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? ›
Log into your primary TreasuryDirect® account. Click on the ManageDirect tab at the top of the page. Click "Redeem securities" under the Manage My Securities heading. On the Redemption page, choose the radio button beside Payroll Zero-Percent C of I and click "Submit".
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 long does it take to get money from HH bonds? ›
HH bonds earn interest every 6 months. We deposit that interest directly to your bank account. That means the face value of the HH bond does not change.
How much is a $100 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 |
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.
What happens to hh bonds after 20 years? ›
The HH bond stops earning interest. (This happens 20 years after issue.) The HH bond is reissued to show a change in ownership that is a taxable event.
To tell us to cash your HH bond:
- Get FS Form 1522.
- Fill it out.
- Get your signature certified, if necessary. (If the value of the bond(s) you are cashing is more than $1,000, you will need to have your signature certified. ...
- Send the bonds, the filled-out and signed FS Form 1522, and any supporting documents to:
If you cash a paper savings bond at a local bank, that bank is responsible for giving you a 1099. 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.)
Will banks cash Treasury bonds? ›
Banks and credit unions can redeem savings bonds over the counter.
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? ›
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.
