Savings bonds do expire, but not in the way most people think

U.S. savings bonds do not become worthless on an expiration date. Instead, they stop earning interest after a set number of years — typically 30 years from the issue date. After that point, your bond retains its value, but you are no longer accumulating additional earnings. The bond itself remains valid indefinitely, and you can still cash it in at any time, even decades after it stops earning.

The exact timeline depends on the type of bond you own. Series EE bonds stop earning interest after 30 years. Series I bonds also stop earning after 30 years. Series HH bonds (no longer sold) stopped earning after 20 years. The key date to track is your bond's issue date, which appears on the bond certificate or in your TreasuryDirect account if you own electronic bonds.

Key Takeaways

  • Series EE and Series I bonds earn interest for 30 years from their issue date, then stop earning but remain redeemable forever.
  • You can cash in a bond at any time after the holding period (one year for most bonds, five years for full value), whether it is still earning or long past its earning period.
  • If you hold a bond past its final maturity date, you should redeem it and move the money to an active savings vehicle, since it will no longer grow.
  • Your TreasuryDirect account shows the exact maturity date for each bond you own, so you can plan when to cash them in.

The difference between earning period and redemption period

A bond's earning period and its redemption period are two separate timelines. The earning period is how long the bond pays interest — 30 years for EE and I bonds. The redemption period is how long you are allowed to hold the bond before cashing it in, and that is essentially forever. You can redeem a bond one year after purchase (or five years if you want the full value), and you can also redeem it 40 years after purchase if you have not done so yet.

This matters because many people assume an expired bond cannot be cashed in. That is not true. Once your bond stops earning interest, it becomes a fixed-value asset — it will not grow, but it will not disappear either. You own the principal plus all the interest it earned during its 30-year earning period, and that amount is yours to withdraw whenever you choose.

What happens when a Series EE or Series I bond reaches final maturity

When your bond reaches its 30-year maturity date, the U.S. Treasury stops crediting interest to your account. If you own the bond through TreasuryDirect, you will see the maturity date listed in your account dashboard. The bond's value freezes at whatever it had accumulated by that date.

At this point, you have three practical options: cash the bond in, leave it sitting in your account earning nothing, or transfer it to a different savings vehicle. Most financial planners recommend cashing in a matured bond and moving the money to a current savings account or CD, since the bond is no longer working for you. Leaving money in a matured bond is like keeping cash in a checking account that pays no interest — it is safe, but it is not growing.

How to find your bond's maturity date

If you own electronic bonds through TreasuryDirect, log into your account and look at your bond holdings. Each bond shows its issue date and maturity date clearly. The maturity date is always 30 years after the issue date for EE and I bonds. You can also calculate it yourself: if your bond was issued on January 15, 2024, it will mature on January 15, 2054.

If you own paper bonds, the issue date is printed on the certificate. Count forward 30 years from that date to find when it stops earning. If you have lost the certificate or cannot find the issue date, you can contact the Bureau of the Fiscal Service at treasurydirect.gov or call 844-284-2676 to look up your bond information using your Social Security number.

What to do with a bond after it stops earning

Once your bond reaches maturity and stops earning interest, you should decide whether to keep the money there or redeem it. If you need the cash, redeem the bond through TreasuryDirect (for electronic bonds) or by mailing the paper certificate to the address listed on the Treasury website. The redemption typically processes within a few business days for electronic bonds.

If you do not need the money immediately, consider moving it to a high-yield savings account or a CD that is currently paying interest. Savings account rates change frequently, so a matured bond earning 0% may be earning less than what is available elsewhere. Checking your options once a year — especially when a bond reaches maturity — helps ensure your money is in the best available vehicle for your goals.

Early redemption and the five-year rule

You do not have to wait until a bond matures to cash it in. You can redeem most savings bonds one year after purchase, though you will forfeit the last three months of interest if you do so. If you hold the bond for at least five years, you receive the full value with no penalty.

This means you have flexibility before a bond reaches its 30-year maturity. If interest rates rise significantly and you find a better savings option, you can redeem a five-year-old bond without penalty and move the money. This is particularly relevant for Series I bonds, which adjust their interest rate every six months based on inflation. If inflation drops and I bond rates fall, you might decide to cash in an older I bond and move to a different vehicle.

Tracking multiple bonds and staying organized

If you own several bonds purchased over different years, keeping track of maturity dates becomes important. TreasuryDirect makes this easier by showing all your bonds in one place with their maturity dates listed. Set a calendar reminder for the year before each bond matures, so you have time to decide whether to redeem it or let it sit.

For paper bonds, create a simple spreadsheet with the bond series, denomination, issue date, and maturity date. Store this list somewhere safe — a password-protected document or a physical copy in a safe deposit box. This prevents the common problem of forgetting about a bond entirely and leaving money idle for years after it stops earning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cash in a bond that stopped earning interest 10 years ago?

Yes. Once a bond reaches maturity and stops earning, it remains redeemable indefinitely. You can cash it in whenever you need the money. There is no deadline for redemption, though you should move the money to an earning vehicle if you do not need it immediately.

What happens if I never cash in my matured bond?

Nothing happens to the bond itself — it stays in your account at its final value. However, your money stops growing. If you leave a matured bond in TreasuryDirect for years, you are missing out on interest you could earn elsewhere. Redeeming it and moving it to a current savings account or CD is usually the better choice.

Do I owe taxes when a bond reaches maturity?

You owe federal income tax on the interest your bond earned during its 30-year life, but only when you redeem it or when it reaches final maturity — whichever comes first. You do not owe state or local income tax on savings bond interest. The Treasury will send you a Form 1099-INT showing the interest earned.

Can I extend a bond past 30 years to keep earning interest?

No. Series EE and I bonds stop earning interest at exactly 30 years. You cannot extend the earning period. Once maturity is reached, your only option is to redeem the bond and reinvest the money elsewhere if you want continued growth.

How do I know if my old paper bonds are still valid?

Paper bonds remain valid indefinitely, even if they are decades old. You can redeem them at any time by mailing them to the Bureau of the Fiscal Service or taking them to a bank. Check the issue date on the certificate to see whether it is still in its earning period or has already matured.