2023 I Bonds Interest in TurboTax, H&R Block, FreeTaxUSA (2024)

FAQs

How do I report I bond interest in TurboTax? ›

You'll have to make up a 1099 form for the tax software. Use the Savings Bond Calculator to calculate the change in redemption value for each bond from the prior December to last December. Track each bond in a spreadsheet. Report the total change as your interest for the year in Box 3 of the made-up 1099-INT.

The 1099-INT tells you how much interest the bond earned.) If a financial institution pays the bond, you get a 1099-INT from that financial institution either soon after you cash your bond or by January 31 of the following year.

Buying I Bonds for Yourself

They can pay federal income tax each year on the interest earned or defer the tax bill to the end. Most people choose the latter. They report the interest income on their Form 1040 for the year the bonds mature (generally, 30 years) or when they're cashed in, whichever comes first.

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In general, you must report the interest in income in the taxable year in which you redeemed the bonds to the extent you did not include the interest in income in a prior taxable year.

Interest on I bonds is exempt from state and local taxes but taxed at the federal level at ordinary income-tax rates.

If you check your bond's value at TreasuryDirect.gov within the first five years of owning it, the amount you'll see will have the three-month penalty subtracted from it. Consequently, when you buy a new bond, interest does not show until the first day of the fourth month following the issue month.

If you invest in TreasuryDirect, your 1099 will be available electronically and you can print the form from your account. 1099 forms are available by January 31 of each tax year.

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.

1) For the i-bond you cashed, you should create a 1099-INT form the US Treasury, and put the interest in box 3. 2) For the Treasury Bills, you "probably" hold those at a brokerage. IF so, you need to get the 1099-INT form that brokerage and either import it, or enter it manually.

Do I need to report Treasury bond interest? ›

Examples of taxable 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.

According to the Treasury Department, it's typical to defer reporting interest until you redeem bonds at maturity. With electronic Series EE bonds, the redemption process is automatic and interest is reported to the IRS. Interest earnings on bonds are reported on IRS Form 1099-INT.

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Under the Federal menu on the left, choose Wages & Income. Under Interest and Dividends, choose Start/Revisit next to Interest on 1099-INT. If the interest income is already listed, choose the trash can icon to the right to delete. Then, click on Add a 1099-INT.