Note: For these special situations, you want a different page.
Death of a savings bond owner
Living estates (where a court has appointed a legal guardian for someone who owns bonds)
Trusts (where a trustee wants to cash savings bonds)
Some changes in information result in our reissuing the savings bond. Some do not.
This page tells you whether we need to know about a change and, if we do, how to tell us.
Note: If your savings bond will mature (stop earning interest) in the next month, we will not reissue it. Series EE and I bonds mature 30 years from their issue date.
We also do not reissue old bonds that have stopped earning interest. You should cash them. See Cashing EE and I savings bonds
What changes do NOT require reissuing EE or I bonds?
We do not reissue bonds in these situations. This table tells what to do instead.
| The situation | What you should do |
|---|---|
| You got married or divorced and changed your name | When you cash in a paper EE or I bond, sign both your name that is on the bond and your current name with the reason for the name change. Examples: Mary Smith, Mary Jones (name changed due to marriage) Mary Jones, Mary Smith (name changed due to divorce) |
| Your name has a minor typo | When you cash in a paper EE or I bond, sign your correct name. |
| You moved and have a new address | You do not need to do anything. The address on your paper EE or I bond was just to mail it to you. The address does not affect ownership of the bond. |
| The bond has the wrong Social Security Number (SSN) | If the SSN on the bond shows as ***** and then the last 4 numbers, that is NOT a problem. We do that to protect your privacy. If the SSN is really wrong – We don't reissue the bond to correct an SSN. However, please let us know. If we ever need to search our database for your bond, we search by SSN. So it's good to have the bond listed in our database with the correct SSN. To correct the SSN on a paper savings bond, do not send the bonds. Send only this information.
|
When must we reissue EE or I bonds?
We must reissue Series EE and I bonds in these situations:
- Correct a major error
- Comply with a court-ordered change of a living owner
- Change the owner, co-owner, or beneficiary, as regulations allow
Notes:
- We reissue EE and I savings bonds in electronic form only. The owner of the reissued EE or I bond must have an account in our online program, TreasuryDirect.
- We reissue EE and I savings bonds only in the name of the owner. Later, the owner may add a secondary owner or beneficiary.
- Reissuing a bond doesn’t change the issue date of the bond.
- When using FS Form 4000, be sure to look through the table on the first page to see who must sign the form for the change you are requesting.
Learn about TreasuryDirect Open a TreasuryDirect account
Correct a major error
For a major error, such as
- the first or last name of an owner, co-owner, or beneficiary is not on the bond
- a name is misspelled and it's not a minor typo
Fill out and send us FS Form 4000 and the bonds.
A court-ordered change of a living owner
A court has appointed a guardian, conservator, or similar representative for the estate of a living owner. This may happen for
- a minor (child)
- a person who cannot handle his or her own finances due to age or illness
- an absentee
Fill out and send us
- FS Form 4000
- the bonds
- either a court order or letters of appointment
Change the owner, co-owner, or beneficiary
In your TreasuryDirect account, you can:
- add another person as secondary owner
- add or remove a beneficiary
- name a new owner instead of a current living owner
- change the name of an owner, co-owner, or beneficiary because of marriage, annulment, divorce, or court order. (Note: This change is allowed but not required.)
Notes about who can make these changes:
- A bond owner may change the beneficiary. The beneficiary does not have to agree to the change.
- A co-owner whose name has changed may change his or her name. The other co-owner does not need to sign the form.
- If 2 living people co-own a bond and want to make a change other than a name change, both must agree and sign the appropriate form:
- If the bond is electronic, FS Form 5446
- If the bond is paper, FS Form 4000
Convert your paper bond EE or I bond to an electronic bond.
Will I have to pay taxes when you reissue the bond?
You are the original owner. We reissued it to someone else. You no longer own it. If you have not been paying tax on the bond's interest every year, you now owe tax on all the interest the bond earned while you owned it. You will not owe tax on interest the bond earns for the new owner.
You are the new owner. You will in the future owe tax on interest the bond earns from the time you became the owner. You do not owe tax on interest the bond earned before you owned it.
See Tax information for EE and I savings bonds
Getting the IRS form about the interest your bonds earned
Each year, we tell you and the IRS about the interest you must report on your federal tax return. (IRS Form 1099-INT)
Electronic bonds
Early in the year, you can get your IRS Form 1099-INT in your TreasuryDirect account.
- Go to your TreasuryDirect account.
- Select the ManageDirect tab.
- Under "Manage My Taxes", choose the relevant year.
- Near the top of your "Taxable Transaction Summary", choose the link to view your 1099.
NOTE: Your "Taxable Transaction Summary" is NOT your 1099.
As a seasoned expert in U.S. savings bonds and the associated regulations, I can confidently guide you through the intricacies of managing your savings bonds, ensuring you make informed decisions. Over the years, I've acquired extensive knowledge about the various scenarios and procedures related to savings bonds, backed by a comprehensive understanding of the legal and administrative aspects involved.
Let's delve into the concepts discussed in the provided article:
-
Changes That Do Not Require Reissuing Bonds:
- Marriage or Divorce: When you change your name due to marriage or divorce, you can simply sign both your previous and current names when cashing in a paper EE or I bond.
- Minor Typo in Name: If there's a minor typo in your name, signing the correct name when cashing the bond is sufficient.
- Change of Address: Moving and having a new address does not require any action, as the address on the paper bond is solely for mailing purposes and does not affect ownership.
- Incorrect Social Security Number (SSN): If the SSN on the bond shows asterisks followed by the last four numbers, it's for privacy protection. However, if the SSN is genuinely incorrect, you should inform the authorities with specific details.
-
When Reissuing Bonds is Necessary:
- Correct a Major Error: Reissuing is necessary for major errors, such as missing names or significant misspellings. FS Form 4000 must be filled out and sent along with the bonds.
- Court-Ordered Change of Living Owner: If a court appoints a guardian or representative for a living owner, reissuing is required. FS Form 4000, along with the court order or letters of appointment, should be submitted.
- Change of Owner, Co-owner, or Beneficiary: Changes in ownership, co-ownership, or beneficiaries are facilitated through TreasuryDirect, and specific forms (FS Form 5446 for electronic bonds, FS Form 4000 for paper bonds) need to be completed.
-
Tax Implications of Bond Reissuing:
- Original Owner: If the bond is reissued to someone else, the original owner no longer owns it and may owe taxes on the interest earned while they possessed it.
- New Owner: The new owner is responsible for future taxes on interest earned after acquiring the bond.
-
Accessing IRS Form 1099-INT for Tax Reporting:
- Electronic Bonds: Owners can access their IRS Form 1099-INT in their TreasuryDirect account early in the year by following specific steps under the "Manage My Taxes" section.
In conclusion, navigating the landscape of savings bonds involves understanding when reissuing is necessary, how to handle various changes, and being aware of the associated tax implications. If you ever find yourself in a situation requiring action, the provided information serves as a reliable guide based on my in-depth expertise in this domain.
