How long does it take to close a Robinhood account?

Account deactivation is immediate once all positions are closed and funds withdrawn. However, fund settlement takes 2-3 business days, and the final ACH withdrawal takes another 3-5 business days. Total: about 1-2 weeks from start to finish.

Can I transfer my stocks out of Robinhood without selling?

Yes. Use an ACATS transfer to move stocks to another broker (Fidelity, Schwab, etc.) without selling. Robinhood charges a $100 ACATS transfer fee, but many brokers will reimburse it. This avoids triggering capital gains taxes.

What happens to my fractional shares when I close Robinhood?

Fractional shares cannot be transferred via ACATS — they must be sold. Robinhood will liquidate fractional shares during the transfer process. Only whole shares transfer.

How do I cancel Robinhood Gold?

Open the Robinhood app → Account → Robinhood Gold → Cancel Gold. You keep Gold benefits until the end of your billing period. Cancel Gold BEFORE deactivating your account.

Will closing Robinhood affect my taxes?

If you sell positions to close the account, you may owe capital gains taxes. Robinhood will send a 1099 form for the tax year. Consider ACATS transfer instead to avoid selling. You'll still receive a 1099 for any dividends or interest earned.

How to Delete Your Robinhood Account (2026) — Close Account & Transfer Stocks

Updated February 2026 · 6 min read

Quick version: Cancel Robinhood Gold first → sell positions or ACATS transfer → withdraw cash → Settings → Account Information → Deactivate Account. Full process takes 1-2 weeks.

Whether you're switching to Fidelity, tired of Robinhood's outages, or just done with investing apps, here's exactly how to close your account — and the mistakes that can cost you money.

Before You Close: The $100 Decision

You have two options for your stocks, and the choice matters for taxes:

Option A: Sell Everything

Free — no transfer fee
Triggers capital gains taxes on any profits
If you've held stocks <1 year, taxed as ordinary income (up to 37%)
Best if: small account, mostly losses, or all held >1 year

Option B: ACATS Transfer (Recommended)

Robinhood charges $100 ACATS fee
Many brokers reimburse it (Fidelity, Schwab — just ask)
No tax event — stocks transfer without selling
Takes 5-7 business days
Best if: large account, significant gains, or short-term holdings

Rule of thumb: If selling would trigger more than $100 in taxes, use ACATS.

Step 1: Cancel Robinhood Gold ($5/mo)

If you have Robinhood Gold, cancel it before deactivating your account:

Open Robinhood app
Tap your profile icon (bottom right)
Tap Robinhood Gold
Scroll down → Cancel Robinhood Gold
Confirm cancellation

You keep Gold benefits (larger instant deposits, margin, Morningstar research) until the end of your billing period.

Step 2: Close All Positions

Your account must have a $0 balance before deactivation. That means:

Stocks & ETFs: Sell all positions (or initiate ACATS transfer from your new broker)
Options: Close or exercise all options contracts
Crypto: Sell all cryptocurrency — crypto cannot be transferred via ACATS
Fractional shares: These must be sold — they can't be transferred

⚠️ Common mistake: People forget about pending orders, dividend reinvestments, or recurring investments. Cancel ALL scheduled orders and turn off DRIP before selling.

Step 3: Withdraw All Cash

Wait for trades to settle (T+1 for stocks, T+2 for options — usually 1-2 business days)
Tap Transfers → Transfer to Your Bank
Enter the full amount
Wait 3-5 business days for the ACH transfer to complete

Step 4: Deactivate Your Account

Open Robinhood app → tap profile icon
Tap Settings (gear icon)
Scroll to Account Information
Tap Deactivate Account
Robinhood will show your account balance — must be $0.00
Confirm deactivation

Alternative: Email support@robinhood.com with the subject "Account Closure Request" and your registered email address.

Where to Move Your Money

Fidelity

Best overall — $0 commissions, excellent research, reimburses ACATS fee, fractional shares

Best for: Long-term investors

Charles Schwab

$0 commissions, great customer service, physical branches, thinkorswim platform

Best for: Active traders who want phone support

Vanguard

Lowest expense ratio index funds, ideal for buy-and-hold investors

Best for: Passive index fund investors

Webull

Similar UI to Robinhood, extended hours trading, better charting tools

Best for: Robinhood users who want a similar experience

Public.com

No payment for order flow, social features, alternative investments

Best for: Transparency-focused investors

Tax Implications

Selling at a profit: Short-term gains (<1 year) taxed as income. Long-term gains (>1 year) taxed at 0%, 15%, or 20%.
Selling at a loss: You can deduct up to $3,000/year in capital losses against income. Losses beyond $3K carry forward.
Wash sale rule: If you sell at a loss and buy the same stock within 30 days at your new broker, the loss is disallowed.
1099 forms: Robinhood sends your 1099 by mid-February for the prior year. Keep your account active until you receive it.
ACATS transfer: No tax event. Cost basis transfers with your shares.

Common Problems & Fixes

"Account cannot be deactivated" — You have a remaining balance, pending order, or unsettled trade. Check Transfers and Orders screens for anything pending.

"Margin call" error — If you used margin (Robinhood Gold), you must repay the margin balance before closing. Deposit funds or sell positions to cover it.

Crypto won't transfer — Robinhood crypto can only be sold, not transferred to external wallets (as of 2026). Sell crypto, withdraw cash, buy on Coinbase/Kraken instead.

Missing tax documents — Don't close before receiving your 1099 (sent by mid-February). You can still access documents after deactivation through email support.

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