Dear Dr. Don,
My kids are fortunate to have grandparents that bought them savings bonds at various milestones in their lives. My question is: Do savings bonds continue to pay the same rate of interest that they did during their maturation years, or does the interest change once the bond matures? Thank you in advance for your suggestions and guidance.
— Richard Redeem
Dear Richard,
Savings bonds stop paying interest when they reach their final maturity. Older savings bonds had an original maturity and then an extended maturity period. The section on EE/E bonds’ rates and terms on the TreasuryDirect website explains the maturities and interest rates for Series EE/E savings bonds. Series I bonds mature 30 years after their issue date.
I’d suggest inputting the children’s savings bond portfolios into TreasuryDirect’s Savings Bond Wizard. The Wizard will tell you if the bond has matured, what it is worth, how much of that value is interest income and what the bond’s yield was over its maturity. If the savings bond hasn’t matured, the Wizard also will tell you its current yield.
If the savings bond owner has deferred payment of the federal income tax due on the interest earnings, it is due in the tax year that the savings bond matures. If their grandparents bought the bonds for them and the bonds are registered in the children’s names, they won’t qualify for the educational tax exclusion for qualified higher education expenses.
Get more news, money-saving tips and expert advice by signing up for a free Bankrate newsletter.
Ask the adviser
To ask a question of Dr. Don, go to the “Ask the Experts” page and select one of these topics: “Financing a home,” “Saving & Investing” or “Money.” Read more Dr. Don columns for additional personal finance advice.
Bankrate’s content, including the guidance of its advice-and-expert columns and this website, is intended only to assist you with financial decisions. The content is broad in scope and does not consider your personal financial situation. Bankrate recommends that you seek the advice of advisers who are fully aware of your individual circumstances before making any final decisions or implementing any financial strategy. Please remember that your use of this website is governed by Bankrate’s Terms of Use.
