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IBKR Rebalance file guide

Status: documentation-based workflow; xPortfolios paper-account imports are not verified. This guide covers TWS Rebalance Portfolio. Advisor Portal, the Rebalance Model window and account groups need their own verification. Read the current verification table and file review guide before an import.

Choose the account and allocation

Use a strategy-dedicated paper account for the first trial. IBKR describes Rebalance percentages as shares of account net liquidation value. A 5% target in a $100,000 account means $5,000. Allocating $20,000 to a strategy does not make this file use $20,000: the platform needs a separately configured model sleeve or account. Confirm the actual calculation basis before creating orders.

With an advisor account group, verify the selected clients and percentage basis for every account. A plain paper-account test does not verify group permissions or Model-window import. Unrelated holdings must be separated or explicitly reviewed; their absence from the file is not evidence that IBKR will preserve them.

Obtain and check the files

Download ibkr-rebalance and the matching generic CSV or XLSX using your partner key. Keep the response decision identifier and filename together. Generic weights are fractions (0.05 = 5%); the Rebalance file uses percentages (5 = 5%). It has no header and ten columns. This illustrative row is not a portfolio recommendation:

DES,AAPL,STK,SMART,,,,,,5

The final column contains the target; column I remains blank pending paper verification. Removed holdings are included at 0. Match each imported stock to the generic file's ISIN, exact listing, share class and quote currency. Keep leading zeros and class-share distinctions. London targets remain percentages even when prices are quoted in pence; do not multiply weights by 100 for GBX. Review US class shares, London currencies and Canadian dual listings separately.

TWS documented workflow

  1. In TWS Mosaic, open New Window and choose Rebalance Portfolio; Classic TWS lists it under Trading Tools.
  2. Select the authorised paper account. In Rebalance Portfolio, choose Import, select the Rebalance CSV and open it.
  3. Compare every displayed contract and target percentage with the matching generic file, including zero-weight exits.
  4. Choose Create Rebalance Orders, then inspect the proposals against the account's actual positions, cash and open orders. Share quantities depend on prices, rounding and account restrictions; changes[] describes model changes, not account order quantities.
  5. Stop at order review during the xPortfolios verification. IBKR's later Transmit All or individual transmit control sends orders; transmission belongs to the authorised operator's execution process.

IBKR documents the Rebalance window and order controls and CSV import/export sequence. These are vendor instructions, not a record of an xPortfolios test.

BasketTrader is a review template

The ibkr-basket file has zero quantities throughout. It does not create a target-weight rebalance. Target weights in BasketTag are reference metadata; they do not size orders. Its BUY/SELL labels are indicative and retained holdings may require either side after drift. Do not transmit this template. The account operator must establish actual positions, order sides, quantities and execution settings in its own verified workflow.

IBKR's Basket fields tie Method to an account group and Percent to PctChange; they do not establish the proposed PctOfPortfolio target import. See also BasketTrader import and order review.

What still needs verification

The paper trial must cover the US Quality, UK Income and Canada Islamic files, class-share mapping and pence quotes. Record the TWS version, account type, permissions, exact contracts and target/proposal comparison. Check column I, omission of an existing position, Model-window Import and account-group behavior where available. Then test initial allocation, a rotation with exits, a late joiner, a skipped update, a correction, a repeat import and unrelated holdings. Browser-portal import needs separate evidence.

Use the file review guide for stable decision identifiers and recovery. All platform files and guides.