Learn about the types of U.S. savings bonds, how to buy or redeem them, and calculate their value. Find out how to change a bond’s ownership, replace it, and whether it is taxable.
What are savings bonds?
By buying a U.S. savings bond, you are lending the government money. When you redeem a bond, the government pays you back the amount you bought the bond for plus interest.
Manage electronic savings bonds
To buy, redeem, or manage electronic savings bonds, you will need to create or log into your TreasuryDirect account.
Buy savings bonds
You can buy electronic savings bonds online. Paper bonds can only be purchased as part of your IRS tax refund.
Learn how to buy U.S. savings bonds.
Determine the value of savings bonds
You can determine the value for an electronic savings bond by logging into your TreasuryDirect account.
For paper bonds, use the savings bond calculator.
Current EE and I series savings bonds
The U.S. Department of the Treasury currently sells two types of savings bonds, the EE and I series. Both series have different interest rates, which are either fixed or change with inflation. Learn more about EE bonds and I bonds, including how to:
- Buy and redeem them
- Determine their value
- Claim them if the owner has died
- Change ownership or beneficiaries
- Update personal information or fix errors
- Replace them if they are lost, stolen, or destroyed
- Report interest on your federal tax return
Older HH and historical savings bonds
The U.S. Department of the Treasury no longer issues HH and other historical bond series. But you can still redeem them.
HH series savings bonds
The last HH series savings bonds the U.S. government issued are still earning interest until 2024. Learn more about HH bonds, including how to:
- Redeem them
- Determine their value
- Claim them if the owner has died
- Change ownership or beneficiaries
- Update personal information or fix errors
- Replace them if they are lost, stolen, or destroyed
- Report interest on your federal tax return
Historical and retired savings bonds
Like HH bonds, you can no longer buy historical and retired savings bonds. Learn more about older savings bonds series and savings securities, and find out:
- When the U.S. government issued them
- If they are still earning interest
- How to cash them
- What their value is or how to calculate it
- If the interest is taxable
Search for missing savings bonds
Search for matured savings bonds and missing interest using Treasury Hunt, an online tool from TreasuryDirect.
LAST UPDATED: January 24, 2024
Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They will get you the answer or let you know where to find it.
FAQs
How to get the most value from your savings bonds
| Face Value | Purchase Amount | 20-Year Value (Purchased May 2000) |
|---|
| $50 Bond | $100 | $109.52 |
| $100 Bond | $200 | $219.04 |
| $500 Bond | $400 | $547.60 |
| $1,000 Bond | $800 | $1,095.20 |
May 7, 2024
They're available to be cashed in after a single year, though there's a penalty for cashing them in within the first five years. Otherwise, you can keep savings bonds until they fully mature, which is generally 30 years.
Is it worth keeping US Savings Bonds? ›
Bonds, on the other hand, grow slowly in value and are worth the most after 20 to 30 years. Consider savings bonds for your long-term savings goals. You can set money aside to earn interest, while resisting temptation to dip into your funds. But don't rush into buying a bond.
How much is a mature $50 savings bond worth? ›
| Total Price | Total Value | Total Interest |
|---|
| $50.00 | $69.94 | $19.94 |
EE bonds you buy now have a fixed interest rate that you know when you buy the bond. That rate remains the same for at least the first 20 years. It may change after that for the last 10 of its 30 years. We guarantee that the value of your new EE bond at 20 years will be double what you paid for it.
How long does it take for a $100.00 bond to mature? ›
U.S. Savings Bonds mature after 20 or 30 years, depending on the type of bond: Series EE bonds mature after 20 years. They are sold at half their face value and are worth their full value at maturity. Series I bonds are sold at face value and mature after 30 years.
Do you pay taxes on savings bonds? ›
Savings bond interest is subject to federal income tax; however, taxation can be deferred until redemption, final maturity, or other taxable disposition, whichever occurs first. You also have the option of claiming interest annually for federal income tax purposes.
Can you still cash EE bonds at a bank? ›
Where do I cash in a savings bond? You can cash paper bonds at a bank or through the U.S. Department of the Treasury's TreasuryDirect website. Not all banks offer the service, and many only provide it if you are an account holder, according to a NerdWallet analysis of the 20 largest U.S. banks.
Which is better, EE or I savings bonds? ›
Bottom line. I bonds, with their inflation-adjusted return, safeguard the investor's purchasing power during periods of high inflation. On the other hand, EE Bonds offer predictable returns with a fixed-interest rate and a guaranteed doubling of value if held for 20 years.
Do banks still sell savings bonds? ›
Savings bonds that are electronic can be bought for as little as $25 or any amount up to $5000 and held in a secure TreasuryDirect® account. Since January 1, 2012, paper savings bonds are no longer available at banks or other financial institutions.
If a bond is held past its maturity, the federal government remains responsible for the debt. However, savings bonds that are held past their maturity date do not continue to earn interest and may actually lose value due to inflation.
Why is my savings bond worth so little? ›
There are two primary reasons a bond might be worth less than its listed face value. A savings bond, for example, is sold at a discount to its face value and steadily appreciates in price as the bond approaches its maturity date. Upon maturity, the bond is redeemed for the full face value.
Where can I cash a $50 savings bond? ›
If you have paper savings bonds, you can fill out the appropriate form and mail it and the bonds you want to cash to the Treasury Retail Securities Services — the address is listed on FS Form 1522. Additionally, you may be able to cash your paper savings bonds at your bank or credit union.
What is the penalty for not cashing matured savings bonds? ›
While the Treasury will not penalize you for holding a U.S. Savings Bond past its date of maturity, the Internal Revenue Service will. Interest accumulated over the life of a U.S. Savings Bond must be reported on your 1040 form for the tax year in which you redeem the bond or it reaches final maturity.
When you receive a savings bond worth $100, you can cash it for $100 right away. True? ›
You can get your cash for an EE or I savings bond any time after you have owned it for 1 year. However, the longer you hold the bond, the more it earns for you (for up to 30 years for an EE or I bond). Also, if you cash in the bond in less than 5 years, you lose the last 3 months of interest.
What is the return on bonds for the last 20 years? ›
If you purchase a 10-year Treasury at time of writing, you could expect a yield of about 4.45%. Based on yields over the past 20 years, you can expect average interest payments of between 3% and 4%.
Why is my $100 savings bond only worth 50? ›
There are two primary reasons a bond might be worth less than its listed face value. A savings bond, for example, is sold at a discount to its face value and steadily appreciates in price as the bond approaches its maturity date. Upon maturity, the bond is redeemed for the full face value.
Which US savings bond is guaranteed to double in value in 20 years? ›
Series EE savings bonds are a low-risk way to save money. They earn interest regularly for 30 years (or until you cash them if you do that before 30 years). For EE bonds you buy now, we guarantee that the bond will double in value in 20 years, even if we have to add money at 20 years to make that happen.
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