Unlike traditional bonds, saving bonds are not subject to the ups and downs of the stock market. Savings bonds are low risk, government-backed bonds with guaranteed rates of interest. There is a tax advantage to savings bonds because the owner may be able to partially or completely exclude their interest from Federal income tax.

There are three types of saving bonds: I, EE/E and HH/H. They are issued by the US Treasury Department. They can only be purchased in one of three ways: 1) through authorized financial agencies, such as a bank; 2) through payroll deductions; and 3) through an electronic service called TreasuryDirect. All saving bonds are registered and held in name of the person who owns them. Savings bonds are registered securities. They can be replaced if they are lost or destroyed.

Series I bonds are available at face value only. Series I bonds come in $50 to $10,000 denominations. No more than $30,000 (face value) of paper bonds and $30,000 of electronic bonds purchased each year. They must be held for a minimum of 1 year and they will accrue interest for 30 years. Interest on the Series I bonds is based on a fixed rate (announced by the Bureau of Public Debt in May of each year) and an annual inflation rate (announced in November of each year).

Interest is paid when the bond is redeemed. If this happens before the bond is five years old, there is an interest penalty equivalent to the three most recent month’s interest. Interest is not subject to State and local taxes. It is, however, subject to State and local estate, gift and other excise taxes. Interest on the bonds is also subject to Federal taxes. If the bonds are used to finance an education, all the interest or only part may be excluded from federal income taxes.

The series EE bonds replaced Series E. EE bonds are very affordable and can be purchased at one half of their face value. They come in denominations from $50 to $10,000. Individuals can buy no more than $30,000 (face value) worth of paper bonds and $30,000 of electronic bonds annually. EE bonds purchased between May 1997 and April 30, 2005 earn a variable market-based rate of return. Those issued May 2005 onwards earn a fixed rate of interest. They will generate interest for 30 years and the interest is compounded semi-annually. The Series EE bonds are similar to the Series I Bonds in regard to interest payment and time of redemption. The biggest difference between EE and I bonds is that interest rates are figured differently. EE Bonds receive 90% of 6-month averages of 5-year Treasury Securities market yields.

Prior to September 2004, Series HH savings bonds could be purchased only in exchange for Series EE/E bonds. After that date, they could be purchased without them. Series HH bonds are available in denominations ranging from $500 to $10,000. They are purchased at their face value. There is no limit on the amount that can be purchased.

The interest on Series HH bonds is fixed on the date of purchase and will continue to accrue for 20 years. The interest is deposited directly into the owner’s checking or savings account. Series HH Savings Bonds must be held for a minimum of six months. Like Series I and EE, the interest on Series HH bonds is not subject to State and local taxes. It is, however, subject and State and local inheritance, gift and other excise taxes.



Thanks to Joe Goertz for contributing this article to our Bonds blog:

Tax Free Government Bonds

A bond is a debt security that is run by a government or agency. It usually lasts for long periods of time, or durations, which will take longer to mature. There are many important bond definitions that you should know.

The first bond definition you need to know is that of a bond fund. This is a type of mutual fund where you invest in bonds. You can invest in bonds of different values, including a baby bond that has a face value of less than a thousand dollars. Also, your bond will feature a Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedure number for identification.

Some of the most important bond definitions to consider involve what types of bonds are out there. For example, bonds can have different periods of time for maturity, which is the date in which you will have to pay back the principal on the bond. For instance, a treasury bond is a standard type that features a maturity level between ten and thirty years.

A treasury bill, however, is a bond that has a maturity level of less than a year. It is usually given out in an auction, where you will receive the bill at an interval stated by the Federal Reserve Bank of the United States. You will also need to consider the bid, which is the top price offered for a bill, when looking for one. The lowest price is the asked price.

There are other bonds with different maturity levels to consider too. A treasury note will have a maturity level between one and ten years. Also, an intermediate-term bond will mature in five to ten years. If you need to redeem your bond before maturity, however, you can take out a callable bond.

Also, a tax exempt bond will not have any federal income tax involved. A zero coupon, meanwhile, will have no interest and is sold at face value, which is the par value, or original price, of the bond. However, there can be a discount, which is where the market price is less than par. The owner of this type of bond will receive a profit at bond maturity. Plus, a derivative zero bond is one that does not have coupon or principal payments, as the coupon will be sold separately. The coupon will be discussed later in this article.

A convertible bond is another bond definition to look at. This is a bond that allows you to convert your investment into stock. The price of this when divided by the conversion price is the conversion ratio.

In some cases a bond involving a different type of currency than what you are used to can be involved. This is where a Eurobond is taken out. A Eurobond is a bond that usually has no tax and is issued in a currency other than what you use.

Several bond definitions you will need to consider involves how much you will pay. The ask and bid have already been discussed, but there are other bond definitions to watch for. For instance, there is the coupon, which is the annual interest percentage on your bond that you will have to pay.

Also, there is the yield, which is the rate of return on your bond. This can be read through a yield curve, which is the pattern of yields on bonds that you may have. The modified duration can be considered, as it shows how sensitive a bond is to changes in its yield. This also relates to the volatility of the bond, which is the measure of the bond’s price movement over time. The convexity of the bond is also important to consider. This is the measure of the curve of the price of the bond and its yield in regards to a fixed income.

A current yield is one that is the coupon payment divided by the price of the bond on the market. However, the basis point is another type of bond definition that relates to this. It is one hundredth of a percentage point of a yield.

Debentures are essential bond definitions to know. A debenture is a debt secured by the lender and its assets. A subordinated debenture is one where a claim for interest and principal are made later on.

In the case that you are considered about your bonds, you should know about another bond definition, the hedge. The hedge is where you reduce your risk in a bond or security by taking in an offsetting position with another security.



Thanks to Geoff Spencer for contributing this article to our Bonds blog:

Us Savings Bonds Series Ee