XTB vs Interactive Brokers - Which Broker to Choose?

A complete comparison of two popular brokers from a PIT-38 tax filing perspective. Find out how they differ and which one better suits your needs.

Author: Podatek Giełdy Team

Capital gains tax specialists

Verified by a tax advisor

Comparison at a glance

CriterionXTBInteractive Brokers
AvailabilityPolish broker, KNF licenseGlobal broker, SEC/FCA license
Commissions0% up to 100,000 EUR/monthFrom 1 USD per trade
Tax data exportCSV + PIT-8CActivity Statement (CSV/PDF)
Supported assetsStocks, ETFs, CFDs, ForexStocks, ETFs, options, futures, bonds, Forex
Tax filing complexitySimple (PIT-8C from broker)Complex (self-filing + PIT-ZG)
DividendsAutomatic settlement for Polish stocksRequires self-reporting
Currency conversionAutomatic at broker rateManual, at market rate
Requires PIT-ZGNoYes

Why choose XTB?

XTB is a Polish broker licensed by KNF, which significantly simplifies tax filing. As a Polish entity, XTB provides PIT-8C, making the tax return much easier.

  • PIT-8C generated automatically - ready data for PIT-38
  • No need to file PIT-ZG (Polish broker)
  • 0% commissions on stocks and ETFs up to 100,000 EUR monthly
  • Polish customer support and interface
See XTB broker page →

Why choose Interactive Brokers?

Interactive Brokers is a global broker with access to dozens of exchanges worldwide. It offers a much wider selection of financial instruments than XTB.

  • Access to exchanges in over 150 countries - stocks, ETFs, options, futures, bonds
  • Low commissions for active traders (tiered pricing)
  • Advanced analytical tools and TWS platform

Important: Using Interactive Brokers requires self-filing with PIT-ZG. As a foreign broker, IBKR does not generate a Polish PIT-8C.

See Interactive Brokers page →

Key differences

Tax filing

XTB: Simpler filing - the broker generates PIT-8C with ready data. No PIT-ZG or NBP currency conversion required.

Interactive Brokers: Requires self-filing. You need to download the Activity Statement, convert transactions using NBP rates, and file PIT-ZG.

Dividend handling

XTB: Polish stock dividends settled automatically. Foreign dividends available in limited scope.

Interactive Brokers: Access to dividends from thousands of global companies. Requires self-reporting with double taxation treaty considerations.

Currency conversion

XTB: Automatic conversion at broker rate. Convenient, but may include hidden currency spread costs.

Interactive Brokers: Manual conversion at market rate. Lower currency costs, but requires an extra step. For tax purposes, NBP rate conversion is necessary.

How to file tax with both brokers?

Tip: Our calculator supports both XTB and Interactive Brokers. Just import files - the system will automatically convert transactions, apply NBP rates, and prepare data for PIT-38 and PIT-ZG.

File tax from XTB or Interactive Brokers

Our calculator automatically supports both brokers. Import your file and get a ready summary for PIT-38.