Series EE bonds mature at 30 years from the issue date

A Series EE savings bond reaches final maturity at exactly 30 years from the month you bought it. After that date, the bond stops earning interest. The U.S. Treasury will no longer add money to the bond's value, even if you hold it longer.

The issue date is printed on your bond or shown in your TreasuryDirect account. If you bought a bond in March 2024, it matures in March 2054. You can cash it anytime after maturity, but waiting longer than 30 years does not increase what you receive.

Before final maturity, your bond earns interest for a full 20 years, then continues earning at a new rate for years 21 through 30. The interest rate changes every six months, so the amount you earn in the second half of the bond's life depends on rates set by the Treasury during that period.

Key Takeaways

  • Series EE bonds stop earning interest at exactly 30 years from the issue date, which is printed on the bond or visible in your TreasuryDirect account.
  • You can cash the bond anytime after it matures, but the value will not increase if you hold it past 30 years.
  • The bond earns interest for the full 30-year period, with the rate resetting every six months during years 21 through 30.
  • If you do not cash a matured bond, it remains in your account earning nothing until you withdraw it or it is transferred by your estate.

What happens to your money after 30 years

Once your Series EE bond reaches 30 years, the principal and all accumulated interest freeze at that amount. The bond's value becomes fixed. You own that money outright and can cash it whenever you choose—there is no deadline to redeem it after maturity.

If you leave a matured bond uncashed in your TreasuryDirect account, it simply sits there earning zero interest. The money is still yours and remains safe, but it generates no return. Some people leave matured bonds in their accounts for years without realizing they have stopped earning.

If you pass away before cashing a matured bond, your estate or heirs can redeem it. The process requires proof of death and authority to act on your behalf, but the bond's value does not change and does not expire.

The difference between maturity and the 20-year may provide

Series EE bonds come with a 20-year may provide: if the bond has not doubled in value by year 20, the Treasury will add money to make it double. This may provide ends at 20 years. After that, the bond continues earning interest at whatever rate the Treasury sets, but there is no promise about how much it will grow.

The may provide is separate from maturity. A bond that doubles by year 20 will keep earning interest from year 21 through year 30. A bond that does not double by year 20 gets a one-time adjustment at the 20-year mark to reach exactly double, then earns the new rate for the remaining 10 years.

This distinction matters if you are deciding whether to hold a bond past year 20. The may provide protects you from loss, but it does not promise growth in the second half of the bond's life. Interest rates in years 21 through 30 could be higher or lower than the rate in years 1 through 20.

How to find your bond's maturity date

If you own paper Series EE bonds, the issue date is printed on the front of the bond. Count forward 30 years from that month to find the maturity date. For example, a bond issued in June 1998 matures in June 2028.

If you own bonds through TreasuryDirect (the online account system), log in and look at your holdings. Each bond shows the issue date, and the system calculates the maturity date automatically. You can also download a statement listing all your bonds with their maturity dates.

If you have lost track of paper bonds you bought years ago, you can search the Treasury Hunt tool on the Treasury website. This tool searches for unclaimed bonds in your name and shows their issue dates, allowing you to calculate when they mature.

Cashing a bond before it matures

You can cash a Series EE bond anytime after you have owned it for one year. If you cash it before five years have passed, you lose the last three months of interest as a penalty. After five years, you receive the full value with no penalty.

Cashing before maturity means you receive whatever the bond is worth at that moment, not the full 30-year value. A bond cashed at year 15 will have earned interest for 15 years but will not have the benefit of the remaining 15 years of growth. This is why many people hold bonds to maturity or beyond—the longer you wait, the more interest compounds.

If you need the money before maturity, weigh the penalty against your need. The three-month interest penalty only applies if you cash within five years. After that, there is no penalty, but you still lose the future interest you would have earned by holding longer.

What to do with a bond after it matures

Once your bond reaches 30 years, you have three main options: cash it, leave it in your account, or transfer it to another person or entity.

Cashing is straightforward through TreasuryDirect. Log in, select the bond, and request redemption. The money goes to your linked bank account within a few business days. For paper bonds, you must take them to a bank or financial institution that handles Treasury redemptions.

Leaving it uncashed is fine if you are not ready to deal with it. The bond will not expire or lose value, but it will not earn anything either. Some people hold matured bonds as a form of savings they know they will not touch.

If you want to give the bond to someone else, you can transfer it through TreasuryDirect or, for paper bonds, sign it over according to Treasury rules. The recipient then owns the bond and can cash it or hold it as they choose.

Tax considerations when a bond matures

Series EE bonds are subject to federal income tax on the interest you earn. You do not pay tax each year the bond earns—instead, you pay tax when you cash the bond or when it reaches final maturity, whichever comes first.

When your bond matures at 30 years, you owe federal tax on all the interest that has accumulated, even if you do not cash it immediately. Some people cash matured bonds right away to get the tax liability over with. Others hold the matured bond and pay the tax later when they actually redeem it, though the tax obligation exists either way.

Series EE bonds are exempt from state and local income tax. They are also may be able to access for tax-free treatment if used for education expenses, but that benefit must be claimed when you cash the bond and only applies to bonds bought by the account owner who is at least 24 years old.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cash my bond after it matures if I have lost the physical bond?

If you own a paper bond and have lost it, you can file a claim with the Treasury to replace it or get the value. You will need to provide proof of purchase or ownership. If the bond is in TreasuryDirect, you do not have a physical bond to lose—it exists only in your online account, and you can cash it directly through the system.

What happens to the interest if I do not cash a matured bond?

The interest is already part of the bond's value. When the bond matures, the principal and all accumulated interest are frozen together. If you do not cash it, that total amount sits in your account earning nothing. You do not lose the interest—it is yours—but it stops growing.

Do Series EE bonds ever expire?

Series EE bonds do not expire in the sense of becoming worthless or uncashable. They stop earning interest at 30 years, but you can hold and cash them indefinitely after that. The money remains yours and safe, but it generates no return once maturity is reached.

If I inherit a Series EE bond, when does it mature?

The maturity date does not change when a bond is inherited. It still matures 30 years from the original issue date. If you inherit a bond that is already past maturity, it has stopped earning interest, and you can cash it anytime. If it has not yet matured, it will continue earning until the 30-year mark.

Can I roll a matured Series EE bond into another type of bond?

You cannot directly convert a Series EE bond into another Treasury bond type. You must cash the Series EE bond first, then use the proceeds to buy a different bond if you want. This means you will owe federal income tax on the interest when you cash it, so consult a tax professional if you are considering this move.