What Is a Forex Broker Inactivity Fee?
A forex broker inactivity fee is a charge levied against your trading account when you have not executed any trades -- or in some cases, not logged in -- for a defined period. The fee is deducted directly from your account balance. If your balance falls below the monthly fee amount, the broker typically deducts what remains but does not pursue you for a shortfall. However, fees continue to accumulate as long as the account is active on the broker's books, meaning a small dormant balance can be entirely consumed within a few months.
Inactivity fees are sometimes listed under different names in broker terms and conditions: "dormancy fees", "administration fees", or "maintenance fees". Whatever the label, the mechanism is the same -- you are charged for not trading. This makes it especially important to read the small print before opening an account, particularly if you anticipate taking breaks from trading.
Why Do Brokers Charge Inactivity Fees?
Brokers incur real costs to maintain inactive accounts. Client data must be stored in compliance with financial regulations, funds must remain segregated in client money accounts, and account statements may still need to be generated and sent. Beyond these costs, brokers are commercial entities that prefer active traders: active traders generate spread revenue and commissions. An inactivity fee is a nudge to either start trading again or close the account -- and a revenue stream in the meantime.
Not all brokers take this approach. Several major brokers -- including Exness, Pepperstone, and IC Markets -- have chosen to absorb these costs rather than pass them on. Their reasoning is partly competitive: in a market where traders can easily compare brokers, a "no inactivity fee" policy is a genuine differentiator. It is also a relationship signal: these brokers would rather retain a dormant client who might return to active trading than charge them away.
Full Comparison: Inactivity Fees by Broker (2026)
| Broker | Inactivity Fee | Trigger Period | Reactivation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XM | $15 per month | 90 days no trading activity | Place any trade | Fee stops once you trade again; balance floored at zero |
| AvaTrade | $50 per quarter + $100/year dormancy | 3 months (quarterly fee); 12 months (annual dormancy) | Log in and place a trade | One of the most expensive inactivity regimes among major brokers |
| eToroX | $10 per month | 12 months no login | Log in to account | Note: triggered by login absence, not trade absence |
| IG | $12 per month | 2 years no trading activity | Place any trade | Longer trigger window than most; relevant for very long-term dormancy |
| Exness | None | N/A | N/A | No inactivity fee on any account type |
| Pepperstone | None | N/A | N/A | No inactivity fee on any account type |
| IC Markets | None | N/A | N/A | No inactivity fee on any account type |
Table accurate as of January 2026. Always verify current fee schedules directly with each broker before opening an account, as terms can change.
XM Inactivity Fee: Full Details
XM's inactivity fee is one of the most commonly searched topics among Gulf forex traders, which is why it warrants detailed coverage. If your XM account records no trading activity for 90 consecutive days, XM will begin charging a $15 per month maintenance fee. This is deducted from your available account balance at the start of each calendar month.
Importantly, XM defines "activity" as placing, modifying, or closing a trade -- simply logging into your account or checking your balance does not reset the inactivity clock. To stop the fee, you must execute a trade. Once you do, the fee ceases immediately; you are not charged retroactively for the months during which you were inactive before reactivating.
If your account balance falls to zero due to inactivity fees, XM will not pursue you for further charges. However, if the balance reaches zero with open positions, those positions would be closed at the prevailing market price. The practical takeaway: if you have a small balance ($50 or less) and do not intend to trade for more than three months, you are better off withdrawing that balance rather than leaving it in a dormant XM account.
AvaTrade Inactivity Fee: Full Details
AvaTrade operates one of the most aggressive inactivity fee structures in the retail forex industry. After just 3 months of inactivity, AvaTrade charges a $50 administration fee per quarter. At the 12-month mark, a separate $100 annual dormancy fee is applied. These fees compound: a trader who opens an AvaTrade account, makes a small deposit, and then forgets about it for a year could lose $150 or more in fees before they even notice.
AvaTrade applies these fees to accounts that have had no trading activity (no open, close, or pending orders). As with XM, simply logging in does not reset the clock. The quarterly fee structure means an account with $200 could be entirely consumed within one year of inactivity. For traders who take extended breaks -- whether due to travel, work commitments, or simply pausing their trading -- AvaTrade's fee regime is a meaningful concern.
Brokers with No Inactivity Fee
Exness explicitly states in its terms that it does not charge any inactivity fees. Your account balance will remain untouched regardless of how long you remain dormant, provided you do not have open positions affected by margin calls. This policy applies to all Exness account types: Standard, Standard Cent, Raw Spread, Zero, and Pro.
Pepperstone confirms no inactivity fee on all account types (Standard and Razor). Pepperstone is regulated by the FCA, ASIC, DFSA (UAE), CySEC, and SCB, and its terms are transparent on this point. If you are a Gulf trader who trades seasonally or takes extended breaks, Pepperstone's policy is one of its most practical advantages.
IC Markets similarly charges no inactivity fee on its Standard, Raw Spread cTrader, or Raw Spread MetaTrader accounts. IC Markets is regulated by ASIC and CySEC, and its fee disclosure is straightforward in its product disclosure statement.
How to Avoid Inactivity Fees
Trade at least once within the trigger window
If you use a broker that charges inactivity fees (XM, AvaTrade, IG, eToroX), the simplest way to avoid the fee is to place at least one trade before the trigger period expires. For XM, this means at least one trade every 89 days. Even a micro-lot trade on a low-volatility pair is sufficient to reset the clock. Set a calendar reminder if your trading is infrequent.
Withdraw your balance before going inactive
If you know you will not be trading for an extended period and do not wish to place a "keep-alive" trade, withdrawing your full balance is the cleanest solution. Most brokers close an account once the balance reaches zero and there are no open positions, effectively stopping fee accrual. You can always re-deposit when you are ready to trade again.
Choose a broker with no inactivity fee
The most permanent solution is to use a broker that does not charge inactivity fees. Exness, Pepperstone, and IC Markets are all well-regulated, competitive on spreads and commissions, and offer no-inactivity-fee policies. If you anticipate taking breaks from trading -- whether monthly, seasonally, or irregularly -- choosing one of these brokers eliminates the inactivity fee concern entirely.
Which Types of Trader Need to Worry Most?
Inactivity fees are most consequential for four groups of traders:
- Beginners who open an account, make a small deposit, struggle with early losses, and take a long break before returning. A $100 starter account can be consumed by AvaTrade's quarterly fees within six months of inactivity.
- Seasonal traders who only trade during specific market events (earnings seasons, OPEC decisions, central bank meetings) and leave accounts dormant between events.
- Traders who use multiple brokers and may forget about lesser-used accounts. This is particularly common among experienced traders who maintain accounts with different brokers for different strategies.
- Demo-to-live transitions -- traders who open a live account early but continue practising on demo for months before depositing meaningful capital. If a small "test" deposit sits dormant during this period, fees begin accruing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does XM charge an inactivity fee?
Yes. XM charges $15 per month after 90 days of no trading activity. The fee is deducted from your account balance and continues until you place a trade or your balance reaches zero. Logging into your account does not reset the inactivity period -- you must execute a trade.
Does Exness charge an inactivity fee?
No. Exness does not charge any inactivity fee on any of its account types. Your balance will remain untouched regardless of how long your account is dormant.
Does Pepperstone charge an inactivity fee?
No. Pepperstone does not charge inactivity fees on Standard or Razor accounts.
Does IC Markets charge an inactivity fee?
No. IC Markets does not charge inactivity fees on any account type.
Can I get an inactivity fee refunded?
Generally, no. Once deducted, inactivity fees are rarely refunded. Some brokers may consider a goodwill refund for a first-time occurrence if you contact support promptly and reactivate your account, but this is not guaranteed. Prevention is always preferable to seeking a refund after the fact.
What happens if my balance reaches zero due to inactivity fees?
If your balance reaches zero, most brokers will stop deducting fees and may archive or close the account. They will not pursue you for any shortfall below zero caused solely by inactivity fees. However, if you had open positions when the balance reached the margin call threshold, those positions would be closed at market price before the balance reached zero.