U.S. Retirement Plan Bonds (issued January 1, 1963 to April 30, 1982) and U.S. Individual Retirement Bonds (January 1, 1975 to April 30, 1982) are paper Treasury bonds sold at face value, and some of them still earn interest in November 2026.
Series A to D, E, F, G, H, J, K, HH and the Savings Notes have all stopped.
These two bonds stop by a different rule: the owner's death or age 70 1/2. Both are cashed by mail with FS Form 1522, and this page calls them "retirement bonds" together. ClaimMyBonds is a private, independent guide, not Treasury or TreasuryDirect. Treasury charges no fee to cash these bonds, and the forms are free.
What Are U.S. Retirement Plan Bonds and Individual Retirement Bonds?
U.S. Retirement Plan Bonds are paper Treasury bonds issued at face value from January 1, 1963 to April 30, 1982 under 31 CFR part 341, in $50, $100, $500 and $1,000 face values, with no fixed maturity date. Face value is the dollar amount printed on the bond. The buyer paid exactly that amount.
U.S. Individual Retirement Bonds were issued from January 1, 1975 to April 30, 1982 under 31 CFR part 346, also at face value, in $50, $75, $100 and $500 face values.
Their end date depends on age: the bond matures in the month the owner reaches 70 1/2. Both bonds count among the savings bonds Treasury has sold.
TreasuryDirect lists both bonds on its historical and retired bonds page, outside the lettered series shown under types of US savings bonds. The regulation and Treasury's forms call the person named on a Retirement Plan Bond the "registered owner", the wording used on this page.
The table below compares the two bonds in 10 rows.
Table 1: Retirement Plan Bonds and Individual Retirement Bonds at a glance
| Attribute | Retirement Plan Bonds | Individual Retirement Bonds |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation | 31 CFR part 341 | 31 CFR part 346 |
| Issued | January 1, 1963 to April 30, 1982 | January 1, 1975 to April 30, 1982 |
| Price | Face value | Face value |
| Face values | $50, $100, $500, $1,000 | $50, $75, $100, $500 |
| Interest stops | By the 60th month after the owner's death | Near age 70 1/2, or within 60 months after death if earlier (see Table 3) |
| Still earning | Some | Some |
| Age rule | TreasuryDirect: may be cashed at any age | TreasuryDirect: 10% penalty before 59 1/2 unless rolled over or disabled |
| Cashing | FS Form 1522 by mail | FS Form 1522 by mail |
| After death | FS Form 3565 or representative; no reissue | FS Form 3565 or representative; no reissue |
| Outstanding, October 31, 2026 | $39.19 million | $11.84 million |
Sources: TreasuryDirect historical and retired bonds page (checked November 11, 2026); 31 CFR 341.1(b) and 346.1(b); FS Form 3565 (Revised August 2022); Fiscal Data Monthly Statement of the Public Debt (October 31, 2026).
Retirement Bonds vs Series E, H, EE and HH Savings Bonds
Five other savings bonds were on sale in some of the same years (Series E, H, EE, HH and the Savings Notes), and only Series H and HH were also sold at face value.
Series E cost 75% of face until June 1980, and paper Series EE cost half of face from January 1980. Series H and HH were sold at face from $500.
A face-value price with $50 to $100 face values is what sets retirement bonds apart. The table below sets the bonds sold between 1963 and 1982 side by side.
Table 2: Savings bonds sold between 1963 and 1982
| Bond | Sold and price | Interest today | Cash at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series E savings bonds | May 1941 to June 1980; 75% of face | Stopped; last in June 2010 | Bank or FS Form 1522 |
| Series H savings bonds | June 1952 to December 1979; face | Stopped; last in December 2009 | FS Form 1522 by mail |
| Series EE savings bonds | Paper, January 1980 to December 2011; half of face | Issues to November 1996 stopped | Bank or FS Form 1522 |
| Series HH savings bonds | January 1980 to August 2004; face | All stopped by August 1, 2024 | FS Form 1522 (Treasury only) |
| Savings Notes | May 1967 to October 1970; 81% of face | Stopped by October 2000 | Bank or FS Form 1522 |
| Retirement Plan and Individual Retirement Bonds | 1963 or 1975 to April 30, 1982; face | Some still earn | FS Form 1522 by mail |
Sources: 31 CFR 316.1, 316.2(b), 316.8(b), 332.8, 342.0, 351.5, 352.2, 321.7(a), 321.9(b); TreasuryDirect, as of November 11, 2026.
Do Retirement Plan Bonds Still Earn Interest?
Yes, some do: TreasuryDirect says some Retirement Plan Bonds and Individual Retirement Bonds continue to earn interest, because neither bond stops at a fixed number of years from issue. Each stops by the owner's death or age instead.
Every other retired series has stopped: Series A to D, E, F, G, H, J, K and the Savings Notes, and Series HH since August 2024. The reasons are set out under when savings bonds stop earning interest. Not every retirement bond earns today, and no rate is published here.
Retirement Plan Bonds: Interest Stops by the 60th Month After the Owner's Death
A Retirement Plan Bond stops earning interest at the accrual date on or before the first day of the 60th month after the registered owner's death (31 CFR 341.1(b)), which TreasuryDirect summarizes as 5 years after the owner's death.
An interest accrual date is a date on which interest is added to the bond's value (31 CFR 341.1).
While the owner lives, the bond has no maturity date and keeps earning. Interest therefore never stops because of the bond's age alone, which sets it apart from every lettered series.
Individual Retirement Bonds: Interest Stops at Age 70 1/2 or Five Years After Death
An Individual Retirement Bond matures on the first day of the month the owner reaches age 70 1/2, and its interest stops at the interest accrual date on or before the first day of the 7th month after the owner's 70th birthday, or on or before the first day of the 60th month after the owner's death if earlier (31 CFR 346.1(b)). TreasuryDirect summarizes the rule as "when owner reaches 70 1/2".
Our calculation from 31 CFR 346.1(b): an owner born in March 1957 reaches 70 1/2 in September 2027, so the maturity date is September 1, 2027. Interest stops at the last accrual date on or before October 1, 2027. The table below lists each situation.
Table 3: When interest stops, by situation
| Bond and situation | Interest stops | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Retirement Plan Bond, owner living | No stop date; keeps earning | 31 CFR 341.1(b) |
| Retirement Plan Bond, owner died | Accrual date on or before the first day of the 60th month after death | 31 CFR 341.1(b) |
| Individual Retirement Bond, owner living | Maturity on the first day of the month the owner reaches 70 1/2; interest stops at the last accrual date on or before the first day of the 7th month after the 70th birthday | 31 CFR 346.1(b) |
| Individual Retirement Bond, owner died before 70 1/2 | Last accrual date on or before the first day of the 60th month after death, if earlier than the age 70 1/2 date | 31 CFR 346.1(b) |
| Example: owner born March 1957 | Maturity September 1, 2027; interest stops at the last accrual date on or before October 1, 2027 (our calculation) | 31 CFR 346.1(b) |
Sources: 31 CFR 341.1(b), 346.1(b) (eCFR, as of November 11, 2026); TreasuryDirect historical and retired bonds page.
Penalties: Cashing an Individual Retirement Bond Before Age 59 1/2
Cashing an Individual Retirement Bond before age 59 1/2 can bring a 10% penalty, unless the bond is rolled over or the owner is disabled (TreasuryDirect).
TreasuryDirect says Retirement Plan Bonds may be cashed by the owner at any age, though 31 CFR 341.8 sets its own conditions for lifetime redemption. This page states no rule on tax on savings bond interest for retirement bonds.
31 CFR 346.8(b)(1) describes the 10% as an additional federal income tax under section 409(c) of the 1954 Internal Revenue Code. How it applies today is a question for a tax professional, so ask one before cashing an Individual Retirement Bond early.
Our calculation: an owner born in 1966 or earlier is already past 59 1/2 in November 2026. For those owners the early-cashing penalty statement no longer applies by age.
Retirement Plan Bond Rates and Values: What Treasury Publishes
No: neither TreasuryDirect's Savings Bond Calculator, which prices paper EE, I, E and Savings Notes, nor our calculator, which prices paper EE and E, prices a Retirement Plan Bond or an Individual Retirement Bond, and this page states no rate or value for them.
The rates by issue date appear in 31 CFR 341.1(a) and 346.1(a); this page does not turn them into a value.
Both bonds were sold at face value, and Treasury sets the amount it pays when it processes your FS Form 1522. Our savings bond calculator prices other paper bonds but not retirement bonds.
Treasury's Monthly Statement of the Public Debt listed $39.19 million of Retirement Plan Bonds and $11.84 million of Individual Retirement Bonds outstanding on October 31, 2026 (Fiscal Data). Those are dollars outstanding, not a count of bonds.
How to Cash Retirement Plan Bonds and Individual Retirement Bonds by Mail
Cash a Retirement Plan Bond or an Individual Retirement Bond by mailing it with FS Form 1522 to Treasury Retail Securities Services in Minneapolis; Treasury pays by direct deposit and charges no fee.
Treasury Retail Securities Services is Treasury's paper-bond office. FS Form 3565 says the proceeds are subject to 10% federal income tax withholding unless the payee elects out, and are reported on Form 1099-R.
The official title of FS Form 1522 names "Savings and Retirement Securities" and lists both bonds. The four steps for cashing a retirement bond by mail are listed below.
- Fill out FS Form 1522 (Revised April 2026): describe each bond by issue date and serial number, and give the account for direct deposit.
- Sign it with an ID copy (driver's license, passport, state ID or military ID) when the bonds total $1,000 or less in current redemption value, or before a notary or certifying officer above $1,000; see savings bond signature certification.
- Mail the form and the bonds to Treasury Retail Securities Services, P.O. Box 9150, Minneapolis, MN 55480-9150.
- Allow three months or longer for bonds in your name and five months or longer for bonds not in your name (TreasuryDirect, as of November 11, 2026).
Retirement Bonds Are Not a Bank Series
Retirement bonds are not a bank series: 31 CFR 321.7(a), the list of series a paying agent may pay, names Series A, B, C, D, E, EE, I and Savings Notes only. A paying agent is a bank or other institution that pays savings bonds for Treasury.
TreasuryDirect gives FS Form 1522 by mail as the route for both retirement bonds. Neither bond appears in the list of series 31 CFR 321.9(b) says paying agents may not pay.
Banks that cash paper bonds are covered under what banks cash savings bonds, which lists the bank-payable series. A retirement bond is not among them.
Retirement Bonds After the Owner's Death: FS Form 3565 or the Estate's Representative
After the owner's death, a retirement bond is cashed in one of 3 ways: a surviving beneficiary named on the bond signs FS Form 1522; if there is none, the estate's court-appointed representative signs FS Form 1522; or, when no representative has been appointed and none is pending, the persons entitled apply on FS Form 3565. The table below shows who signs in each case.
Table 4: Who cashes a deceased owner's retirement bonds
| Situation | Who signs | Form and signature |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficiary named on the bond survived the owner | The beneficiary | FS Form 1522; certified death certificate of the owner |
| Estate administered | Court-appointed representative, with title; letters dated within six months (31 CFR 341.9(a)(1), 346.9(a)(1)) | FS Form 1522; notary or certifying officer above $1,000; savings bonds in probate |
| No representative appointed or pending | Surviving spouse; else all children and descendants of deceased children; else both parents or the survivor; else other next of kin under the law of the last legal residence | FS Form 3565, certifying officer only; then FS Form 5396 or SF 1199A per payee |
| Heir wants the bond in their own name | Not allowed | "MAY NOT BE REISSUED" |
Sources: FS Form 3565 (Revised August 2022); FS Form 1522 (Revised April 2026); TreasuryDirect, as of November 11, 2026.
FS Form 3565 (Revised August 2022, OMB 1530-0032) is signed before a certifying officer, an official authorized to certify signatures; it names no notary. Each payee then sends FS Form 5396 or SF 1199A.
Send certified death certificates of the owner and any beneficiary with the application, by mail to P.O. Box 9150; Treasury says allow five months or longer (as of November 11, 2026). Ask the estate's attorney about individual decisions.
No Reissue After the Registered Owner Dies
Treasury does not reissue a retirement bond to an heir: FS Form 3565 states "RETIREMENT PLAN AND INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT BONDS MAY NOT BE REISSUED AFTER THE DEATH OF THE REGISTERED OWNER." The bond is cashed, not moved to a new name.
Other series can often be reissued, as the guide to savings bonds after death explains. This page states no tax rule that applies on an owner's death.
Lost Retirement Bonds and Changes While the Owner Is Alive
Two more Treasury forms name retirement bonds: FS Form 1048 for a lost, stolen or destroyed bond, and FS Form 4000 to reissue a bond while the owner is alive. Both are signed before a notary or certifying officer. Mail FS Form 1048 to P.O. Box 9150.
Use FS Form 4000 for a name change, beneficiary change or divorce, and never after the owner's death (see the no-reissue rule above). The table below lists the forms.
Table 5: Treasury forms for retirement bonds
| Form | Use | Signature |
|---|---|---|
| FS Form 1522 (Rev. April 2026, OMB 1530-0028) | Cash by mail | ID copy at $1,000 or less; notary or certifying officer above |
| FS Form 1048 (Rev. March 2026, OMB 1530-0021) | Lost, stolen or destroyed bond | Notary or certifying officer |
| FS Form 4000 (Rev. April 2026, OMB 1530-0025) | Reissue while the owner lives | Notary or certifying officer |
| FS Form 3565 (Rev. August 2022, OMB 1530-0032); see savings bond forms | Heirs, estate not administered | Certifying officer only |
| FS Form 5396 (Rev. April 2026, OMB 1530-0050) | Direct deposit for each FS Form 3565 payee | No certification block |
Sources: form PDFs on TreasuryDirect, checked November 11, 2026.
Retirement Bonds and the Other Retired Savings Bonds
Retirement bonds sit outside the lettered series, and the other retired savings bonds differ in price, term and where they are cashed. Table 2 compares the bonds sold in the same years.
Series E and EE Bonds Sold in the Same Years
Series E (May 1941 to June 1980, 75% of face) and paper Series EE (from January 1980, half of face) overlap the retirement bond years. Series E has stopped earning, and paper EE follows a 30-year rule. US Savings Notes (Freedom Shares) were sold May 1967 to October 1970 at 81% of face.
Older Retired Series: A to D, F, G, J, K, H and HH
Series A to D (March 1935 to April 1941, 75% of face, 10 years) and F, G, J and K (1941 to April 1957, 12 years) are older bonds that have all stopped earning.
They are cashed by mail with FS Form 1522. See Series A, B, C and D savings bonds and Series F, G, J and K savings bonds.
Retirement Bonds FAQ
Can You Still Buy Retirement Plan Bonds?
No. Sales of both bonds ended April 30, 1982, and only electronic Series EE and I bonds are sold today.
Are Retirement Plan Bonds the Same as Bonds Held in a 401(k) or IRA?
They were Treasury bonds sold only for qualified retirement plans (Retirement Plan Bonds, 31 CFR 341.0) and to individuals saving for retirement with a tax deduction (Individual Retirement Bonds, 31 CFR 346.0), registered to one person and cashed through Treasury. Bond funds or brokerage bonds in a 401(k) or IRA today are a different product this site does not cover.
Are Retirement Bonds in Treasury's Count of Unclaimed Savings Bonds?
Treasury publishes a count of 103,064,737 matured, unredeemed paper bonds (all series, September 30, 2026), but its series codes are not confirmed to match these bonds. This page states no count of retirement bonds; see unclaimed savings bonds.
Does the 10% Penalty Apply to Retirement Plan Bonds?
TreasuryDirect says Retirement Plan Bonds may be cashed by the owner at any age, and ties its 10% penalty statement to Individual Retirement Bonds cashed before 59 1/2. 31 CFR 341.8 sets its own conditions for Retirement Plan Bonds, so ask a tax professional.
Claiming from Treasury and from state programs costs nothing, and the forms are free. Found bonds you cannot cash, or a relative's bonds? ClaimMyBonds is a private company, not the government; we can help with the paperwork, tracing and follow-up.