Voluntary Tax Withholding on Promoting I Bonds at TreasuryDirect

Many individuals purchased I Bonds final yr when charges have been excessive. As inflation has come down and rates of interest have gone up elsewhere, some are planning to promote their I Bonds to purchase new I Bonds at a better mounted charge. I Bonds bought between Could 2020 and October 2022 have a 0% mounted charge for all times. The mounted charge on new I Bonds to be introduced on November 1 might doubtlessly go larger, probably to 1.5%. See Money Out Outdated I Bonds to Purchase New Ones for a Higher Price.

I selected to purchase TIPS for higher inflation safety than I Bonds after I offered a few of my I Bonds on August 1. The cash went into Constancy’s TIPS fund (ticker FIPDX). The yield on 5-year TIPS is above 2% as I’m penning this on August 30, 2023. I’m planning to promote extra older I Bonds on October 1 to purchase extra shares in that TIPS fund. Please learn extra on this in Higher Inflation Safety with TIPS Than I Bonds.

Most individuals go by the default tax remedy on I Bonds and defer taxes on the curiosity till they promote (see I Bonds Tax Therapy Throughout Your Lifetime and After You Die). By default, TreasuryDirect doesn’t withhold any taxes from the proceeds as a result of the IRS doesn’t require tax withholding on curiosity funds. Banks usually don’t withhold taxes once they pay curiosity in financial savings accounts or CDs both. You obtain a 1099 from TreasuryDirect subsequent yr and report the curiosity revenue in your tax return.

Some individuals choose to have taxes withheld even when tax withholding isn’t required. Taxes paid by way of withholding are assumed to have been paid all year long. It helps with some timing points.

For those who’d wish to have TreasuryDirect withhold taxes while you promote I Bonds, right here’s how you can do it.

Log in to your TreasuryDirect account and click on on “ManageDirect” on the highest.

Click on on “Replace my private info” below the heading “Handle My Account.”

Reply a safety query. Scroll to the underside. Change the “Withholding Price” from the default 0% to your required charge (as much as 50%). This new withholding charge will likely be used on all future gross sales. For those who purchase common Treasuries at TreasuryDirect, it impacts funds from these common Treasuries as effectively.

The withholding charge applies solely while you promote I Bonds. It doesn’t scale back the curiosity credited to your I Bonds when you nonetheless maintain them.

To promote (money out) your I Bonds, return to ManageDirect and click on on “Redeem securities.” You will note this on the evaluate web page after you choose the I Bonds to money out:

I set the withholding charge to twenty% for this check. TreasuryDirect is aware of how a lot curiosity is included within the sale. The withholding charge solely applies to the curiosity portion, to not the gross quantity. TreasuryDirect doesn’t withhold state taxes as a result of I Bonds are exempt from state taxes.

For those who select to have TreasuryDirect withhold taxes, the quantity withheld for federal revenue tax will likely be in Field 4 of Kind 1099-INT along with the curiosity quantity in Field 3. Tax software program will take them into consideration while you enter each quantities from the 1099 kind. Be sure to obtain the 1099 kind from TreasuryDirect subsequent yr. TreasuryDirect will ship an e-mail when the shape is prepared however it is best to set a reminder in your calendar in case you miss the e-mail.

Having TreasuryDirect withhold taxes from the sale is totally elective. I select not to do this as a result of I choose to pay quarterly estimated taxes myself, but it surely works completely effectively in the event you choose withholding.