How much can one person or entity own in savings bonds?
There is no limit on the total amount that any person or entity can own in savings bonds.
How much can I spend each year on savings bonds?
We count the limits by the Social Security Number of the first person named on the bond or, in the case of an entity, by the Employer Identification Number or Social Security Number.
A given Social Security Number or Employer Identification Number can buy up to these amounts in savings bonds each calendar year:
- $10,000 in electronic EE bonds
- $10,000 in electronic I bonds
- $5,000 in paper I bonds that you can buy when you file federal tax forms
Notes:
- Gift bonds count toward the limit of the recipient, not the giver.
- If you have an individual account and an entity account in TreasuryDirect that use the same Social Security Number, you can purchase up to the limits in each of the 2 accounts.
What about bonds . . .
that I co-own?
If you co-own savings bonds with someone else, only the bonds for which you are the first named owner count toward your limit.
Savings bonds for which you are the second named owner do not count towards your limit. They count towards the limit of the other person – the one who is named first on the bonds.
What about bonds . . .
Each child has their own Social Security Number. Therefore, no matter who buys bonds for the child, the amount of those bonds counts for the child's limit – not the limit of the buyer.
When you open a linked account in TreasuryDirect for a child under 18, the bonds in the child's linked account belong to the child. You do not own them. Therefore, they do not count in your limit.
Each child has the same yearly limit: $10,000 for electronic EE bonds; $10,000 for electronic I bonds; $5,000 for paper I bonds.
What about bonds . . .
I give as gifts?
This is just like the situation with your children. The gift belongs to the person to whom you give the bond. Therefore, the amount counts in that person's limit, not in your limit.
The gift counts for that person's limit in the year in which they get the bond.
While the gift is sitting in your TreasuryDirect account waiting to be delivered, it is in a special "gift box." So, even then, it is not yours and does not count in your limit.
How much can I convert from paper bonds to electronic bonds?
There is no limit on the bonds you can convert. It does not impact your yearly spending limits.
You already own the bonds. Converting them only changes where they live.
FAQs
You can only buy $10,000 worth of I Bonds per person (individual or entity) each calendar year through TreasuryDirect. The purchase limitation for I Bonds isn't affected by purchases of any other Treasury securities.
How much can you buy from TreasuryDirect? ›
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.
How much can I spend on Treasury bills? ›
Bills at a Glance
| Now issued in | Electronic form only |
|---|
| Interest paid | When the bill matures |
| Minimum purchase | $100 |
| In increments of | $100 |
| Maximum purchase | $10 million (non-competitive bid) 35% of offering amount (competitive bid) (See Buying a Treasury marketable security for information on types of bids.) |
5 more rowsIs 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)
Is there a limit to how many Treasury bonds I can buy? ›
You may purchase up to $10,000 of each security type - EE or I Bonds - per person (person is either an individual or an entity) each calendar year.
Can I buy more than $10,000 in I bonds? ›
I Bonds are a virtually risk-free investment, which makes them very popular in times of market uncertainty such as right now and as inflation devalues your cash. That said, there is a $10,000 limit each year for purchasing them.
Can I buy Treasury bonds on my own? ›
To buy, you must have a TreasuryDirect account. In TreasuryDirect, you may open an account and buy Treasury marketable securities for yourself (an individual registration). With an individual registration, you may also link your account to an account for a child under the age of 18.
What is the minimum to buy US Treasury bills? ›
The minimum amount that you can purchase of any given Treasury Bill, Note, Bond, TIPS, or FRNs is $100. Additional amounts must be in multiples of $100. Do I have a choice as to where my Treasury securities are kept? All Treasury securities are issued in "book-entry" form – an entry in a central electronic ledger.
How do you avoid tax on treasury bonds? ›
The Treasury gives you two options:
- Report interest each year and pay taxes on it annually.
- Defer reporting interest until you redeem the bonds or give up ownership of the bond and it's reissued or the bond is no longer earning interest because it's matured.
There is no limit on the total amount that any person or entity can own in savings 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.
What is the difference between a treasury bill and a Treasury bond? ›
Key takeaways. Treasury bills have short-term maturities and pay interest at maturity. Treasury notes have mid-range maturities and pay interest every 6 months. Treasury bonds have long maturities and pay interest every 6 months.
How much is a $100 savings bond worth after 30 years? ›
How to get the most value from your savings bonds
| Face Value | Purchase Amount | 30-Year Value (Purchased May 1990) |
|---|
| $50 Bond | $100 | $207.36 |
| $100 Bond | $200 | $414.72 |
| $500 Bond | $400 | $1,036.80 |
| $1,000 Bond | $800 | $2,073.60 |
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.
What is the downside of an I bond? ›
Key Points. Pros: I bonds come with a high interest rate during inflationary periods, they're low-risk, and they help protect against inflation. Cons: Rates are variable, there's a lockup period and early withdrawal penalty, and there's a limit to how much you can invest.
Should you buy bonds when interest rates are high? ›
Should I only buy bonds when interest rates are high? There are advantages to purchasing bonds after interest rates have risen. Along with generating a larger income stream, such bonds may be subject to less interest rate risk, as there may be a reduced chance of rates moving significantly higher from current levels.
Can I buy more than $10,000 in treasury bills? ›
That said, there is a $10,000 limit each year for purchasing them. 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.
Can I buy $100000 in Treasury bonds? ›
There is no limit on the total amount that any person or entity can own in savings bonds.
How much is a $100 savings bond worth after 20 years? ›
How to get the most value from your savings bonds
| Face Value | Purchase Amount | 20-Year Value (Purchased May 2000) |
|---|
| $50 Bond | $100 | $109.52 |
| $100 Bond | $200 | $219.04 |
| $500 Bond | $400 | $547.60 |
| $1,000 Bond | $800 | $1,095.20 |
