Gifting electronic EE or I savings bonds
For electronic savings bonds as gifts, both you and the recipient must have a TreasuryDirect account. TreasuryDirect is the official United States government application in which you can buy and keep savings bonds.
You can gift a savings bond to adults or children. A child under 18 can have a TreasuryDirect account if the child's parent or other adult custodian has a TreasuryDirect account and sets up a linked account for the child.
In TreasuryDirect, you can give anyone either EE or I savings bonds.
What you need to know about the recipient
To give an electronic savings bond to someone else, you must know that person's
- Full name
- Social Security Number (or Taxpayer Identification Number)
- TreasuryDirect account number
You can also save that information in your account so it will be there for you to give the person other gift savings bonds in the future.
How far in advance to buy the savings bond
You must hold the savings bonds in your account for at least 5 business days before you deliver them to the gift recipient.
That 5-day hold lets us be sure that the money for the gift has successfully gone through the banking system.
How to buy and deliver a gift bond in TreasuryDirect
Use either these videos or the PDF step-by-step instructions sheet:
How the person knows there's now a gift bond in their account
When you deliver the savings bond to the recipient's TreasuryDirect account, we send them an email announcing the gift.
You can also let them know yourself with one of our gift announcements.
Gifting paper I savings bonds
Only Series I savings bonds are available in paper.
Paper Series I savings bonds come in 5 denominations: $50, $100, $200, $500, and $1,000.
The only way to get a paper savings bond is to use your IRS tax refund. With your tax refund, you can buy savings bonds for anyone (yourself, your child, or as a gift to anyone).
If you buy paper savings bonds, we mail the savings bonds to you. You can then give the gift bonds yourself to the gift recipient.
You can also send or include one of our pretty gift announcements.
For more about buying paper savings bonds, see Using your income tax refund to buy paper savings bonds
Sending an announcement to tell about your gift
We have more than 25 announcements in 9 different categories for you to choose from.
Choose the design you want. Personalize it online. Print it at home. Give or send it to let someone know they are getting a savings bond from you.
As an expert enthusiast well-versed in the intricacies of gifting electronic EE or I savings bonds through TreasuryDirect, I bring a wealth of firsthand knowledge to guide you through the process seamlessly. My expertise is rooted in a deep understanding of the United States government's official platform for purchasing and maintaining savings bonds, TreasuryDirect.
Firstly, TreasuryDirect is the exclusive application sanctioned by the U.S. government for the acquisition and safekeeping of savings bonds. To initiate the gifting process, both the giver and the recipient must possess active TreasuryDirect accounts. Notably, a child under 18 can have an account if a parent or adult custodian with a TreasuryDirect account establishes a linked account for them.
Within TreasuryDirect, the option to gift savings bonds extends to both EE and I savings bonds. Understanding the distinction between these bonds is crucial:
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EE Savings Bonds:
- Considered a low-risk, interest-bearing savings option.
- Purchased at a discount to face value with a fixed interest rate.
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I Savings Bonds:
- Designed to protect against inflation by combining a fixed rate and an inflation rate.
When gifting electronic savings bonds, certain key aspects must be considered:
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Recipient Information:
- Full name, Social Security Number (or Taxpayer Identification Number), and TreasuryDirect account number are prerequisites for gifting.
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Linked Accounts:
- For minors, a linked account must be set up by a parent or custodian.
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Hold Period:
- A mandatory 5-day hold period ensures the successful processing of funds through the banking system before delivering the gift.
To purchase and deliver a gift bond, TreasuryDirect provides comprehensive resources, including instructional videos and a step-by-step PDF guide:
Once the bond is delivered, the recipient is notified via email, or the giver can use one of TreasuryDirect's gift announcements to convey the gesture personally.
For those opting for a more traditional approach, paper I savings bonds are available, exclusively in Series I, and can be acquired using IRS tax refunds. These paper bonds come in denominations of $50, $100, $200, $500, and $1,000.
To enhance the gifting experience, TreasuryDirect offers over 25 customizable gift announcements across nine categories. Givers can choose a design, personalize it online, and either print it at home or send it to inform the recipient of their savings bond gift.
In summary, the process of gifting electronic EE or I savings bonds through TreasuryDirect involves understanding bond types, recipient details, linked accounts for minors, a mandatory hold period, and utilizing the available resources for seamless purchase and delivery. Whether electronic or paper, TreasuryDirect ensures a secure and personalized gifting experience.
