Instructions On How To Close A Vanguard Account
Below are the exact steps to close your Vanguard brokerage account online. You can also close your account by calling Vanguard directly.
Step 1: Log In To Your Account
Log in to your brokerage account at
www.vanguard.com, and click the “Personal investors” link. Alternatively, you can log in directly to the personal investors' site at
https://investor.vanguard.com/home.
You’ll need to enter your username and password to log in. Vanguard may send you a temporary code for security purposes. You can choose to receive the code via text or phone call. Enter the code online to proceed with your login.
Step 2: Zero Out Your Account
You’ll need to sell all your Vanguard funds before closing your account. Only accounts with a zero balance can be closed. If you don’t have any existing funds, skip to Step 3.
To sell your funds, go to the “Sell Funds” page. Select all your funds and check the box that says, “Sell all shares.” Next, click “Continue” and choose how you want to receive the money.
You can receive the money by check or transfer it to your bank account via Electronic Bank Transfer (EBT) or wire transfer. Review your transfer and then click “Submit.” You’ll receive a confirmation with the transfer details.
After transferring all the money from your Vanguard account, you’re ready to close your account.
Step 3: Close Your Account Online
Go to your online account homepage. From the “My Accounts” dropdown, select “Profile & Account Settings.” If you don’t see “My Accounts,” look for a “Profile” icon at the top of the page instead. Clicking the “Profile” icon will also take you to your “Profile & Account Settings” page.
On the “Profile & Account Settings” page, click "Accounts & Trading" and then select "Close account." On the next screen, choose your account and click “Continue.” Confirm that you want to close the account and click “Submit.” Your account will now be closed.
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Close Your Vanguard Brokerage Account By Phone
You can close your Vanguard account by phone by contacting Vanguard’s Client Services at 1-877-662-7747. Client Services is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, Eastern time.
You’ll need to sell all funds and transfer any remaining money before closing. You’ll also need to answer security questions for verification. Vanguard Client Services will guide you through the process by phone.
What Happens After Your Account Is Closed?
After you close your account, you can no longer make transactions or access account statements. However, you can still view past tax forms, transaction confirmations, and transaction history.
You will receive a final statement for the month your account was closed. This last statement will show all the transactions that left your account with a zero balance.
Potential Issues Closing Your Account
Below are a few potential issues you may encounter while trying to close your Vanguard account.
Securities With No Value (Or Not Trading)
If you own a security that doesn’t have any value or is not currently trading, you must abandon the security before you can close your account.
“Mutual Fund Only” Accounts
Vanguard “mutual fund only” accounts cannot be closed online. You will need to call Vanguard directly. However, if your account has had no activity for 12-18 months, it will be closed automatically.
Closing Someone Else’s Account
For security reasons, you can only close your own account. If you need to close someone else’s account, you will need to call Vanguard Client Services for help.
Further Assistance
If you have any questions or issues, call Vanguard Client Services at 1-877-662-7747. You may also be able to use Vanguard’s chat feature when you log in to your account online. (Note: the chat feature is currently in Beta testing at the time of publishing.)
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Updated on 1/1/2025.
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