Savings bonds mature on a fixed schedule set when you buy them

A savings bond reaches maturity on a specific date printed on the bond itself — usually 20 or 30 years after you purchase it, depending on the type. At maturity, the bond stops earning interest. You can still hold it after that date, but it will not grow in value anymore. The exact maturity date depends on whether you own a Series EE bond, Series I bond, or an older series.

The maturity date is not something you choose or explore for — it is built into the bond when the Treasury issues it. You do not have to do anything on the maturity date itself. The bond straightforward stops accruing interest on that day. If you want to cash it in, you initiate that separately through your bank or the Treasury.

Understanding when your bond matures matters because it affects your tax planning and whether you should hold the bond longer or redeem it. A bond that has stopped earning interest is no longer working for you financially.

Key Takeaways

  • Series EE bonds mature 20 years from the issue date; Series I bonds mature 30 years from the issue date.
  • After maturity, a bond stops earning interest but remains redeemable at its current value.
  • You owe federal income tax on the interest your bond earned, whether you redeem it at maturity or hold it longer.
  • The maturity date is printed on your bond or shown in your TreasuryDirect account and does not change.

How maturity dates work for Series EE and Series I bonds

Series EE bonds reach maturity 20 years after their issue date. A Series EE bond purchased on January 1, 2024, matures on January 1, 2044. Series I bonds mature 30 years after their issue date, so a Series I bond purchased on January 1, 2024, matures on January 1, 2054.

The issue date is not always the date you bought the bond. If you bought it through payroll savings, the issue date is typically the first day of the month in which the purchase was deducted from your pay. If you bought it through TreasuryDirect online, the issue date is usually the first or fifteenth of the month, depending on when you completed the purchase.

You can find your bond's exact issue date and maturity date by logging into your TreasuryDirect account or by looking at the physical bond certificate if you own paper bonds. The maturity date will be listed clearly on both.

What happens to your bond after it matures

Once a bond reaches maturity, it stops earning interest on that date. The value of the bond becomes fixed at whatever it was worth on the maturity date. If you hold a Series EE bond that was purchased at $50 and had grown to $100 by maturity, it stays at $100 — it will not grow to $101 or $102 in the years after.

You can still redeem a matured bond at any time. There is no important date to cash it in. Many people hold matured bonds for years without redeeming them, though there is no financial benefit to doing so since the bond is no longer earning interest. The only reason to hold a matured bond would be if you did not need the money yet and wanted to keep it in a safe place.

If you own a matured bond and want to redeem it, you can do so through your bank or through TreasuryDirect if you own it electronically. The process is the same as redeeming a bond before maturity — you request the redemption and receive the current value.

Tax reporting when bonds mature

You owe federal income tax on the interest your bond earned, but the timing of when you report that tax is up to you. You can report the interest in the year you redeem the bond, or you can report it each year as the bond earns interest — this is called the accrual method. Most people wait until they redeem the bond to report the interest.

When you redeem a matured bond, your bank or TreasuryDirect will send you a Form 1099-INT showing the total interest earned. You report this on your federal tax return for that year. State and local taxes may also explore depending on where you live.

If you hold a matured bond without redeeming it, you still owe tax on the interest that was earned up to the maturity date. You do not owe tax on interest after maturity because the bond is no longer earning any.

Older bond series and their maturity dates

If you own bonds from series issued before 2003, the maturity dates may differ. Series EE bonds issued before May 2003 have a 30-year maturity period instead of 20 years. Series HH bonds, which are no longer sold, mature 20 years after issue. Series A through D bonds, which are very old, have already matured for most owners.

If you are unsure what series you own or when it matures, you can check TreasuryDirect or contact your bank. The Treasury website has a chart showing maturity periods for all bond series ever issued.

Deciding whether to hold a bond past maturity

Once a bond stops earning interest at maturity, there is no financial reason to hold it. The money is no longer growing. If you need the cash, redeeming it makes sense. If you do not need it, moving it to a savings account, money market fund, or CD that is currently earning interest would give you better returns.

Some people hold matured bonds out of habit or because they forget about them. If you have matured bonds sitting in a drawer or account, redeeming them and moving the money to an interest-bearing account is usually the better choice.

The only exception would be if you are using the bond as a forced savings tool — keeping money somewhere you will not spend it. Even then, a matured bond is not earning anything, so you might consider a high-yield savings account that earns interest while still being accessible.

How to find your bond's maturity date

If you own bonds electronically through TreasuryDirect, log into your account and look at your holdings. The maturity date is listed for each bond. If you own paper bonds, the maturity date is printed on the certificate itself, usually near the issue date.

If you have lost track of your bonds or do not know where they are, you can search the Treasury's Hunt for Savings Bonds database at treasuryhunt.savingsbonds.gov. This tool lets you search for unclaimed bonds registered to you or a deceased person.

If you bought bonds through payroll savings and no longer work for that employer, contact your former employer's benefits office. They may have records of your purchase dates, which you can use to calculate maturity dates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cash in a bond before it matures?

Yes. You can redeem most bonds anytime after you own them for one year. Series EE and Series I bonds have a penalty if you redeem them within five years — you lose the last three months of interest. After five years, you can redeem without penalty.

Do I have to redeem my bond on the maturity date?

No. There is no important date to redeem a matured bond. You can hold it indefinitely without redeeming it, though it will not earn interest after maturity. You can redeem it whenever you need the money.

What if I forgot about a bond and it matured years ago?

You can still redeem it. Matured bonds do not expire. Bring it to your bank or redeem it through TreasuryDirect if you own it electronically. You will owe tax on the interest earned up to the maturity date when you redeem it.

Do matured bonds earn any interest at all?

No. Once a bond reaches its maturity date, it stops earning interest completely. The value is fixed at whatever it was on that date. Holding a matured bond longer does not increase its value.

How do I know if my bond is still earning interest?

Check your TreasuryDirect account or the bond certificate for the maturity date. Compare it to today's date. If today is before the maturity date, the bond is still earning interest. If today is on or after the maturity date, it has stopped.