How Long Will It Take My EE Savings Bonds to Mature?

The U.S. Treasury recommends EE bonds as a safe and patriotic investment with the full backing of the U.S. government. Paper EE bonds used to be available through savings institutions, but now the Treasury sells electronic EE bonds online at TreasuryDirect. The electronic bonds sell at face value in any amount of $25 or more, with an annual limit of $10,000. EE bonds have two maturity dates and earn interest until final maturity.

Original Maturity

EE savings bonds with issue dates after June 2003 have an original maturity date of 20 years from issue. Earlier EE bonds had varying lengths of time to original maturity. For example, bonds dated between March 1993 and April 1995 have an original maturity of 18 years. Bonds issued after May 2005 pay a fixed interest rate, but the Treasury guarantees that their value will double in 20 years, at original maturity. If they don't, the Treasury will add additional value to make up the difference. For example, if you paid $25 for your bond, it will be worth $50 on its original maturity date.

Final Maturity

After the original maturity date ends, the bond enters the extended maturity phase, where it will earn interest in the form of a percentage. This percentage can change, but has generally been between one and four percent. The final maturity of EE bonds occurs after the extended maturity has concluded. It is always 30 years from the issue date, and it is at this time that interest ceases. For bonds issued after June 2003, final maturity is 10 years after the original maturity. EE bonds will continue to pay the original rate of interest for the final 10 years unless the Treasury announces a change.

Cashing EE Bonds

You don't have to wait until original or final maturity to cash EE bonds, but you must wait at least one year. Redeem paper EE bonds through a financial institution, and redeem electronic bonds through TreasuryDirect. If you cash the bonds before five years, you'll forfeit three months' worth of interest. Interest on bonds dated prior to May 1997 is added twice a year, so cashing them before a payment date lowers your payout. Use the Treasury's savings bond calculator to find the value of your paper bonds and when interest is paid.

Handling Taxes

EE bond interest is normally subject to federal, but not state, income taxes. You can choose whether to claim the interest each year or defer it until final maturity or redemption.You must claim the interest at 30 years at the latest. You'll receive a Form 1099-INT for taxes if you cash paper bonds at a bank, and TreasuryDirect provides a printable form when you redeem electronic bonds online. You can exclude EE bond interest on your income taxes if you use the bond proceeds for qualifying educational expenses and meet other requirements.