Who is this page for (and not for)?
This page is about paper savings bonds that have reached their term limit (matured) and, thus, have stopped earning interest.
It's not relevant for electronic savings bonds because we pay for them automatically as soon as they stop earning interest.
You also want a different page for these situations:
- Your paper or electronic EE or I savings bond has not yet reached 30 years from the date we issued it but you want to cash it in: Cashing EE or I savings bonds
- Your HH savings bond has not yet reached 20 years from the date we issued it but you want to cash it in: Cashing in HH savings bonds
- You wonder if a Treasury marketable security (not a savings bond, but instead a Bill, Bond, Note, TIPS, or FRN) has matured and is no longer earning interest: Auction Query
What savings bonds have stopped earning interest?
If you have a savings bond from any of the following series, it no longer earns interest: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K, and all Savings Notes.
The only savings bonds that still earn interest are I bonds and some EE and HH bonds. For those, you must look at the issue date. EE and I bonds earn interest for 30 years from the issue date. HH bonds earn interest for 20 years from the issue date.
How do I know if my bond has already been cashed?
If you have the serial numbers of your old bonds, but you are not sure if they have been cashed, you can write to us:
Treasury Retail Securities Services
P.O. Box 9150
Minneapolis, MN 55480-9150
Are there bonds I may have forgotten about? (Treasury Hunt)
With your Social Security Number (or Taxpayer Identification Number) or name and state, you can use our Treasury Hunt search to see if you have any savings bonds listed in our database. If you do, you'll get information on how to claim and cash them. We update Treasury Hunt every month.
How do I get my money for savings bonds?
Information for special circ*mstances:
Cashing savings bonds outside the United States
Cashing a young child's bond
Cashing your (adult's) bonds in the United States
At a bank where you have a bank account:
Contact them. Ask:
- Will they cash your savings bonds?
- How much will they cash at one time?
- What identification or other documents do you need?
With us:
Send the form and the bonds to us at the address on FS Form 1522.
Will I get a form for my tax return?
For most savings bonds, yes, you will receive a form for the year you cash the bond. For Series A, B, and C bonds of all years and for Series D bonds issued through February 1941, no, because they are not subject to federal income tax.
For a Series HH bond that carries deferred interest, you will get a tax form either after you cash the bond or after it matures, whichever comes first.
Can I authorize someone else to cash my bonds?
You may authorize an attorney-in-fact to cash your bonds. See our instructions for an attorney-in-fact.
FAQs
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.
How do I cash out my TreasuryDirect account? ›
How do I cash my electronic bonds? Go to your TreasuryDirect account. Go to ManageDirect. Use the link for cashing securities.
How do I cash out my Series I bonds? ›
Electronic I bonds can be cashed online through TreasuryDirect.gov. Paper I bonds can be cashed online, or they may be accepted by some banks. If you hold an I bond for less than five years, you'll lose three months' interest.
How much is a $100 EE savings bond worth after 30 years? ›
How to get the most value from your savings bonds
| Face Value | Purchase Amount | 30-Year Value (Purchased May 1990) |
|---|
| $50 Bond | $100 | $207.36 |
| $100 Bond | $200 | $414.72 |
| $500 Bond | $400 | $1,036.80 |
| $1,000 Bond | $800 | $2,073.60 |
May 7, 2024
You can skip paying taxes on interest earned with Series EE and Series I savings bonds if you're using the money to pay for qualified higher education costs. That includes expenses you pay for yourself, your spouse or a qualified dependent. Only certain qualified higher education costs are covered, including: Tuition.
How long does it take to get money from TreasuryDirect? ›
You just bought a security from the U.S. Treasury. Securities are generally issued to your account within two business days of the purchase date for savings bonds or within one week of the auction date for Bills, Notes, Bonds, FRNs, and TIPS.
How do I sell Series I bonds on TreasuryDirect? ›
The process for selling your I Bonds is quite similar to how you bought your I Bonds. Log in to your TreasuryDirect account, select the bonds you want to cash, and follow the on-screen instructions. The money will be deposited directly into your linked bank account.
When should I cash in Series I savings bonds? ›
You can cash in (redeem) your I bond after 12 months. However, if you cash in the bond in less than 5 years, you lose the last 3 months of interest. For example, if you cash in the bond after 18 months, you get the first 15 months of interest.
Are Series I bonds locked in? ›
The overall, or “composite,” interest rate on an I bond consists of two parts: A fixed rate, set at purchase and locked in for 30 years.
Do EE bonds really double in 20 years? ›
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.
Finally, savings bonds can't be traded or sold between individuals (no secondary market) and must be redeemed through the government itself. By comparison, Treasury bonds, municipal bonds, and corporate bonds are much more liquid; all three types can be traded on a secondary market before maturity.
How much is a $50 Patriot bond worth after 20 years? ›
After 20 years, the Patriot Bond is guaranteed to be worth at least face value. So a $50 Patriot Bond, which was bought for $25, will be worth at least $50 after 20 years. It can continue to accrue interest for as many as 10 more years after that.
What banks cash old savings bonds? ›
Savings bonds can generally be redeemed with the bank where you have a checking account. For example, at Bank of America, customers who have had a checking or savings account open for at least six months can easily cash in their savings bonds.
What documents do I need to cash a savings bond? ›
If you're cashing in a paper savings bond of $1,000 or less, you'll need FS Form 1522 and a copy of your driver's license, passport, state ID or military ID. If the bond amount is more than $1,000, you must have your signature certified by a notary or certifying officer.
When should I cash in my Treasury bonds? ›
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. These days, you can only purchase electronic bonds, but you can still cash in paper bonds.
How do you turn bonds into cash? ›
Here are three basic ways to cash in a savings bond.
- Online With a TreasuryDirect Account. Electronic Series EE and I savings bonds are redeemable online at the U.S. Treasury Department's TreasuryDirect website. ...
- Via Mail With FS Form 1522. ...
- At a Bank or Credit Union.
