Do EE bonds really double in 20 years?
Yes, the government guarantees that EE bonds sold now will double in value in 20 years. If the bonds don't earn enough interest to double in value, the government will “add money at 20 years to make that happen,” according to TreasuryDirect.
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.
Currently, EE bonds reach full maturity after 30 years, but are guaranteed to double in value in the first 20 years. However, maturity dates for EE bonds used to be less than 30 years.
If you want full value, you should hold the Series EE bonds at least until maturity, and if you want extra, you can hold them until 30 years. But once 30 years have passed, it's a good idea to cash them in because you won't get any extra benefit.
All Series EE Bonds reach final maturity 30 years from issue. All Series EE bonds reach final maturity 30 years from issue. Series EE savings bonds purchased from May 1995 through April 1997 increase in value every six months. The interest rate is compounded semiannually.
There is no penalty if you simply hold onto the bond after five years. There is value in holding onto most bonds. The longer they mature, the more interest bonds earn.
Savings bonds
They are issued in two types, Series EE and Series I. The interest paid on the bonds is typically very low, with EE bonds currently paying around 2.7%. Series EE bonds, however, are guaranteed to double in value after 20 years, effectively returning 3.5% per year if held for exactly 20 years.
You can cash in your bond after one year from buying it and get back the money you paid for it. You will not get all the interest that has built up if you cash in a savings bond before it is five years old. The Series I bond has two interest rates. One is a fixed rate that is set when you buy your bond.
If you hold savings bonds and redeem them with interest earned, that interest is subject to federal income tax and possibly federal gift taxes (highly unlikely as the per-person cap is $10,000 and the gift tax exemption is $17,000).
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.
Are EE bonds ever worth more than face value?
Series EE bonds mature after 20 years. They are sold at half their face value and are worth their full value at maturity. Series I bonds are sold at face value and mature after 30 years.
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.
Banks and credit unions can redeem savings bonds over the counter.
Guaranteed returns. One of the most attractive benefits of EE bonds is the guaranteed return. The U.S. Treasury pledges that these bonds will double in value if held for 20 years, translating to an effective interest rate of about 3.5% per year over that period.
A maturity date is the date on which the principal amount of a note, draft, acceptance bond, or other debt instrument becomes due. It also refers to the termination or due date on which an installment loan must be paid back in full.
The rate on EE bonds issued between Nov. 1, 2023, and April 30, 2024, is 2.70%. They can be held for the full 30 years or sold before then. But if you hold the bond for 20 years, no matter what the rate is, the face value doubles.
We sell Treasury Bonds for a term of either 20 or 30 years. Bonds pay a fixed rate of interest every six months until they mature. You can hold a bond until it matures or sell it before it matures. EE Bonds, I Bonds, and HH Bonds are U.S. savings bonds.
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.
If you moved your EE bond into a TreasuryDirect account, we pay you for the bond as soon as it reaches 30 years and stops earning interest. If you still have a paper EE bond, check the issue date. If that date is more than 30 years ago, it is no longer increasing in value and you may want to cash it.
Paper EE savings bonds
You may be able to cash in paper EE bonds at a bank where you have an account or through TreasuryDirect. Ask your bank about its process for cashing savings bonds. Ask your bank how much it will cash at one time. Determine the identification or other documents you will need.
Will I get a 1099 for cashing in savings bonds?
If you have cashed paper savings bonds, you will receive a 1099-INT in the mail.
If your total interest isn't more than $1500 for the year, and you're not otherwise required to report interest income on Schedule B, report the savings bond interest with your other interest on the "Interest" line of your tax return. For more information, see the Instructions for Schedule B (Form 1040).
It's a good idea to hang on to your bond for as long as possible, ideally until it matures, so you can take full advantage of compound and accrued interest. Here's how that decision might pay off with EE bonds. Let's say you purchased the maximum of $10,000 in EE bonds today, with the current interest rate of 2.10%.
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.
EE bonds earn a fixed rate of interest, but, regardless of the rate, they are guaranteed to double in value if you hold them 20 years. Series I bonds earn a variable rate of interest that is tied to inflation. As inflation occurs, the bonds' values go up.
