
Fast answers to your most common questions
Market fluctuations can lead to more questions from clients and longer wait times on the phone. To help you skip the line, below are answers to clients' frequently asked questions. Know that we're always here for you – by phone, on Schwab.com, and on our mobile app.
Self-Service
Common tasks that you can easily complete online. Please visit Schwab.com/go-digital to learn even more ways you can manage your financial life online with Schwab.
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How do I place a trade?
Use the Trade Stocks & ETFs order entry page to submit an order to buy, sell or sell short a stock or ETF. You'll need to complete three steps: Enter the specifics of your stock order including symbol, quantity and order type, verify your order, then submit your order.
The All-In-One Trade Ticket is designed to give you easier access to multiple asset types within the same trade ticket. See our Trade FAQs below for more information.
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Can I link my Schwab account to an external account?
Use Schwab MoneyLink® to transfer funds between your Schwab brokerage accounts and your external accounts at U.S. financial institutions. Log in and follow these instructions to get started now, enroll by mail or verify deposits if you've started the process.
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Where can I go for tax questions?
See common tax questions below or visit our Tax Center to get information about your 1099, cost basis reporting and more.
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How do I transfer funds?
Whether you want to move funds among your accounts at Schwab or from external accounts, our step-by-step process will walk you through it.
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How do I login or change my password?
If you need to change your password or login ID, login and visit the Security Center. If you're locked out of your account, we can help you log in. If your account was recently transitioned from USAA and you have not set up your Schwab credentials, please visit USAA.
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How do I deposit or mail a check?
Save time depositing checks by using Schwab Mobile Deposit - we've made it easier than ever by increasing many mobile deposit amounts. If you need to mail in account deposits, you can login to find the mailing address for your location here.
Tax FAQs
RMDs
RMDs
- I have questions about Required Minimum Distributions, where should I go?
USAA Tax FAQs
USAA Tax FAQs
- Will I get tax forms from Schwab and USAA this year?
- Where can I find my statements from both USAA and Schwab?
- What do I do if I have questions about activity for the 2020 year?
- How do I find my contributions for 2020 if I made contributions while my account was held at USAA and then at Schwab?
- Where can I find previous years' tax forms for my accounts?
- When will I be able to access my tax forms?
- Now that my account is at Schwab, can I still import my information into the tax software I’ve used in the past?
- In the past, USAA would send me corrected 1099 tax forms. Does Schwab do this as well?
- Something is wrong with my tax form—whom do I need to contact?
2019 Tax questions
2019 Tax Year Information
- What is the latest on tax year 2019 deadlines?
- Where can I find my 1099?
- Where can I go for regular updates on the tax changes?
- I received a corrected Form 1099 Composite. What does this mean?
- How do I download my 1099 data from Schwab into tax prep software?
Account Maintenance FAQs
Account Maintenance
Account Maintenance
- What is MoneyLink® and how do I enroll?
- Where do I mail a check, application or account update form?
- Is there a limit to how much money I can deposit through the Schwab mobile app?
- I recently had a problem linking my external bank account to my Schwab account. Is that still a problem?
- How do I send a wire?
- Need more help?
Trading and Margin FAQs
How to Trade
How to Trade
- How do I place a trade at Schwab.com?
- Where can I find the status of an order?
- How do I change or cancel an open order?
- Can I change or cancel an order once it has been filled?
Schwab Stock Slices™
Schwab Stock Slices™
- How does Schwab Stock Slices work?
Day Trading and Trade Settlement
Day Trading and Trade Settlement
- What is a pattern day trader?
- What if a pattern day trader drops below the $25,000 minimum?
- What are stock settlement violations?
Margin calls
Margin calls
- How does margin work?
- What happens when I receive a margin call?
- Where can I find information on maintenance requirements?
Asset Protection FAQs
Asset Protection
Asset Protection
- How does Schwab protect your assets?
- Is Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. an SIPC-member brokerage firm? And does it maintain excess SIPC protection?
- Are my assets at Charles Schwab–Affiliated Banks protected by the FDIC?
- What FDIC-insured products are available through Charles Schwab–Affiliated Banks?
- What FDIC-insured products are available through my Schwab brokerage account?
- If I have the Bank Sweep feature, how do I know how much of my cash has been swept to each Schwab-Affiliated Bank?
Cash Solutions FAQs
Money Market Funds
Money Market Funds
- Where can I learn more about Schwab money market funds?
Automated Investing FAQs
Common questions about Schwab Intelligent Portfolios®
Common questions about Schwab Intelligent Portfolios®
- How do I change my portfolio allocation?
- When does my account rebalance?
- I'm in a conservative model, why am I still losing money?
- Why hasn't my transaction gone through yet?
- What is the wash sale rule, and what does this mean for my account?
- How does tax-loss harvesting work?
IRA Contributions
IRA Contributions
- Can I make contributions to my Traditional IRA if I am over the age of 70.5?
COVID-19 Impacts and Other FAQs
Schwab Bank COVID-19 Mortgage Payment Relief
Schwab Bank COVID-19 Mortgage Payment Relief
- Am I eligible for mortgage payment relief related to COVID-19?
- How does mortgage payment relief work if I’m impacted by COVID-19?
- Where can I learn more and get started?
Schwab Branches
Schwab Branches
- Why are Schwab branches closed?
- When will Schwab branches reopen?
- How do I know if my local branch is open?
- How can I engage with Schwab if my branch is closed?
Fraud
COVID-19 Fraud
- How can I keep my data safe during this time?
Schwab's Response
Schwab's Response
- What safety precautions is Schwab taking?