I bond purchase limits are based on a person's Social Security number. So a married couple can buy up to $30,000 in I bonds annually. Each spouse can buy $10,000 in electronic I bonds and $5,000 in paper I bonds, assuming their federal tax refund is large enough.
As mentioned, anyone with a Social Security number can purchase I bonds. This means that for a married couple, the annual limit is effectively raised to $20,000 since each spouse can buy $10,000 worth of bonds.
Normally, you're limited to purchasing $10,000 per person on electronic Series I bonds per year. However, the government allows those with a federal tax refund to invest up to $5,000 of that refund into paper I bonds. So most investors think their annual investment tops out at $15,000 – one of the key I bond myths.
November 1, 2024. Series EE savings bonds issued November 2024 through April 2025 will earn an annual fixed rate of 2.60% and Series I savings bonds will earn a composite rate of 3.11%, a portion of which is indexed to inflation every six months. The EE bond fixed rate applies to a bond's 20-year original maturity.
The 4.28% composite rate for I bonds issued from May 2024 through October 2024 applies for the first six months after the issue date. The composite rate combines a 1.30% fixed rate of return with the 2.96% annualized rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U).
Cons of I Bonds
This cap makes I Bonds unsuitable for those looking to invest larger sums. Early withdrawal penalty: If you cash in your I Bonds before five years have passed, you lose the last three months of earned interest. This penalty may impact liquidity for those who need their funds sooner.
Question: Can you determine what the value of a Series I bond will be in future years? inflation rate can vary. You can count on a Series I bond to hold its value; that is, the bond's redemption value will not decline.
There are a number of ways around this limit, though, including using your tax refund, having your spouse purchase bonds as well and using a separate legal entity like a trust. For help using I Bonds as part of your strategy, consider working with a financial advisor.
You can buy up to $10,000 in electronic I bonds per person in a calendar year, with an online account at TreasuryDirect.gov. Plus, you can buy up to $5,000 more in paper bonds per tax return, using your federal income tax refund. (A couple filing a joint return can buy up to $25,000 per year.)
Upon the death of the owner, the security becomes the property of the surviving beneficiary, despite any attempted testamentary disposition or any applicable local law to the contrary. (v) If the beneficiary does not survive the owner, the security belongs to the estate of the owner.
Treasury bills function more like cash in your portfolio and can be a safe harbor during turbulent economic times. Treasury bonds can provide a dependable stream of income, but can suffer a loss of value on secondary markets if interest rates go up.
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.
The limit is per person, so if you're married then each spouse is allowed to purchase $10,000 in I bonds (plus the paper bonds if they have a tax return). You can also purchase up to $10,000 in I Bonds for your children, but they must be used for the child, possibly as a college savings tool.
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.
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.
Unlike I-bonds, TIPS are marketable securities and can be resold on the secondary market before maturity. When the TIPS matures, if the principal is higher than the original amount, you get the higher amount. If the principal is equal to or lower than the original amount, you get the higher original amount.
If you want to keep all your good interest and get the most out of your I Bonds you should cash out: after earning 3 months of lower interest and. just after the 1st of the month.
The current I-bond rate, valid for bonds issued November 1, 2024 through April 30, 2025, is 3.11%. That includes a fixed rate of 1.20%. To put that in context, the best high-yield savings accounts and the best CD rates are giving returns over 5%. However, rate cuts have brought CD rates down from their high in 2024.
Use the Education Exclusion
With that in mind, you have one option for avoiding taxes on savings bonds: the education exclusion. 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.
Bottom line. I bonds, with their inflation-adjusted return, safeguard the investor's purchasing power during periods of high inflation. On the other hand, EE Bonds offer predictable returns with a fixed-interest rate and a guaranteed doubling of value if held for 20 years.
I-bonds are also attractive because investors bear almost no risk of losing their principal. The composite rate can never be less than 0%, even during deflationary periods when the inflation rate is negative.
I bonds have earned their reputation as an inflation-fighting tool for retirees. As of May 2024, I bonds are returning 4.28%, which is lower than the same period in 2023 but still well ahead of the inflation rate of 3.5%. The previous I bond rate stood at 5.27%, set in November 2023.