You can cash paper bonds at a bank or through the U.S. Department of the Treasury's TreasuryDirect website. Not all banks offer the service, and many only provide it if you are an account holder, according to a NerdWallet analysis of the 20 largest U.S. banks.
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.
Banks and credit unions can redeem savings bonds over the counter.
Savings bonds are a government-backed, reliable investment that earn interest, reaching full maturity after 30 years. The different types of savings bonds are E/EE, I, and H/HH. Only E/EE and I bonds are still sold, but all types are able to be redeemed through the Federal Reserve.
The interest on EE bonds isn't taxed as it accrues unless the owner elects to have it taxed annually. If an election is made, all previously accrued but untaxed interest is also reported in the election year. In most cases, this election isn't made, so bond holders receive the benefits of tax deferral.
Some banks and credit unions may be able to cash savings bonds, but that service isn't currently available at Capital One.
Another thing to note: Savings bonds don't get a step-up in basis at death the way stocks or other investments do. That means you have to pay tax on the full amount of interest due on the bonds as the inheritor.
5 years: While you technically can cash it in at that 12-month marker, it's better to avoid doing so – and to keep that bond intact for at least 4 more years. Why? Because you'll have to forfeit 3 months of interest if you cash it in within the first 5 years.
There are two primary reasons a bond might be worth less than its listed face value. A savings bond, for example, is sold at a discount to its face value and steadily appreciates in price as the bond approaches its maturity date. Upon maturity, the bond is redeemed for the full face value.
Can I redeem a Federal Savings Bond at a Bank of America financial center? To redeem a bond you must be the owner or co-owner of the bond and you must have an active checking or savings account with Bank of America.
Five-year mark: You won't be penalized for cashing in your bonds after five years. Cashing in at this point could be beneficial if you need funds for a major expense, such as education or a home purchase. 20-year guarantee: Series EE bonds issued after May 2005 have a guaranteed value doubling period of 20 years.
A Social Security Number must be provided. If this is a gift bond purchase, use the owner's name and SSN, if available. If the owner's SSN is not available, use the purchaser's SSN. Use of the purchaser's SSN does not confer rights to the bond or require interest reporting.
For Series EE, Series HH, or Series I bonds, proof of death of a beneficiary is not necessary. We don't return death certificates or other legal evidence. TO CASH BONDS: Series EE, Series E, and Series I bonds can be cashed at most financial institutions.
Savings bonds can generally be redeemed with the bank where you have a checking account. For example, at Bank of America, customers who have had a checking or savings account open for at least six months can easily cash in their savings bonds.
You can redeem a savings bond online, by mail or at a bank or credit union. In most cases, you'll choose the method that works best for the type of bond you have (electronic or paper), and what's most convenient for you.
If they agree to exchange the bond for cash, they are essentially fronting money for a piece of paper that they then have to chase after the government for. Many, like Capital One and USAA, which caters to military families, simply won't cash savings bonds for anyone.
If you cash a paper savings bond at a local bank, that bank is responsible for giving you a 1099. If you cash a paper savings bond by mailing it to Treasury Retail Securities Services, we mail you a 1099 by January 31 of the following year. (You can call us for a duplicate statement, if needed, beginning February 15.)
There is no penalty for holding onto a Series EE savings bond past the 30-year maturity period. Once a Series EE bond reaches its final maturity, it stops earning interest, but there are no penalties associated with holding onto it beyond that point.
Series EE savings bonds are a low-risk way to save money. They earn interest regularly for 30 years (or until you cash them if you do that before 30 years). For EE bonds you buy now, we guarantee that the bond will double in value in 20 years, even if we have to add money at 20 years to make that happen.
Savings bonds earn interest until they reach "maturity," which is generally 20-30 years, depending on the type purchased. If a bond is held past its maturity, the federal government remains responsible for the debt.
TreasuryDirect.gov is the one and only place to buy and redeem U.S. savings bonds and other securities directly from the U.S. Treasury! Your investments are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government.
However, if the owner dies, instead of the bond going into the person's estate, the beneficiary automatically becomes the single or sole owner. The beneficiary must be a person, not an entity. The registration says "POD" standing for "PAYABLE ON DEATH."