Treasury Department announces new Series I bond rate of 4.28% for the next six months (2024)

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Series I bonds will pay 4.28% annual interest from May 1 through October 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced Tuesday.

Linked to inflation, the latest I bond rate is down from the 5.27% annual rate offered since November and slightly lower than the 4.3% from May 2023.

Current I bond owners will also see their rates adjust, depending on when they bought the assets. There's a six-month timeline for rate changes, which begins on the original purchase date.

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Despite falling rates, the I bond's fixed-rate portion is still "very attractive" for long-term investors, said Ken Tumin, founder of DepositAccounts.com, which closely tracks these assets.

How I bond rates work

There are two parts to I bond rates — a variable- and fixed-rate portion — which the Treasury adjusts every May and November. The history of both rates is here.

Based on inflation, the variable rate stays the same for six months after purchase, regardless of when the Treasury announces new rates.

After the first six months, the variable yield changes to the next announced rate. For example, if you bought I bonds in September of any given year, your rates change each year on March 1 and Sept. 1, according to the Treasury.

By comparison, the fixed rate, which is harder to predict, stays the same after purchase. Every May and November, the Treasury can adjust or keep the fixed rate the same.

Still 'great' for long-term investors

Millions of investors piled into I bonds after the annual rate hit a record 9.62% in May 2022, and rates have since fallen amid cooling inflation.

Currently, short-term savers have better options for cash. But I bonds could still appeal to long-term investors, according to Milwaukee-based certified financial planner Jeremy Keil at Keil Financial Partners.

"The only reason you're buying I bonds is for the fixed rate," which is 1.3% for new purchases from May 1 through October, he said.


Long-term savers may also like the tax benefits, said Tumin. There are no state or local levies on interest and you can defer federal taxes until redemption.

"It's great for long-term holdings of your emergency fund," Keil added.

Of course, you need to consider your goals and timeline before purchasing. One of the downsides of I bonds is you can't access the money for at least one year and there's a three-month interest penalty if you tap the funds within five years.

You can buy I bonds online through TreasuryDirect, with a $10,000 per calendar year limit for individuals. However, there are ways to purchase more, including $5,000 in paper I bonds via your federal tax refund.

Frequently asked questions about I bonds

1. What's the interest rate from May 1 to Oct. 31, 2024? 4.28% annually.

2. How long will I receive 4.28%? Six months after purchase.

3. What's the deadline to get 4.28% interest? Bonds must be issued by Oct. 31, 2024. The purchase deadline may be earlier.

4. What are the purchase limits? $10,000 per person every calendar year, plus an extra $5,000 in paper I bonds via your federal tax refund.

5. Will I owe income taxes? You'll have to pay federal income taxes on interest earned, but no state or local tax.

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Treasury Department announces new Series I bond rate of 4.28% for the next six months (2024)

FAQs

Treasury Department announces new Series I bond rate of 4.28% for the next six months? ›

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).

What is the new 6 month I bond rate? ›

The May I Bond composite rate is 4.28% (US Treasury) which is 2.14% earned over 6 months. Breaking News: Official Treasury I Bond Rate announced! The May 2024 I Bond Fixed Rate is 1.30%.

Can I buy $10,000 worth of I bonds every year? ›

Yes, you can purchase up to $10,000 in electronic I bonds each calendar year. You can also buy an additional $5,000 in paper I bonds using your federal tax return.

How long should you hold series I bonds? ›

Can I cash it in before 30 years? You can cash in (redeem) your I bond after 12 months. However, if you cash in the bond in less than 5 years, you lose the last 3 months of interest. For example, if you cash in the bond after 18 months, you get the first 15 months of interest.

How much is a $100 savings bond worth after 30 years? ›

How to get the most value from your savings bonds
Face ValuePurchase Amount30-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

What will the May 2024 I bond rate be? ›

May 1, 2024. Series EE savings bonds issued May 2024 through October 2024 will earn an annual fixed rate of 2.70% and Series I savings bonds will earn a composite rate of 4.28%, 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.

What is the current 6 month Treasury bond rate? ›

Basic Info

6 Month Treasury Rate is at 5.41%, compared to 5.41% the previous market day and 5.38% last year.

How to avoid paying taxes on savings bonds? ›

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. That includes expenses you pay for yourself, your spouse or a qualified dependent. Only certain qualified higher education costs are covered, including: Tuition.

What is the downside of an I bond? ›

I bond cons

The initial rate is only guaranteed for the first six months of ownership. After that, the rate can fall, down to a fixed-rate component which, as of May 2024, stood at 1.3%. One-year lockup.

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.

Do Series I bonds ever lose value? ›

Answer: No. In periods of deflation, the bond's redemption value won't decline. Question: What are some tax advantages of the Series I bond? until redemption, final maturity (30 years after issue date), or other taxable disposition, whichever occurs first.

What day of the month do I bonds pay interest? ›

The interest gets added to the bond's value

I bonds earn interest from the first day of the month you buy them. Twice a year, we add all the interest the bond earned in the previous 6 months to the main (principal) value of the bond. That gives the bond a new value (old value + interest earned).

What is the best time to cash out an I bond? ›

If you want to keep all your good interest and get the most out of your I Bonds you should cash out: after earning 3 months of lower interest and. just after the 1st of the month.

Are bonds or CDs better? ›

Return rates

CDs typically earn higher rates than other types of savings accounts. Bonds may earn higher rates than regular savings accounts but lower returns than stocks.

Do savings bonds double every 7 years? ›

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.

Are savings bonds a good investment for grandchildren? ›

Savings bonds typically earn a lower rate of return than higher-risk investments such as stocks, but they're generally a safe investment. Minors can hold savings bonds in their own names, making them a tried-and-true way for grandparents to introduce grandkids to the concept of investing.

What is the interest rate on a 6 month bond? ›

Compare 6-month fixed-rate bonds
NameInterest rate
OFFER Gatehouse Bank – 6 Month Fixed Term Woodland Saver Gatehouse Bank – 6 Month Fixed Term Woodland Saver5.22% AER fixed for 182 days
ICICI Bank UK – SuperSaver Bond ICICI Bank UK – SuperSaver Bond Additional account needed5.21% AER fixed for 182 days
23 more rows
Apr 26, 2024

How often do 6 month Treasury bonds pay interest? ›

Bonds are long-term securities that mature in 20 or 30 years. Notes are relatively short or medium-term securities that mature in 2, 3, 5, 7, or 10 years. Both bonds and notes pay interest every six months.

How do I buy a 6 month Treasury bond? ›

Go to your TreasuryDirect account. Choose the Buy Direct tab. Follow the prompts to choose the security you want, specify the amount you want to buy, and fill in the information required.

What is the yield on a 52 week treasury bill? ›

BondsYieldDay
US 52W5.130.036%
US 2Y4.800.057%
US 3Y4.570.056%
US 5Y4.400.046%
11 more rows

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