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. Finding the right solution(s) for you can increase the amount of “free money” you're able to receive on these nearly risk-free investments.
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.
Buying savings bonds with your tax refund is simple and easy
The instructions explain what you need to do. In any single calendar year, you can purchase up to $5,000 of I bonds under this program. If you purchase bonds with your tax refund, the amount you request must be divisible by $50.
You can buy I bonds in electronic form, at face value, after you open a TreasuryDirect® account. Purchase prices start at $25, and you can buy in any amount above that up to $10,000 per person, per calendar year. You also can buy an I bond in paper form, through the Tax Time Purchase Program.
Is there a maximum amount I can buy? In a calendar year, one Social Security Number or one Employer Identification Number may buy: up to $10,000 in electronic I bonds, and. up to $5,000 in paper I bonds (with your tax refund)
“With a nest egg of $100,000, that would only cover two years of expenses without considering any additional income sources like Social Security,” Ross explained. “So, while it's not impossible, it would likely require a very frugal lifestyle and additional income streams to be comfortable.”
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: Rates are variable, there's a lockup period and early withdrawal penalty, and there's a limit to how much you can invest. Only taxable accounts are allowed to invest in I bonds (i.e., no IRAs or 401(k) plans).
The interest rates for I bonds, as they're commonly called, are on the rise again. The Department of the Treasury announced Tuesday that the new rate for I bonds issued between November 2023 and April 2024 is 5.27%. The previous annualized rate for bonds purchased over the last six months was 4.30%.
Use Your Tax Refund
Although each individual can only purchase $10,000 in I bonds each calendar year, there's a loophole: Those who use their federal income tax refunds can buy an additional $5,000, bringing the total to $15,000.
November 1, 2023. Series EE savings bonds issued November 2023 through April 2024 will earn an annual fixed rate of 2.70% and Series I savings bonds will earn a composite rate of 5.27%, a portion of which is indexed to inflation every six months.
Yes, I bonds are subject to taxation. But they provide certain tax benefits that distinguish them from other investments and can result in lower tax payments. The original amount you invested in the bond isn't taxed, but the interest earned is.
If you are a longer-term investor looking for ultimate safety and protection from inflation, you are going to want to buy U.S. Series I Savings Bonds in 2024, up to the $10,000 per person limit and possibly more.
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. That is in addition to the amount you can spend on buying savings bonds for a child or as gifts.
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.
Another advantage is that TIPS make regular, semiannual interest payments, whereas I Bond investors only receive their accrued income when they sell. That makes TIPS preferable to I Bonds for those seeking current income.
The combined rate changes every 6 months. It can go up or down. I bonds protect you from inflation because when inflation increases, the combined rate increases.
Key Takeaways. The U.S. Treasury announced this week that I bonds purchased between November 2023 and May 2024 will earn 5.27% for the first six months. If you already own I bonds, however, your next six-month rate will be considerably lower, since every I bond's rate calculation is specific to its issue date.
Further, I-bonds must be held for at least a year, so you won't be able to cash them out before a year is up if the rate plunges due to falling inflation. In fact, you'll lose the last three months of interest if you redeem them before five years are up.
While I bonds can offer better protection in inflationary times, EE bonds offer stability even in volatile market conditions. Their relevance in your portfolio varies with market conditions and personal investment goals.
Unfortunately, you can't purchase I Bonds in your individual retirement account (IRA) or in any other tax-advantaged account. You'll need to use any available cash or your tax refund to purchase I Bonds. Remember that the balance of your I Bond allocation will sit in your TreasuryDirect account.
Key points. Series I savings bonds are often considered a hedge against inflation. The current composite rate for I bonds is 5.27%. You can buy up to $10,000 in electronic I bonds and $5,000 in paper I bonds annually.
But you do not have to pay taxes at the state and local levels. You can report the interest each year you earn it or when you cash the bond. You will report it on Schedule B of your 1040. You can avoid these taxes by using the money for qualified higher education expenses.