Are Treasury I bonds tax-exempt?
The interest earned by purchasing and holding savings bonds is subject to federal tax at the time the bonds are redeemed. However, interest earned on savings bonds is not taxable at the state or local level.
Bonds typically pay a fixed amount of interest (usually paid twice per year). Interest from corporate bonds and U.S. Treasury bonds interest is typically taxable at the federal level. U.S. Treasuries are exempt from state and local income taxes.
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.
The interest on your I bond falls on the same line as other interest income whether you choose to report it every year or all at once at the end of your ownership. Interest the bond earns is reported on a 1099-INT after the bond is cashed or reissued.
Income from bonds issued by state, city, and local governments (municipal bonds, or munis) is generally free from federal taxes.
The interest earned by purchasing and holding savings bonds is subject to federal tax at the time the bonds are redeemed. However, interest earned on savings bonds is not taxable at the state or local level.
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.
Cons of Buying I Bonds
I bonds are meant for longer-term investors. If you don't hold on to your I bond for a full year, you will not receive any interest. You must create an account at TreasuryDirect to buy I bonds; they cannot be purchased through your custodian, online investment account, or local bank.
2024 is 'a good time to hold bonds'
Investment advisers say now is a fine time for bonds. They are a good investment in 2024, experts say, for the same reasons they felt like a bad investment in 2022.
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.
Do you pay state taxes on i-bonds?
I bonds also have important tax advantages for owners. For example, interest earned on I bonds is exempt from state and local taxation. Also, owners can defer federal income tax on the accrued interest for up to 30 years. Unfortunately, though, the federal tax rules aren't always straightforward.
Both I Bonds and EE Bonds offer certain tax benefits. The interest earned on these bonds is subject to federal income tax but exempt from state and local taxes. Additionally, if the proceeds from either bond type are used to pay for qualified higher education expenses, the interest may be tax-free at the federal level.
Owners can wait to pay the taxes when they cash in the bond, when the bond matures, or when they relinquish the bond to another owner. Alternatively, they may pay the taxes yearly as interest accrues. 1 Most owners choose to defer the taxes until they redeem the bond.
Using the money for higher education may keep you from paying federal income tax on your savings bond interest.
Interest from munis is generally exempt from federal taxes, and if you live in the state where the bond was issued, the interest may also be exempt from state taxes. (However, not all municipal bonds qualify for these tax benefits, so be sure to check with your investment advisor before buying.)
Key Takeaways
Interest from Treasury bills (T-bills) is subject to federal income taxes but not state or local taxes. The interest income received in a year is recorded on Form 1099-INT. Investors can opt to have up to 50% of their Treasury bills' interest earnings automatically withheld.
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.
Tax-Exempt Interest. Interest on a bond that is used to finance government operations generally is not taxable if the bond is issued by a state, the District of Columbia, a U.S. possession, or any of their political subdivisions.
- Investing in a tax-deferred account such as a traditional individual retirement account or a 401(k).
- Stashing money in a tax-exempt account such as a Roth 401(k) or a Roth IRA.
TreasuryDirect requires Treasury marketable securities be held for 45 days following original issue before they may be transferred. 4-Week Bills bought at original issue in TreasuryDirect may not be transferred at all because the term of the security is less than 45 days.
What interest income is not taxable?
The most common sources of tax-exempt interest come from municipal bonds or income-producing assets inside of Roth retirement accounts.
Timing the Sale of Treasury Bonds
If you sell a bond for more than its purchase price before it matures, you may incur capital gains taxes. Long-term capital gains, on assets held for more than a year, are taxed at a lower rate than short-term gains.
Boxenbaum, chief financial planner and investment retirement advisor at Statewide Financial Group. “With I bonds, your principal is protected and safe. However, if you cash the bond out before five years, then you will lose up to the last three months of accrued interest.
Unlike I-bonds, TIPS are marketable securities and can be resold on the secondary market before maturity. When the TIPS matures, if the principal is higher than the original amount, you get the higher amount. If the principal is equal to or lower than the original amount, you get the higher original amount.
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. See Cash in (redeem) an EE or I savings bond.
