Paasa runs on Interactive Brokers (IBKR) as the underlying execution layer. The brokerage rates you pay on Paasa flow through IBKR's pricing, with one specific exception: a small markup on US trades in the Access plan.
Investors comparing Paasa with IBKR directly almost always want to know exactly where the markup sits, how big it is, and what Paasa charges on every other market.
This blog walks through the per-trade rates on both Paasa plans, the AUM fee structure on the Apex plan, and how the Paasa-IBKR relationship works.
Table of contents
- How much Paasa charges over IBKR
- Access plan rates
- Apex plan rates
- How Paasa works on top of IBKR
- Common questions (Withdrawal charges)
- About Paasa
How much Paasa charges over IBKR
Paasa offers two plans: Access and Apex.
In the Access plan, Paasa adds a small brokerage markup on US trades and charges IBKR's standard rates (tiered pricing) on UK, European, Hong Kong, Canadian, Japanese, and Singapore trades. There is no minimum balance and no monthly platform fee.
In the Apex plan, Paasa charges IBKR's exact rates on every market, with no markup anywhere. In place of a markup, Paasa charges an annual AUM fee on your portfolio, billed monthly.
The Apex plan requires a minimum invested balance of $50,000 and includes dedicated advisory and a relationship manager bundled into the AUM fee.
Both plans use the same IBKR-backed custody and offer access to the same global exchanges. The pricing model is the only thing that changes between them.
Access plan rates
The only place Paasa charges a margin (on top of IBKR) on the Access plan is in US brokerage. For other markets, the rates are identical to IBKR's standard tiered pricing.
| Exchange | Paasa Access fee | IBKR base fee | Markup |
|---|---|---|---|
| US exchanges | 0.10% of trade value ( Min: $0.50, Max: $40.00) | $0.0035 per share (Min: $0.35, Max: 1%) | ✅ on US trades |
| UK exchange (GBP) | 0.05% of trade value (Min: £1.00) | 0.05% of trade value (Min: £1.00) | ❌ |
| European exchanges (EUR) | 0.05% of trade value (Min: €1.25, Max: €29.00) | 0.05% of trade value (Min: €1.25, Max: €29.00) | ❌ |
| Hong Kong (HKD) | 0.05% of trade value (Min: HK$18.00) | 0.05% of trade value (Min: HK$18.00) | ❌ |
| Canada (CAD) | CA$0.008 per share (Min: CA$1.00, Max: 0.5%) | CA$0.008 per share (Min: CA$1.00, Max: 0.5%) | ❌ |
| Japan (JPY) | 0.05% of trade value (Min: ¥80.00) | 0.05% of trade value (Min: ¥80.00) | ❌ |
| Singapore (SGD) | 0.08% of trade value (Min: S$2.50) | 0.08% of trade value (Min: S$2.50) | ❌ |
There is no minimum balance, no monthly platform fee, and no inactivity fee on the Access plan.
The Access plan includes the full India-facing layer that Paasa offers on top of IBKR, including documents for Indian tax reporting with the exact values you need to fill in your tax return, FEMA and LRS support, and preferential FX rates.
For a complete view of what Paasa offers on top of IBKR, read Why choose Paasa over Interactive Brokers (IBKR).
You can use our brokerage calculator to see the exact brokerage that will be charged on your trade and compare it with other platforms.
Apex plan rates
Per-trade brokerage rates on the Apex plan are identical to IBKR's published rates across every market. There is no markup. Whatever IBKR charges, that is what you pay.
| Exchange | Paasa Apex fee | IBKR base fee |
|---|---|---|
| US exchanges | $0.0035 per share (Min: $0.35, Max: 1%) | $0.0035 per share (Min: $0.35, Max: 1%) |
| UK exchange (GBP) | 0.05% of trade value (Min: £1.00) | 0.05% of trade value (Min: £1.00) |
| European exchanges (EUR) | 0.05% of trade value (Min: €1.25, Max: €29.00) | 0.05% of trade value (Min: €1.25, Max: €29.00) |
| Hong Kong (HKD) | 0.05% of trade value (Min: HK$18.00) | 0.05% of trade value (Min: HK$18.00) |
| Canada (CAD) | CA$0.008 per share (Min: CA$1.00, Max: 0.5%) | CA$0.008 per share (Min: CA$1.00, Max: 0.5%) |
| Japan (JPY) | 0.05% of trade value (Min: ¥80.00) | 0.05% of trade value (Min: ¥80.00) |
| Singapore (SGD) | 0.08% of trade value (Min: S$2.50) | 0.08% of trade value (Min: S$2.50) |
In place of a brokerage markup, the Apex plan charges an annual AUM fee on your invested balance, billed monthly. The fee tiers down as your portfolio grows.
| Portfolio size (AUM) | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| $50k - $100k | 1.0% + GST |
| $100k - $500k | 0.7% + GST |
| $500k - $1M | 0.5% + GST |
| $1M+ AUM | Get in touch |
The AUM fee covers dedicated advisory and a relationship manager who handles tax and FEMA queries, and provides investment advice on top of the standard India-facing compliance stack that both plans include.
Note: None of the rates on either plan include third-party regulatory, exchange, or clearing fees (such as SEC and FINRA fees in the US). These are charged by the regulators and exchanges directly and are passed through on every plan, including a direct IBKR account.
Note: Trade fees are quoted in the local currency of each exchange. At the point of trade, you can choose to settle the fee in an alternative currency like USD, with minor adjustments to the minimum charge depending on the currency you select.
Are there any withdrawal charges?
IBKR gives you 1 free withdrawal per month, and charges $10 on every additional withdrawal. Paasa charges the same. We do not charge anything on top of IBKR for withdrawals.
How Paasa works on top of IBKR
Paasa is integrated with IBKR at the API level. Your brokerage account itself sits at IBKR, in your name, with your PAN, and with full SIPC protection up to $500,000.
Paasa is not a reseller, a feeder fund, or a wrapper that pools your money with other investors. Every trade you place on Paasa goes directly to your IBKR account. Every position, every cash balance is yours, held in your name at IBKR.
What Paasa builds on top is the India-facing layer that IBKR does not: LRS and FEMA support, INR tax reporting aligned to the Indian financial year, Schedule FA-ready disclosure values, preferential FX rates, joint account workflows, RSU transfer infrastructure, and access to advisory.
Paasa also gives you read-only access to your IBKR account directly. You can log in and view your positions, but trades can only be executed through Paasa. If you ever want to stop using Paasa, you can decouple your IBKR account and use it as a standalone direct account.
About Paasa
Paasa is a global investing platform built specifically for Indian investors and powered by IBKR. It takes the institutional-grade engine of Interactive Brokers and wraps it in a user-friendly, locally compliant experience.
Here is why Indian investors prefer Paasa:
- India-specific tax and FEMA support: Investing globally requires navigating the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) and complex Indian tax laws. Paasa provides end-to-end support, including ready-to-use tax calculation documents for the end of the financial year.
- Pre-negotiated FX rates: Paasa ensures you get competitive foreign exchange rates, maximising the capital you actually deploy into the market.
- Dedicated advisory and support: Paasa offers dedicated relationship managers and advisory services tailored to the needs of Indian HNIs and NRIs.
- Simplified interface: Paasa's app makes building a global portfolio as intuitive as buying a domestic mutual fund.
