Can you cash in I bonds at a bank?
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With a Series I savings bond, you wait to get all the money until you cash in the bond. Electronic I bonds: We pay automatically when the bond matures (if you haven't cashed it before then). Paper I bonds: You must submit the paper bond to cash it. See Cash in (redeem) an EE or I savings bond.
Since January 1, 2012, paper savings bonds are no longer available at banks or other financial institutions. Paper Series I bonds can still be bought with IRS tax refunds, but Series EE bonds are available only in electronic form.
When you cash your bonds online, the cash generally transfers to your checking or savings account within two business days of the request.
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.
You can cash in an I bond after a year, but if you withdraw sooner than five years, you'll pay a penalty of the last three months' interest. Because your rate changes every six months, it's smart to withdraw when your penalty will be based on a lower rate—and avoid cashing out when you'd be forfeiting a high rate.
The cons of investing in I-bonds
There's actually a limit on how much you can invest in I-bonds per year. The annual maximum in purchases is $10,000 worth of electronic I-bonds, although in some cases, you may be able to purchase an additional $5,000 worth of paper I-bonds using your tax refund.
Interest on I bonds is exempt from state and local taxes but taxed at the federal level at ordinary income-tax rates.
Individuals, organizations, fiduciaries, and corporate investors may buy Treasury securities through a bank, broker, or dealer. With a bank, broker, or dealer, you may bid for Treasury marketable securities non-competitively or competitively, but not both, for the same auction.
That said, there is a $10,000 limit each year for purchasing them. There are several ways around this limit, though, including using your tax refund, having your spouse purchase bonds as well and using a separate legal entity like a trust.
Can a bank refuse to cash a savings bond?
Financial institutions now have the option to not cash savings bonds for both non-customers or new customers. Our Secret Service partners recommend that a customer be established for 12 months before cashing bonds at a financial institution.
Wells Fargo and Truist are two banks that will do this, provided that the bonds total less than $1,000 and you bring proper documentation. I cashed several bonds at Wells Fargo recently, where I am not an account holder, and I needed two forms of ID.
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.
Chase will cash U.S. savings bonds for customers who have banked with Chase for more than a year. But there are limits on how much in savings bonds can be cashed and how much money you can get on the spot.
| 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 |
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.
Redeeming I bonds after one year
By cashing in during the one-to-five year window, you'll forfeit the last three months' worth of interest the bond earned. This can be a rather costly penalty in some cases. For example, let's say you bought $10,000 worth of I bonds three years ago.
| Your I Bond Purchase Month | Fixed Rate for the Life of Your Bond | Your Next 6-Month I Bond Rate* |
|---|---|---|
| May 2023–Oct 2023 | 0.90% | 3.86% |
| Nov 2022–Apr 2023 | 0.40% | 3.35% |
| May 2022–Oct 2022 | 0.00% | 2.94% |
| Nov 2021–Apr 2022 | 0.00% | 2.94% |
Some experts predict the new rate could drop to around 4.27% based on inflation and other factors. But there's still a chance to lock in six months of the 5.27% yearly rate for new I bonds before May 1, assuming you haven't exceeded the purchase limit for 2024.
If the fixed rate is higher, do not redeem. The fixed rate rose to 0.4% in November 2022 so any I bond purchased after that date should be held. Likewise, you may want to hold on to I bonds issued between May and October 2023. Those I bonds have a fixed rate of 0.9%, which is the highest fixed rate in 16 years.
Are I bonds better than CDS?
If you're investing for the long term, a U.S. savings bond is a good choice. The Series I savings bond has a variable rate that can give the investor the benefit of future interest rate increases. If you're saving for the short term, a CD offers greater flexibility than a savings bond.
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.
If a financial institution pays the bond, you get a 1099-INT from that financial institution either soon after you cash your bond or by January 31 of the following year. If your bonds are in your TreasuryDirect account, your 1099-INT is available in your account by January 31 of the following year.
I cashed some Series E, Series EE, and Series I savings bonds. How do I report the interest? In general, you must report the interest in income in the taxable year in which you redeemed the bonds to the extent you did not include the interest in income in a prior taxable year.
If you cash a paper savings bond by mailing it to Treasury Retail Securities Services, we mail you a 1099 by January 31 of the following year. (You can call us for a duplicate statement, if needed, beginning February 15.)
