UK Trading App Guide Flags £85,000 FSCS Cover and 10.75% 2026 Dividend Tax

2 articles · Updated · Forbes · Jul 22

UK investors using trading apps may be protected up to £85,000 if an FCA-authorised provider fails, though that cover applies to certain platform-related losses rather than investment losses.
Security on apps broadly mirrors desktop trading—passwords, biometrics and two-step verification—but users are urged to log out and add device-level protections against unauthorised access.
Tax remains a key 2026 consideration: buying UK shares triggers 0.5% stamp duty, capital gains tax starts above the £3,000 annual allowance, and dividend tax rates rise to 10.75% and 35.75% from 6 April.
Low entry points can make apps accessible, with some accounts opening from £1 or monthly investing from £25, while features such as fractional shares, limit orders and stop losses can help manage smaller portfolios.
Nearly 10% of UK adults used a DIY investment platform in the FCA’s 2024 Financial Lives survey, with uptake highest among men and people aged 25 to 34.