Selling Post Office Shares

jgallcash

Hi all,

I took the opportunity to buy the Royal Mail shares a few years back and am looking to take out the money in the next 6-9 months as we have a child on the way.

I opted to reinvest the dividends into new shares automatically so I have quite a few more than when I first bought them and I get semi-regular shares certificates sent through the post.

AS I say I'd like to sell them in the coming months but wanted some advice on doing so. I understand that selling via certificates will me a fair bit more expensive and that I can ask for the shares to be managed online which will then give me the choice of selecting a broker to execute the process much cheaper.

Is this correct?

Would it be advisable for me to have a stocks and shares ISA and to add these stocks in before going any further? Is this straightforward and is there somewhere people would recommend I go to in order to set one up?

Forgive the basic questions - as you can see I was one of those that took the bait in terms of being involved with the process without any prior knowledge

Arshad_00

I would open an account with (say) Halifax(not an ISA).
Then transfer in your shares.
Then sell when you are ready.

alanq

The title is incorrect. Post Office Limited is owned by the state.

Royal Mail plc is a different entity.

jgallcash

alanq wrote: »

The title is incorrect. Post Office Limited is owned by the state.

Royal Mail plc is a different entity.

I tried to change the title almost immediately after I posted but you cannot change your title; only the post content, hence the inconsistent title/post description.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

sometimes at dividend time the registrars offer shareholders a special deal to sell, check with registrars.

Edit: Here's a link.

bigadaj

jgallcash wrote: »

Hi all,

I took the opportunity to buy the Royal Mail shares a few years back and am looking to take out the money in the next 6-9 months as we have a child on the way.

I opted to reinvest the dividends into new shares automatically so I have quite a few more than when I first bought them and I get semi-regular shares certificates sent through the post.

AS I say I'd like to sell them in the coming months but wanted some advice on doing so. I understand that selling via certificates will me a fair bit more expensive and that I can ask for the shares to be managed online which will then give me the choice of selecting a broker to execute the process much cheaper.

Is this correct?

Would it be advisable for me to have a stocks and shares ISA and to add these stocks in before going any further? Is this straightforward and is there somewhere people would recommend I go to in order to set one up?

Forgive the basic questions - as you can see I was one of those that took the bait in terms of being involved with the process without any prior knowledge

If you're looking for a one off trade then selling though x-o might be best, free to open an account, think a simple £6ish charge for a sale.

For that quantity then you're well within any cgt allowance and the dividend allowance will mean you're not liable to income tax on those. One issue might be if you were a higher rate taxpayer when you bought them, if so then you owe income tax on the divided payments, not an issue if you're standard rate.

Ifts

jgallcash wrote: »

AS I say I'd like to sell them in the coming months but wanted some advice on doing so. I understand that selling via certificates will me a fair bit more expensive and that I can ask for the shares to be managed online which will then give me the choice of selecting a broker to execute the process much cheaper.

As mentioned you could use someone like X-O.co.uk share dealing services (£5.95 per trade) for a cheap method of selling the shares.

Open a Share Dealing account with X-O.co.uk - free to open and no annual account charges - then transfer your share certificates in to your account (to be safe send the shares in by registered post) and sell them for £5.95 per share holding.

How do I transfer in stock that I hold in the form of certificates?

http://www.x-o.co.uk/how_to_use.htm#5

What markets can I deal in?

http://www.x-o.co.uk/how_to_use.htm#11