Do I pay taxes on I bonds?
More about savings bonds
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.
The rate you'll pay on bond interest is the same rate you pay on your ordinary income, such as wages or income from self-employment. If, for example, you're in the 37% tax bracket, you'll pay a 37% federal income tax rate on your bond interest.
If you invest in TreasuryDirect, your 1099 will be available electronically and you can print the form from your account. 1099 forms are available by January 31 of each tax year.
Municipal Bonds
Most bonds issued by government agencies are tax-exempt. This means interest on these bonds are excluded from gross income for federal tax purposes.
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.
Note: You only get a 1099-INT if you actually got the interest on a savings bond. If you are waiting until your EE or I bond matures (finishes its life) to take the interest on it, you will not get a 1099-INT for that bond until we actually pay you the interest.
Tax on capital gains
If you bought the bond when it was issued at its original issue price and hold it until maturity, you generally will not recognize a capital gain (or loss). As a result, you likely won't incur any capital gains tax.
| 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 |
The most common sources of tax-exempt interest come from municipal bonds or income-producing assets inside of Roth retirement accounts.
How are gains on I bonds taxed?
Interest on I bonds is exempt from state and local taxes but taxed at the federal level at ordinary income-tax rates.
Original Issue Holding Period
4-Week Bills bought at original issue in TreasuryDirect may not be transferred at all because the term of the security is less than 45 days. The mandatory holding period also applies to securities issued through reinvestment which were not fully funded from the maturing security.
Interest income and ordinary dividends (qualified dividends are taxed at capital gains rates) are taxed at the same rate as your ordinary income tax. For example, if your federal income tax rate is 22%, your interest income or dividends will also be taxed at 22%.
Interest income from Treasury securities is subject to federal income tax but exempt from state and local taxes. Income from Treasury bills is paid at maturity and, thus, tax-reportable in the year in which it is received.
Key Takeaways
Interest from Treasury bills (T-bills) is subject to federal income taxes but not state or local taxes. The interest income received in a year is recorded on Form 1099-INT. Investors can opt to have up to 50% of their Treasury bills' interest earnings automatically withheld.
Interest income from Treasury bills, notes and bonds - This interest is subject to federal income tax, but is exempt from all state and local income taxes.
For I bonds issued November 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024. You know the fixed rate of interest that you will get for your bond when you buy the bond. The fixed rate never changes. We announce the fixed rate every May 1 and November 1.
Interest accrues monthly and is compounded semiannually. SERIES I BONDS ISSUED SEPTEMBER 1998 AND THEREAFTER All Series I bonds reach final maturity 30 years from issue. Series I savings bonds earn interest through application of a composite rate.
Answer: I bonds earn interest for up to 30 years.
Reporting the Interest for Taxes
Owners can wait to pay the taxes when they cash in the bond, when the bond matures, or when they relinquish the bond to another owner. Alternatively, they may pay the taxes yearly as interest accrues. 1 Most owners choose to defer the taxes until they redeem the bond.
What happens if you don't report interest income?
If you receive a Form 1099-INT and do not report the interest on your tax return, the IRS will likely send you a CP2000, Underreported Income notice. This IRS notice will propose additional tax, penalties and interest on your interest payments and any other unreported income.
Learn More About Tax Reporting. TreasuryDirect provides you with a detailed listing of all your taxable transactions, as well as an online, printable IRS Form 1099 for each calendar year.
A Roth IRA isn't an investment itself, but a retirement account for tax-free investing. With a Roth IRA, you contribute after-tax dollars to your account, up to the annual limit. For 2023, the limit is $6,500 (up from $6,000 in 2022), plus an additional $1,000 catch-up contribution if you're 50 or older.
Compared with Treasury notes and bills, Treasury bonds usually pay the highest interest rates because investors want more money to put aside for the longer term. For the same reason, their prices, when issued, go up and down more than the others.
EE Bond and I Bond Differences
The interest rate on EE bonds is fixed for at least the first 20 years, while I bonds offer rates that are adjusted twice a year to protect from inflation. EE bonds offer a guaranteed return that doubles your investment if held for 20 years. There is no guaranteed return with I bonds.
