How do I flag my account as a PDT account for 4x Margin?

Environment

Language
NA

Alpaca SDK Version
NA

Other Environment Details
Account related question

Problem

Summary
Both my Paper and Production accounts are showing a 2x DTBP. I have a 4x Margin set and the necessary for funds for PDT. How do I flag my account as a PDT account?

Paper or Live Tradng?
Both

Example Code
NA

@nye For an account to be ‘flagged’ or set as being a Pattern Day Trader (PDT) then it must exhibit a pattern of day trading. What this means is the account must execute more than 3 day trades within 5 trading days.

So, simply place 4 or more day trades. These could be fractional shares. Something like this will get an account flagged PDT if done in a single day.

buy 1 share AAPL
sell 1 share AAPL
buy 1 share AAPL
sell 1 share AAPL
buy 1 share AAPL
sell 1 share AAPL
buy 1 share AAPL
sell 1 share AAPL

Note that one must have more than $25,000 in equity in the account. Also note the PDT designation is permanent (though there can be a 1 time exception to get it removed). So only get an account designated PDT if one can be sure to maintain more than $25,000 in equity.

Once PDT is set the account will see 4x daytrading margin the following day.

1 Like

@Dan_Whitnable_Alpaca Thank you!!