“The $10,000 limit is per entity, not per person,” says Parker. “You can have as many entities as you want.” That is, if you have a business, that business can also purchase Series I bonds up to the $10,000 annual limit.
Lesson Learned: You need an separate online account for each person/entity purchasing I-Bonds. I.e. a married couple must open two separate Treasury Direct (TD) online accounts if both spouses wish to purchase I Bonds up to the maximum $10,000 limit.
There is no limit on the total amount that any person or entity can own in savings bonds.
$10,000 limit: Up to $10,000 of I bonds can be purchased, per person (or entity), per year. A married couple can each purchase $10,000 per year ($20,000 per year total).
Married couples and children
The limit for purchasing I bonds is per person, so a married couple can each put up to $10,000 in the investment annually, or up to $15,000 each if they both also elect to get tax refunds in paper I bonds. Families with kids can also invest up to the annual limit on behalf of each child.
A married couple must open two separate TreasuryDirect accounts if both spouses wish to purchase I Bonds. Each account is limited to purchasing $10,000 per person per calendar year, so if you want to purchase $20,000 in a year, you need two accounts.
Family – Each person can buy I bonds for up to $10,000 in a calendar year. For 2022, a married couple could each buy $10,000, thus investing $20,000 as a family. Then, in January 2022, they could buy $20,000 more. Also, you can purchase I bonds for each child, and if you have a trust, the trust can buy them.
Gifting electronic EE or I savings bonds
For electronic savings bonds as gifts, both you and the recipient must have a TreasuryDirect account. TreasuryDirect is the official United States government application in which you can buy and keep savings bonds.
You can use your refund to buy savings bonds and designate ownership or co-ownership for someone else, such as a child, grandchild or anyone, or elect a beneficiary using form 8888.
“The $10,000 limit is per entity, not per person,” says Parker. “You can have as many entities as you want.” That is, if you have a business, that business can also purchase Series I bonds up to the $10,000 annual limit.
Two owners co-own the bond. If one owner dies, the other becomes the single or sole owner. Neither owner can be an entity. The first-named owner is the primary owner.
As of October 2022, each individual entity can purchase up to $10,000 worth of Series I bonds in a year.
Log into your primary TreasuryDirect® account. Click the ManageDirect tab at the top of the page. Under the heading Manage My Linked Accounts, click "Establish a Minor Linked Account".
Yes. The owner can transfer EE and I Bonds to another person with a TreasuryDirect account; however, you must wait five business days after the purchase date to transfer the bonds.
First, you can name a person as either a co-owner or beneficiary. You likely want to name a beneficiary. Either way, at your death that person gets the bond.
Separate Account for Spouse
If your spouse also wants to buy I Bonds, he or she must open a separate account. However, you can specify a second owner or beneficiary on the bonds you buy in your personal account. You do that at the holdings level at the time of each purchase.
Gifting electronic EE or I savings bonds
For electronic savings bonds as gifts, both you and the recipient must have a TreasuryDirect account. TreasuryDirect is the official United States government application in which you can buy and keep savings bonds.
Once in your TreasuryDirect account, the bond will be registered in your name alone. You can then add either a secondary owner or beneficiary. Once you have a TreasuryDirect account, you can convert other paper bonds you own to electronic bonds.
To buy an I bond, you'll first need to set up an account with TreasuryDirect. [1] The person you're buying one for also needs an account, but they can create that after receiving the I bond. You'll need the recipient's full name and Social Security or tax ID number.
As of October 2022, each individual entity can purchase up to $10,000 worth of Series I bonds in a year. All bonds must be registered electronically through TreasuryDirect.
Log into your primary TreasuryDirect® account. Click the ManageDirect tab at the top of the page. Under the heading Manage My Linked Accounts, click "Establish a Minor Linked Account".
Normally, you're limited to purchasing $10,000 per person on electronic Series I bonds per year. However, the government allows those with a federal tax refund to invest up to $5,000 of that refund into paper I bonds.
I Bond Cons
The initial rate is only guaranteed for the first six months of ownership. After that, the rate can fall, even to zero. One-year lockup. You can't get your money back at all the first year, so you shouldn't invest any funds you'll absolutely need anytime soon.
Family – Each person can buy I bonds for up to $10,000 in a calendar year. For 2022, a married couple could each buy $10,000, thus investing $20,000 as a family. Then, in January 2022, they could buy $20,000 more. Also, you can purchase I bonds for each child, and if you have a trust, the trust can buy them.
The biggest red flag for short-term investors: You can't redeem these bonds for a year after you purchase them, and you'll owe a penalty equal to three months' interest if you cash out any time over the first five years of owning the bond.