Should You Add Series I Savings Bonds to Your Portfolio?
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Dana Anspach is a Certified Financial Planner and an expert on investing and retirement planning. She is the founder and CEO of Sensible Money, a fee-only financial planning and investment firm.
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Updated on October 20, 2022
Reviewed byGordon Scott
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Fact checked byHans Jasperson
Hans Jasperson has over a decade of experience in public policy research, with an emphasis on workforce development, education, and economic justice. His research has been shared with members of the U.S. Congress, federal agencies, and policymakers in several states.
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In This Article
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In This Article
- Supplement Your Emergency Fund
- How To Buy I Bonds
- TIPS vs. I Bonds
- Tax Treatment of I BondsSee AlsoIntroduction to Bonds: Definition, Importance, Types, Risks, and Valuation | Definepedia3 High-Yield Dividend Stocks Down 15% or More in 2019: Buy on the Dip? | The Motley FoolWage hikes: Can Japan Inc. fix what the BoJ can’t? - Economy Standard | Economy | FinanceWhat is Soverign Gold Bonds – Manjushreesudheendra.com
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Series I savings bonds, or "I bonds" for short, come with guarantees, tax-deferred inflation-adjusted interest, and, after one year, liquidity.
Where else can you get guaranteed tax-deferred interest on a safe and liquid investmentwhile knowing that if interest rates go up, yours will also likely go up? That is what makes I bonds an excellent choice for a safe cash investment.
Key Takeaways
- I bonds are a good cash investment because they're guaranteed and have tax-deferred, inflation-adjusted interest. They are also liquid after one year.
- You can buy up to $15,000 in I bonds per person, per calendar year—that's in electronic and paper I bonds.
- There is a minimum purchase of $25 for I Bonds.
- I bonds accumulate interest, and you can cash them in during retirement to make sure you have safe, guaranteed investments available.
- Interest on I bonds is a combination of a fixed rate and an inflation rate.
I Bonds Can Supplement Your Emergency Fund
I bonds make a great second-tier emergency fund. They're second-tier because you can't sell them within the first 12 months of purchase, so you'd need other liquid funds to rely on while you build up a stash of I bonds.
The most you can buy is $15,000 per person, per year; up to $10,000 in electric I bonds and $5,000 in paper I bonds. You can open an account directly with the Treasury Department through the TreasuryDirect website. There's a $25 minimum for electric bonds and a $50 minimum for paper bonds.
Interest earned on I bonds consists of both a fixed interest rate and an inflation rate. The fixed rate stays the same for the life of the bond, while the inflation rate is set twice a year. Interest is compounded semiannually and is tax-deferred.
When Does an I Bond Change Rates? | |
---|---|
Issue Month | New Rates Take Effect |
January | January 1 and July 1 |
February | February 1 and August 1 |
March | March 1 and September 1 |
April | April 1 and October 1 |
May | May 1 and November 1 |
June | June 1 and December 1 |
July | July 1 and January 1 |
August | August 1 and February 1 |
September | September 1 and March 1 |
October | October 1 and April 1 |
November | November 1 and May 1 |
December | December 1 and June 1 |
How To Buy I Bonds
You can open an account line with TreasuryDirect, link it to your bank account, and transfer money to buy the maximum amount of I bonds each year. The minimum amount to purchase an I bond is only $25. You can purchase paper I bonds directly with your tax refund each year. You can use all or a portion of your tax refund.
Note
Health care premiums and out-of-pocket costs could run you up to $300,000 during retirement. Depending on your age and the number of years until you plan to retire, I bonds could give you safe, guaranteed, inflation-adjusted investments available to cover medical costs in retirement.
TIPS vs. I Bonds
TIPS bonds (Treasury inflation-protected securities) are different from I bonds. Unlike I bonds, the interest on TIPS is not tax-deferred, so this vehicle may be best owned inside tax-deferred accounts like an individual retirement account (IRA) or Roth IRA. Unfortunately, you can't open an IRA account directly at TreasuryDirect, so TIPS in your IRA must be purchased through a brokerage account.
Tax Treatment of I Bonds
The taxable income on Series I bonds can be deferred until the time of redemption. With bonds that have been held for decades, it can add up. If the proceeds are used for higher education expenses, the bond can be excluded from taxable income. Otherwise, the interest you earn on your I bond is subject to federal income taxes; federal estate, gift, andexcise taxes; and any state estate or inheritance taxes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How can I find out how much my bonds are worth?
You can use the TreasuryDirect website to calculate the value of your savings bonds. If you have electronic bonds, simply log into your account and look up any current bonds you own. For paper bonds, you can use the online calculator to enter your bond information and find out what it's currently worth.
How long does it take for a Series I Savings Bond to mature?
An I bond matures for 30 years or until you redeem it, whichever comes first. It will accrue interest as long as it is maturing. You can redeem the bond after you've had it for 12 months. However, if you redeem it before it's five years old, you will pay a penalty worth the last three months of interest.
How do I cash in my savings bonds?
You can cash electronic bonds on the TreasuryDirect website and have the income directly deposited into your checking or savings account. If you have paper bonds, you can take them to your bank to cash or mail them to Treasury Retail Securities Services, along with FS Form 1522.
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Sources
The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
TreasuryDirect. "Buying Series I Savings Bonds."
TreasuryDirect. "Series I Savings Bonds Rates & Terms: Calculating Interest Rates."
Fidelity. "How To Plan for Rising Health Care Costs."
TreasuryDirect. "Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS)."
TreasuryDirect. "Education Planning."
TreasuryDirect. "Tax Considerations for I Bonds."
TreasuryDirect. "Cashing (Redeeming) Series I Savings Bonds."
How To Buy Series I Bonds for a Portfolio
What Is a Series EE Savings Bond?
What Is a Savings Bond Plan?
What Is the Annual Limit on Purchasing Series I Savings Bonds?
U.S. Savings Bonds—A Safe Place to Save Money
Learn How I Bonds Work
Buying U.S. Savings Bonds for Safe Interest Earnings
How To Recession-Proof Your Savings
How To Turn Your Tax Refund Into a Savings Bond
The Benefits and Drawbacks of Certificates of Deposits
Comparing I Bonds to Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities
How To Check or Calculate the Value of a Savings Bond Online
How Do I Redeem My Savings Bonds?
What Are Savings Bonds?
How Long Does It Take for Series EE Bonds To Mature?
Inflation: How It's Measured and Managed
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