You can request a substitute electronic savings bond if your paper bond is lost, stolen, destroyed, mutilated, or you never received it.
Reissuing: See Reissuing Paper EE Bonds if you want to change who is named on the bond or if there is a substantial error in the names.
Note that the bonds we replace or reissue will not be printed, but will instead be issued as electronic bonds on TreasuryDirect. Individual savings bonds are not splittable and must be reissued in their entirety. You can request that your bond be redeemed instead of replacing it electronically.
What should I do if my savings bonds are lost?
Complete a Claim for Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed United States Savings Bonds to register a claim for a savings bond that has been lost, stolen, or destroyed (FS Form 1048). Please sign the form in the presence of a certifying officer who is authorized to do so (available at a bank, trust company, or credit union).
Is it possible to replace misplaced savings bonds?
You can obtain a replacement electronic savings bond if your paper bond is lost, stolen, destroyed, disfigured, or you never received it. Individual savings bonds are not splittable and must be reissued in their entirety. You can request that your bond be redeemed instead of replacing it electronically.
Is it possible to look for savings bonds by name?
The TreasuryDirect service maintained by the federal government can help you discover any outstanding or unclaimed savings bonds in your name.
Where can I look for my uncashed savings bonds?
To look for uncashed savings bonds in your name, go to the Treasury Department’s TreasuryDirect website. To see results, enter your social security number or Employee Identification Number (EIN) into the Treasury Hunt page’s search area and click the “Search” button.
How do I locate missing bonds?
You can verify if you have any lost bonds before submitting anything, according to Leslie H. Tayne, founder of the Tayne Law Group. “Treasuryhunt.gov, which lists matured, uncashed savings bonds, is a shortcut you can employ to find lost savings bonds,” Tayne explains.
Treasury Hunt is an online service provided by the Treasury Department. In 2017, the tool was retired, but it was resurrected in 2019.
Fill out Form 1048
Fill out Form 1048, “Claim for Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed United States Savings Bonds,” on the US Treasury’s website at treasurydirect.gov to look for lost savings bonds.
Tayne advises, “Fill out as much of the form as possible.” “Ask for the purchaser’s Social Security number and an estimate of the purchase timeline.”
Verify for your form
Don’t just sign your form after you’ve completed it to the best of your ability. It must be accredited. This isn’t easy, according to Justin Pritchard, a financial consultant at Approach Financial. “Getting your signature validated is the most difficult element of the procedure,” Pritchard explains. “To finish the process, you’ll need a signing guarantee or another appropriate kind of documentation. Unfortunately, having a paper notarized isn’t enough.”
Go to your local financial institution, such as a bank or credit union, to have your form confirmed. You will sign the form and have it confirmed by the institution’s certifying officer rather than a notary. Make an appointment with your bank or other financial institution ahead of time to see whether they have a certifying officer.
How long does it take to restore savings bonds that have been lost?
The Bureau of the Public Debt could usually locate down and reissue your bonds within three to four weeks if you had the serial number. However, without all of that data, the procedure could take months.
You can also use the Treasury Hunt tool to discover if the Bureau of the Public Debt has any undeliverable savings bonds for your children or any bonds that are no longer earning interest. Because Treasury Hunt may not have a record of all savings bonds (only Series E savings bonds issued after 1974 that have attained maturity), submitting a form for lost or stolen savings bonds is still necessary.
Even if nothing appears on TreasuryHunt, you can check the Treasury Securities That Have Stopped Earning Interest table to see the status once the bonds are reissued, as most bonds stop earning interest after 30 years, which is right around the age of the bonds you’re looking for.
If the bonds are still collecting income, you can verify their current value using TreasuryDirect.gov’s Calculate the Value of Your Paper Savings Bonds tool.
What is the procedure for cashing a savings bond that is not in my name?
If you are not identified as the owner or co-owner on the bond, you must produce legal evidence or other documentation to establish you are entitled to cash the bond, regardless of where you cash it. (Legal evidence is not returned.)
It is important to note that savings bonds cannot be transferred. You can’t cash a bond that belongs to someone else or that you bought on an internet auction site. (See Death of a Savings Bond Owner if you inherit a bond through the death of the bond owner.)
Is it possible to convert EE bonds?
- What are the benefits of trading my paper bonds in TreasuryDirect for electronic securities?
- I have bonds that I am entitled to, but they do not bear my name.
- Is it possible for me to exchange these?
- Will my bond be automatically redeemed and the interest earned reported if it matures after I trade it?
- What happens if I convert a paper bond that is registered solely in my name, as a co-owner, or as a co-owner with a beneficiary?
- Is it possible for me to show or cash my converted bonds to another TreasuryDirect account holder?
- What happens if I exchange a paper bond in the name of someone else, including a minor?
- Will the issue date of my electronic securities match the issue date of the paper bonds I submit?
- Will the interest rate on my electronic securities be the same as on my paper bonds?
- Will the maturity period of my electronic securities be the same as that of my paper bonds?
- Is the minimum holding period for electronic securities the same as it is for paper bonds?
What is the SmartExchange conversion feature within TreasuryDirect?
Holders of paper Series E, EE, or I savings bonds can trade them in for electronic securities of the same series and issue dates in a special Conversion Linked Account within their TreasuryDirect online account using the SmartExchange function.
TreasuryDirect accounts allow owners to buy, sell, and redeem Treasury securities electronically, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, using a secure Internet connection with the Treasury Department.
TreasuryDirect sells Series EE and I savings bonds, as well as Treasury bills, notes, bonds, and inflation-protected securities.
Who can exchange their paper savings bonds for electronic securities?
Any owner of a TreasuryDirect account, whether they are the sole owner, a co-owner, or an owner with a beneficiary. Owners of accounts can also trade paper bonds received as gifts for others, as well as bonds acquired through inheritance or other changes in ownership.
Account Managers for certain entities, such as trusts, estates, and businesses, can open TreasuryDirect accounts and convert bonds. See Entity Accounts are a type of account that is used to track the assets of a company. The registration of all securities in an entity account is the same as the entity account name. Documentary evidence may be required to support the transaction if the submitted bonds are not registered in the entity’s name.
What are the advantages to trading my paper bonds for electronic securities in TreasuryDirect?
Owners of electronic securities have more freedom and convenience than those who own paper securities. Consider the following scenario:
- Electronic bonds can be redeemed in full or in part at any time – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and the funds put into the owner’s savings or checking account. On the next working day, the cash should be available. There is no need to visit a financial institution, and there are no limits on how many bonds or how much money can be redeemed at any given time if the basic conditions are completed.
- At any time, you can see your online holdings and their current valuations.
- There is no paper that can be lost or damaged by accident.
- Owners of accounts can modify the registration of their bonds at any moment or transfer the securities to another account (some ownership restrictions apply; transfers may result in a taxable event).
What bonds can I exchange?
You can convert Series E, EE, and I paper bonds that you possess alone, with a co-owner, or with a beneficiary. You can also convert paper bonds that you’ve received as a gift for someone else or that you’ve inherited or acquired through another means of ownership change.
Can I trade in matured bonds?
Yes, if you submit a matured bond, TreasuryDirect will automatically redeem the bond and deposit the funds in your Primary Account as a Zero-Percent Certificate of Indebtedness. You can utilize all or portion of the proceeds to buy additional securities or redeem the C of I for cash in your bank account. For the tax year in which the bond is redeemed or matures, the interest earned on it must be reported to the IRS.
Can I trade in bonds I’ve bought as gifts?
Yes, you can exchange bonds that you received as a gift. Any bond you’ve purchased in someone else’s name is considered a gift. The bonds are deposited in your Conversion Linked Account Gift Box once they have been converted. In an entity account, gift bonds are not available.
What happens to gift bonds I exchange that are matured?
Gift bonds that have reached their final maturity date are automatically redeemed by TreasuryDirect. Each bond redemption will be listed in your Conversion Linked Account Gift Box “matured gift profits” under the owner’s name. Similarly, if a converted gift security expires before you send it to the recipient, TreasuryDirect automatically redeems it and records a notation in the recipient’s account “proceeds from a matured gift.” From the Conversion Linked Account Gift Box, you can deliver the money to the owner. You’ll need the owner’s TreasuryDirect account number to deliver the funds.
Before you can give savings bonds as gifts, you must keep them in your TreasuryDirect account for at least five working days. Treasury is protected against loss by the five-day hold, which ensures that the ACH debit has been performed satisfactorily before the cash can be moved.
When you deliver gift money, the interest earned is reportable for that year under the recipient’s Social Security number. In entity accounts, gift bonds are not available.
I have bonds that I’m entitled to but my name isn’t on them.Can I exchange these?
Yes, you can trade in the bonds; however, you may need to provide proof of your transaction. After we get the bonds, we will contact you and give you the necessary information to finalize the transaction. In some cases, more processing time may be necessary.
When can I begin converting my bonds?
As soon as you create your Conversion Linked Account, you can start converting your savings bonds. To create the Conversion Linked Account, follow these steps:
- Navigate to ManageDirect and select “Establish a Conversion Linked Account” from the “Manage My Linked Accounts” menu. When you click on that link, you’ll be sent to a website with some information as well as a button.
- To create your Conversion Linked Account, click the icon. The Account Info page for that account will appear after you do so.
- Select the ManageDirect tab from the drop-down menu. A menu labeled ManageDirect can be found on the ManageDirect page “I’m in charge of my conversions.”
- Make a click on the “How to Convert My Paper Bonds” is a link that will show you how to convert your paper bonds. This page offers detailed instructions that will walk you through the entire procedure. We recommend printing this page so you can refer to it when you’re getting started.
Gather your Series E, EE, and I savings bonds and sort them according to their titles and connectors (“OR,” “POD,” or “beneficiary”). Grouping your bonds by registration will make the process of entering the bonds you want to convert much easier.
If you need to access your Conversion Linked Account at a later time, go to your principal Account Summary page and look for “My Converted Bonds” in the account listing under “Linked Accounts Information.”
When I trade in my bonds, will the interest earned be reported to the IRS?
No, the interest received on your bonds will not be reported to the IRS at the time of conversion if they have not reached maturity.
If my bond matures after I exchange it, will it be automatically redeemed and the interest earned reported?
Yes, unless you have arranged a redemption, TreasuryDirect automatically redeems your bond at maturity and acquires a Zero-Percent Certificate of Indebtedness with the proceeds once it is in electronic form. For that tax year, the interest collected on the security is reported to the IRS.
Should I sign the request for payment on the back of the bonds?
Please do not autograph your savings bonds on the back. We can convert the bonds because of your signature on the conversion manifest.
Is My Converted Bonds and Conversion Linked Account the same thing?
Yes. TreasuryDirect has assigned your Conversion Linked Account the name My Converted Bonds. You can change the name of your Conversion Linked Account by going to the Account Info tab, clicking “Edit,” and then entering a new name in the Personalized Account Name field.
What happens when I convert a paper bond registered in my name alone, as co-owner, or as owner with a beneficiary?
When the exchange is accepted in individual accounts, a security registered in the same way as a paper bond is released to Current Holdings in your Conversion Linked Account. All securities in entity accounts have the same registration as the entity account name.
What transactions can I conduct with the securities I trade in?
With two exclusions, you can engage in any electronic securities transaction. For a while,
A transaction to remove the name of a security registered in the names of two people as co-owners.
Because the consent of the other co-owner is required, it must be done offline.
by means of us Similarly, deleting the name of a Series E security’s intended recipient necessitates
As a result, we must handle that individual’s consent offline.
Can I let another TreasuryDirect account holder see or cash my converted bonds?
You can provide View and Transact permissions in TreasuryDirect. If you have the security registered in your name,
You can grant and remove View permissions to another TreasuryDirect account owner based on their name alone.
A security that is registered to you as the owner and has a beneficiary allows you to give and withdraw permissions at any time.
Only the chosen beneficiary has access to the information. If, on the other hand, it’s a Series E security with a
You can only grant View privileges to the selected beneficiary, and once granted, you can’t take them away.
The rights cannot be revoked. Similarly, you can give a co-owner of a property View and Transact rights.
You can’t reverse these powers after they’ve been granted. Registration as a co-owner
securities that have been given View rights can be changed to grant Transact rights, but not the other way around.
View. In entity accounts, View and Transactrights are not available.
What happens when I exchange a paper bond registered in the name of another person, including a
minor?
When the exchange is approved, the person receives a security that is registered in his or her name.
Gift Box in your Conversion Linked Account (whatever bond you’ve purchased in someone qualifies).
a gift under someone else’s name). If the electronic security contains the person’s Social Security Number,
You can send it to the recipient’s TreasuryDirect account online if you’re the owner.
We will assist you offline if the security does not bear the owner’s Social Security Number.
Prior to delivery, fill out the registration form. In entity accounts, gift bonds are not available.
How do I deliver a converted gift security?
The receiver must have a TreasuryDirect account in order to receive a converted gift security. If the converted gift security bears the owner’s Social Security Number, you can deliver it to the recipient’s TreasuryDirect account online by selecting it from the Conversion Linked Account Gift Box and following the delivery instructions.
Will my electronic securities have the same issue date as the paper bonds I turn in?
Yes, each electronic security will have the same issue date as the paper bond you provided, as well as the same current redemption value.
Will my electronic securities earn the same rate of interest as my paper bonds?
Yes, based on the series and issuance date, paper bonds and electronic securities earn the same rate of interest.
Will my electronic securities have the same maturity period as my paper bonds?
Yes, based on the series and issue date, paper bonds and electronic securities have the same maturity time.
Is the minimum holding period the same on electronic securities as paper bonds?
Yes, electronic securities and paper bonds have the same minimum holding duration. One year is the current minimum holding period.
How do I redeem my bonds after they are exchanged?
Via the same way that you request redemption of an electronic security purchased in TreasuryDirect, you can schedule a complete or partial redemption through your TreasuryDirect account.
In TreasuryDirect, what do the “Amount and “Current Value columns show?
The figure in the “The “Amount” column shows how much you paid for a bond. (This isn’t the bond’s face value if you converted a series EE bond from paper to electronic.) If you bought a $100 Series EE savings bond in paper form, for example, you would have paid $50. The “Amount” column in TreasuryDirect will show “$50” if you swap it for an electronic bond in a TreasuryDirect account.) The figure in the “The “Current Value” column displays the bond’s current value, which is comprised of the purchase price plus accumulated interest.
How do I find out whether I have any bonds in my name?
A: Because the Treasury Hunt website is arranged by social security number, it only includes savings bonds purchased from 1974 to the present. That is when social security numbers were first required. If you feel you may be owed money from an older bond, fill out this form or contact 1-800-553-2663 to request a manual search.
A: You will be encouraged to file a preliminary claim if you find a bond for yourself or your family on the Treasury Hunt website.
(Make sure you don’t skip this step.) Since its launch, the Treasury Hunt website has received 350,000 hits based on social security numbers, but only 100,000 people have provided their contact information to collect their bonds.)
A Treasury Department “finder” will then contact you to obtain additional information and investigate your claim. If you are a match, the finder will either mail you claim forms or you can download them from the internet.
A certified signature is required on savings bond claim forms. This procedure entails visiting a bank, credit union, or other financial institution, presenting identification, and signing paperwork in the presence of a bank officer or notary who validates your signature as valid.
Q: Is there anything else I can do if I believe there should be savings bonds in my name but can’t discover any?
A:Yes.
The Treasury Department adds a half million bonds to the database every month when they mature, so check back often.
Q: I suspect I may possess bonds that have not yet matured but which I have lost track of. What is the best way for me to look for those?
A:You can request a bond search by filling out this form or calling 1-800-553-2663. Treasury officials will look into your request depending on the information you’ve provided, such as your social security number.
A: Over the years, the Treasury has issued a variety of savings bond series, each of which is slightly different.
However, the Treasury Hunt search system’s basic series “EE” savings bond worked as follows:
1. You paid half the face value for the bond.
A $50 bond, for example, would cost $25.
2.After 20 years, that EE bond was guaranteed to increase to its face value. As a result, a $25 savings bond would have increased to $50.
3. After that, the EE bond would continue to receive income for another ten years.
4.The EE bond had fully matured after 30 years and was no longer earning income.
As a result, it’s ideal to cash it in or reinvest it so that your money can begin to work for you again.
Q: I purchased savings bonds several years ago but never received them.
How do I go about getting my money?
These are referred classified as “undeliverable” bonds by the Treasury Department.
The answer is to request a manual search once more. You can fill out a request form or call 1-800-553-2663 to do so.
Q: I have a record of the dates and types of savings bonds that I possess.
How can I tell if they’re no longer earning interest?
A: The Treasury Department’s website has charts that will show you.
Still undecided?
The Treasury’s “Bond Wizard” is a good place to start.
The Series H bonds, which were issued from June 1952 to January 1957, pay interest for 29 years and 8 months.
How can I get free stock and bond searches?
Go to www.treasurydirect.gov and type in your Social Security number or the name of any family member who may have owned a missing bond. You can start your “Treasury Hunt” to determine if you are owed any money so that you can get it for free.