opening the account, follow the 30-day and three-month conditions, complete W-8BEN and check the live terms before acting.
