IG is a brand. Your contract names a company.
An IG logo or group score does not identify who holds your account. Start with the legal entity and product in your agreement, then check that combination against the relevant official record.
The UK website assigns CFD, spread-betting and share-dealing services to different companies. In the US, tastyfx’s disclosure names tastyfx LLC for its forex service. These routes are not interchangeable.
A product-to-entity map, not one worldwide licence
Use these examples to identify a contract, not to select an account by the protection of a different country. The UK rows are provider disclosures; check current FCA permissions before relying on them.
| Product route | Named company | Identifier and evidence | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK CFDs | IG Markets Limited | FCA reference 195355, disclosed by IG.Company number 04008957 is independently listed by Companies House. | A company number is not a financial-services permission. |
| UK spread betting | IG Index Limited | FCA reference 114059.IG UK disclosure; independent register check still required. | It does not identify a CFD contract with another company. |
| UK share dealing | IG Trading and Investments Limited | FCA reference 944492.IG UK disclosure; independent register check still required. | Do not transfer its product terms to leveraged forex. |
| US forex | TASTYFX LLC | NFA ID 0509630.NFA BASIC: Member Approved; RFED and Introducing Broker registrations; Forex Dealer Member designation. DBA IG; formerly IG US LLC. | A historical pending application is not an approved registration. Registration does not guarantee funds or trading outcomes. |
Protection follows the account, not the brand. IG’s UK disclosure excludes professional clients from negative balance protection. tastyfx states it is not a SIPC member and warns that losses can exceed deposits. Do not assume the UK retail arrangement applies to a US forex account.
This map does not cover every IG jurisdiction. Australia and Singapore records below retain their own recorded verification dates; this review has not refreshed their permissions or customer terms.
Five checks before sending money
- Save the actual agreement. Record the company name, account type, product and applicable country. A brand banner or sales message is not a contract.
- Open the regulator yourself. Use the FCA Register for the UK or NFA BASIC for the US. Match the exact name and identifier, current status and relevant permissions.
- Compare the contact route. Compare the website and contact details in the official record with the site you are using. A copied licence number does not authenticate a message or payment instruction.
- Check the payment recipient. Ask the contracting company to explain any different beneficiary through a separately verified support channel. Pause when the explanation or instruction cannot be reconciled.
- Keep an evidence folder. Save dated register results, agreement, fee schedule, payment instructions and correspondence. These records are more useful in a dispute than a screenshot of an overall score.
Need to inspect a suspicious website? Use FXCN Scam Check as a starting point, then verify with the official authority. It is not a legal determination.
Compare a complete trade, not a headline spread
Ask for terms for the same instrument, position size, account currency and holding period. FXCN has not executed a test trade or measured this broker’s live slippage.
| Cost or condition | What to request | Common comparison mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Execution | Spread, commission and order conditions for the chosen instrument. | Comparing a minimum spread with another provider’s typical all-in cost. |
| Holding overnight | Funding calculation, time cutoff and any multi-day adjustment. | Assuming a low opening cost means a low week-long holding cost. |
| Currency conversion | When conversion occurs and which rate or fee applies. | Ignoring the account currency when comparing otherwise identical trades. |
| Funding and withdrawal | Permitted payment method, recipient, charges and processing conditions. | Treating a support estimate as a guaranteed arrival time. |
| Margin and exit | Margin changes, close-out rules and stop-order limitations. | Treating a stop instruction as a guaranteed execution price. |
Use the broker comparison for recorded facts, but obtain the missing product-specific terms directly. A lower cost or a higher score does not establish suitability.
Questions that change the decision
Why does the US record say tastyfx rather than IG?
NFA BASIC lists TASTYFX LLC, doing business as IG and formerly known as IG US LLC. Match NFA ID 0509630 and the contracting company rather than treating the names as unrelated firms.
Does a listed group make every account protected?
No. Check the precise contracting entity, product, customer category and current scheme eligibility. Neither a group name nor FXCN’s score determines compensation entitlement.
Can I use the UK website from another country?
The UK page’s territorial notice restricts its intended audience. Being able to open a website is not evidence that the service may accept you. Check the local onboarding terms before applying.
What should I do if I already have a dispute?
Use the contracting company’s official complaint process and keep the agreement, transaction records and dated correspondence. Verify any external dispute route for that entity. Reporting to FXCN does not file a complaint with a regulator or stop a legal deadline.
Sources and limits of this review
- IG UK: provider disclosure — product/entity mapping and UK scope. Company-published, not independent proof of every permission.
- tastyfx: official contact and disclosure — US legal entity, support route and risk boundaries.
- Companies House: IG MARKETS LIMITED — company registration. Not a financial licence.
- NFA BASIC: 0509630 — independently checked current displayed identity and registration categories.
