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.
This composite rate of 3.11% applied to $10,000 in I bonds, would earn a guaranteed $155.50 in interest over the next six months (not $311, that's because it's an annualized rate) — but you cannot cash in your bond until you've held it for a year. So why even mention the six-month take?
Anyone with a Social Security number can buy up to $10,000 in I bonds per calendar year, though you could buy an additional $5,000 per year with a tax refund of that amount.
In any one calendar year, you may buy up to $10,000 in Series EE electronic savings bonds AND up to $10,000 in Series I electronic savings bonds for yourself as owner of the bonds.
The limit for purchasing I bonds is per person, so a married couple can each put up to $10,000 in the investment annually, or up to $15,000 each if they both also elect to get tax refunds in paper I bonds. Families with kids can also invest up to the annual limit on behalf of each child.
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.
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).
I bonds have important tax advantages for owners. Interest earned on I bonds is exempt from state and local taxation. Also, owners can defer federal income tax on the accrued interest for up to 30 years.
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.
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 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.
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.
Although experts optimistically predicted rates would fall close to 6% by the end of 2024, projections have changed significantly. Fannie Mae now expects average 30-year fixed mortgage rates to hold above 6.5% until early 2025.
The Treasury Department publicly auctions off new issue T-Bills through TreasuryDirect weekly in short maturity lengths of four-week, eight-week, 13-week, 17-week and 26-week; 52-week bills go to auction every four weeks. You can also buy pre-owned T-Bills using a bank, broker or dealer.
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.
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 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.
That said, there is a $10,000 limit each year for purchasing them. There are several 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.
You can hold a bill until it matures or sell it before it matures. In a single auction, a bidder can buy up to $10 million in bills by non-competitive bidding or up to 35% of the initial offering amount by competitive bidding.
Parents, legal guardians and (great) grandparents can invest on behalf of their child or grandchild aged under 16. You can invest from £25 up to £50,000 in total. Premium Bonds don't pay any interest.