Series I bonds and EE bonds are popular U.S. savings bonds that offer a safe way to save. Choosing between the two can be difficult. The best place to start is to gain an understanding of the terms of each bond and then compare the benefits and drawbacks of each.
Both bonds are solid investments that have minimal risk and virtually guarantee a return. You can’t go wrong in this situation. You can only do better.
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I Bonds vs EE Bonds
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I Bonds- Electronic
I Bonds- Paper
EE-Bonds
How to buy
From TreasuryDirect.gov only
Can only be purchased using your income tax refund. Use Form 8888
From TreasuryDirect.gov only
Interest rate
Two rates - a fixed rate and a variable rate
Same
Rate when purchased is locked in for 20 years, It may be adjusted after 20 years
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The fixed rate is set on the date you buy the bond and remains the same for the entire term. The variable rate is adjusted for inflation twice a year
Same
N/A
Earns interest
Earned semi-yearly and added to the principal
Same
Same
Minimum per transaction
Electronic I-bonds: $25 minimum or any amount above that to the penny
Paper I-bonds: $50
Same
Maximum purchase, per social security number
$10,000 per year of electronic bonds
$5,000 of paper bonds Paper bonds can only be purchased using a refund from your tax return
$10,000 per year of electronic bonds. These are not sold as paper bonds
Liquidity/Marketability
Can never be sold on the open market — only redeemed. Can’t be redeemed for the first year, and there’s a penalty (loss of last three months' worth of interest) for redeeming within the first five years
Same
Same
Tax treatment
Subject to federal income tax? Yes Subject to state and local income tax? No
Same
Same
Exclusion from federal income tax
You may not have to pay tax on the earnings if you use the money for qualified higher education expenses and you don't exceed the income limits
Same
Same
How to redeem
Access your TreasuryDirect account, go to ManageDirect and use the link for cashing in securities
At the bank where you have an account or by mail. Fill it out and remit FS Form 1522. If the value of the bond(s) you are cashing is more than $1,000, you must have your signature certified. Send the form and the bonds to the address printed on the Form
Access your TreasuryDirect account, go to ManageDirect and use the link for cashing in securities
I bonds
Benefits
Inflation protection. One of the standout benefits of I bonds is the built-in inflation protection. Because part of the interest rate is adjusted semi-annually for inflation, it can help preserve the purchasing power of your investment.
Can buy more I bonds than EE bonds. You can buy an additional $5,000 in paper bonds with your income tax refund.
Risks
Modest returns in low inflation. In periods of low inflation, the returns can be modest. Since the interest rate of I bonds is partly tied to inflation, low inflation can result in lower yields.
Variable interest rates are a risk you can't discount when you buy an I bond, and it's not like you can just sell the bond when the rate falls. You're locked in for the first year.
EE bonds
Benefits
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.
Stability: EE bonds offer a stable, predictable return, making them an excellent choice for conservative investors.
Risks
Lack of inflation protection: The primary risk associated with EE bonds is the lack of protection against inflation. The fixed interest rate does not adjust for inflation, meaning that if inflation rises significantly, it can erode the purchasing power of the bond's return.
Limited yield potential: EE bonds are a secure and low-risk investment, but they also come with lower returns than riskier investments such as stocks or mutual funds. Therefore, they may not be the best choice for those seeking higher returns and willing to accept higher risk.
These two investments are closely related
I bonds offer an inflation-protected return, ensuring your savings keep pace with rising costs. EE bonds, on the other hand, provide a fixed-interest rate for the life of the bond, offering a predictable return.
Tax advantages. Both I bonds and EE bonds offer tax advantages, including federal tax deferral until the bond is redeemed or reaches maturity, and exemption from state and local taxes. If used for educational expenses, they may be free from federal tax as well.
Safety: As a product of the U.S. Treasury, I and EE bonds come with a high degree of safety. They are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, which significantly lowers the risk of default.
Risks of both I bonds and EE bonds:
Early redemption penalties: While you can cash in I and EE bonds after one year, if you do so within the first five years, you'll lose the last three months' interest. This penalty can reduce your returns if you need to access your money early.
Limit on purchases: There's a limit on how much you can invest in I bonds and EE bonds each year.
Current interest rates
Interest rates for EE and I bonds reset every May and November. The last reset was on November 1, 2023.
For I bonds issued from November 1, 2023 through April 30, 2024, the current rate of interest is 5.27%. This includes a fixed rate of 1.30%. Although the new rates are announced in May and November, the date when the rate changes for your bond is every 6 months from the issue date of your bond.
EE bonds issued from November 1, 2023 through April 30, 2024 bear an interest rate of 2.70%. They will earn that interest rate for the first 20 years you hold the bond and may be adjusted after 20 years.
Bottom line
I bonds, with their inflation-adjusted return, safeguard the investor's purchasing power during periods of high inflation. On the other hand, EE Bonds offer predictable returns with a fixed-interest rate and a guaranteed doubling of value if held for 20 years. Both share similar tax considerations, providing federal tax deferral and state and local tax exemption.
The fundamental difference between them is the variable inflation interest rate offered by I bonds and the guaranteed 20 year doubling for EE bonds. I bond investors enjoy great flexibility. If inflation remains high, they can retain their bonds and profit. If inflation plummets, they can swap their securities for higher-paying conventional notes. Meanwhile, those who own EE bonds are stuck.
While I bonds can offer better protection in inflationary times, EE bonds offer stability even in volatile market conditions. Their relevance in your portfolio varies with market conditions and personal investment goals.
Donna joined Kiplinger as a personal finance writer in 2023. She spent more than a decade as the contributing editor of J.K.Lasser's Your Income Tax Guide and edited state specific legal treatises at ALM Media. She has shared her expertise as a guest on Bloomberg, CNN, Fox, NPR, CNBC and many other media outlets around the nation.
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