Buying I Bonds
- What is an I Bond?
- Who may own an I Bond?
- What do I Bonds cost?
- How much can I buy?
- Where can I buy I Bonds?
- Who owns the bond and who can cash it?
On this page:
What is an I Bond?
An I Savings Bond is a security that earns interest for up to 30 years based on both a fixed rate and a rate that is adjusted twice a year for inflation.
Who may own an I Bond?
Individuals | Yes, if you have a Social Security Number and meet any one of these three conditions:
To buy and own an electronic I bond, you must first successfully establish a TreasuryDirect account. |
Trust, estate, corporation, partnership and some other entities | Yes Entity accounts may also establish TreasuryDirect accounts. |
Special note about minors (children; under age 18)
A minor may not open an online account, buy bonds, or conduct other transactions. An adult custodian, such as a parent, may open an online account for the minor that is linked to the adult's online account. The adult can buy securities and conduct other transactions for the minor, and hold the securities in the minor linked accounts.
What do I Bonds cost?
You pay the face value of the bond. For example, you pay $50 for a $50 bond. (The bond increases in value as it earns interest.)
Electronic I Bonds come in any amount to the penny for $25 or more. For example, you could buy a $50.23 bond.
How much can I buy?
Note: In any one year, for any one Social Security Number, you can buy $10,000 per year in electronic I Bonds.
(For paper I bonds bought with your IRS tax refund, you can buy up to $5,000 per year, per Social Security Number).
Where can I buy I Bonds?
Electronic I Bonds | |
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TreasuryDirect |
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IRS Tax Refund |
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Who owns the bond and who can cash it?
When you buy the bond, you must register it. How you register it determines who owns the bond and who can cash it. Registering an I Bond.