I bonds interest rates — TreasuryDirect (2024)

FAQs

How do the interest rates work on US Treasury I bonds? ›

The interest rate on a Series I savings bond changes every 6 months, based on inflation. The rate can go up. The rate can go down. The overall rate is calculated from a fixed rate and an inflation rate.

The April 2024 I Bond Inflation Rate is 3.94%

The next I Bond inflation rate will be 2.96%. When your I Bond renews during May 2024 – October 2024 your new inflation rate will be 2.96%.

It can go up or down. I bonds protect you from inflation because when inflation increases, the combined rate increases. Because inflation can go up or down, we can have deflation (the opposite of inflation). Deflation can bring the combined rate down below the fixed rate (as long as the fixed rate itself is not zero).

The cons of investing in I-bonds

There's actually a limit on how much you can invest in I-bonds per year. The annual maximum in purchases is $10,000 worth of electronic I-bonds, although in some cases, you may be able to purchase an additional $5,000 worth of paper I-bonds using your tax refund.

Remember, when you cash out your I Bonds you don't earn the interest until you complete the month and that you lose the prior 3 months' interest. If you want to keep all your good interest and get the most out of your I Bonds you should cash out: after earning 3 months of lower interest and.

More about savings bonds

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.

TIPS may be a sound investment to protect against inflation, but they're not wealth-building tools like stocks. March 22, 2024, at 3:47 p.m. If you're worried about inflation, TIPS can be a good choice – just don't count on them for big gains.

The annual rate for Series I bonds could fall below 5% in May based on the latest inflation data and other factors, experts predict. That would be lower than the current 5.27% interest on I bond purchases made before May 1, but higher than the 4.3% interest offered on new I bonds bought between May 1, 2023, and Oct.

For bonds issued between November 2023 and April 2024, the combined rate — the I bond rate calculated from the fixed and variable rate — is 5.27%. I bonds earn interest for 30 years. Interest is earned monthly, but it's compounded , or added to the principal, every six months.

§ 359.16 When does interest accrue on Series I savings bonds? (a) Interest, if any, accrues on the first day of each month; that is, we add the interest earned on a bond during any given month to its value at the beginning of the following month.

Is it better to issue bonds when interest rates are low? ›

Bond prices have an inverse relationship with interest rates. This means that when interest rates go up, bond prices go down and when interest rates go down, bond prices go up.

That said, there is a $10,000 limit each year for purchasing them. There are several ways around this limit, though, including using your tax refund, having your spouse purchase bonds as well and using a separate legal entity like a trust.

Key Points. Pros: I bonds come with a high interest rate during inflationary periods, they're low-risk, and they help protect against inflation. Cons: Rates are variable, there's a lockup period and early withdrawal penalty, and there's a limit to how much you can invest.

Another advantage is that TIPS make regular, semiannual interest payments, whereas I Bond investors only receive their accrued income when they sell. That makes TIPS preferable to I Bonds for those seeking current income.

If inflation runs hotter, the rate can go up. If inflation cools off, the rate can go down. The fixed rate portion of an I Bond remains with the life of the bond. The fixed rate is 1.3% for I Bonds issued from November 2023 through April.

That said, there is a $10,000 limit each year for purchasing them. There are several ways around this limit, though, including using your tax refund, having your spouse purchase bonds as well and using a separate legal entity like a trust.

I bond fixed rates are determined each May 1 and November 1. Each fixed rate applies to all I bonds issued in the six months following the rate determination. The semiannual inflation rate is determined each May 1 and November 1.

The current bond composite rate is 5.27%. That rate applies for the first six months for bonds issued from November 2023 through April 2024. For example, if you purchased I bonds on Nov. 1, 2023, the 5.27% rate would be in effect until April 30, 2024.

A fundamental principle of bond investing is that market interest rates and bond prices generally move in opposite directions. When market interest rates rise, prices of fixed-rate bonds fall. this phenomenon is known as interest rate risk.