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Form 8818: Optional Form To Record Redemption of Series EE and I U.S. Savings Bonds Issued After 1989
Treasury Form 8818 is an optional record of redemption for Series EE and I U.S. Savings Bonds issued after 1989, filed by individuals. This form helps determine interest that may be excluded from income when filing taxes.
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IRS Form 8818 - Optional Form To Record Redemption of Series EE and I U.S. Savings Bonds Issued After 1989
Treasury Form 8818 is an optional record of redemption for Series EE and I U.S. Savings Bonds issued after 1989, filed by individuals. This form helps determine interest that may be excluded from income when filing taxes.
Risk Radar
Scan points- 1Do not send Form 8818 to the IRS; keep it only for your records.
- 2Failing to use a separate Form 8818 each time bonds are cashed.
- 3Not listing the correct issue date on Line 1 (must be after 1989).
- 4Excluding post-1989 series EE bonds converted from paper without noting them in Part II/Line 4.
- 5Forgetting to calculate total interest on Line 7 by subtracting Line 7 from Line 6.
Plain English
This form lets you keep a record of the post-1989 Series EE and I bonds you cash in. You use this information to figure out how much bond interest you can exclude from your taxable income when you file your return. Additionally, if you paid qualified higher education expenses, you may be able to exclude part or all of that interest.
Submission Date
- Filing date: 2012-07-17 00:00:00
- Preparation window: collect IDs, supporting records, and signatures in advance.
- Final review: verify names, dates, and required fields before submission.
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What this form is for
- Use this form when you cash Series EE or Series I U.S. Savings Bonds that were issued after 1989.
- Do not use Form 8818 when you do not intend to exclude the interest from your income, although keeping records detailing the required information is recommended.
- Check Form 8815 instead when you are specifically calculating and claiming the exclusion of interest from your income.
Form selector
Use this form or another form?
You have only cashed Paper Series EE Bonds
This part collects details for paper series EE bonds issued after 1989.
✓ Check if you skipped Part II.
You have cashed Series I or Electronic Series EE Bonds, but not both types separately
Use this section to detail the other type of bond you redeemed alongside paper series EE bonds.
✓ Ensure Part III is correctly omitted.
You only cashed electronic Series EE Bonds and/or Series I Bonds
This part collects details for these specific types when no Paper Series EE bonds were cashed in Part I.
✓ Verify that the totals on Line 7 are correct.
Deadline or filing window
The trigger event is cashing a Series EE or I U.S. Savings Bond issued after 1989. There is no specific deadline mentioned, but use this form every time bonds are cashed. The instructions do not specify an extension period for the form itself.
Checklist
What you need before filling it out
Purpose of Form
Record redemption of post-1989 EE and I bonds · General Instructions (p.2)
Qualifying Bonds for Exclusion
Must be issued after 1989 in your name, or spouse's name; filer must be age 24+ at issuance. · Specific Instructions (p.2)
Line 6 Calculation
Sum of Line 3 (Paper EE cost) and Line 5 (Other bond costs). · Part I (p.1)
Interest Calculation
Total Redemption Proceeds (Line 6) minus Total Cost (Line 7). · Part I (p.1)
Exclusion Requirement
Interest may be excluded from income if qualified higher education expenses were paid during the year. · General Instructions (p.2)
Before you submit
- 1Ensure you have used a separate Form 8818 each time you cash series EE or series I bonds issued after 1989.
- 2Verify that the Issue Date (Column b) for every bond entered is dated after 1989.
- 3Confirm that Line 6 correctly adds the total redemption proceeds from all listed bonds in Parts I and II.
- 4Check that Line 7 accurately subtracts the total cost of the bonds listed in Parts I and II from Line 6.
- 5Verify that Line 8 shows the correct result: Total Redemption Proceeds (Line 6) minus Total Cost (Line 7).
- 6Confirm Part I is complete for all Paper Series EE Bonds cashed after 1989.
- 7If applicable, confirm Part II details the other bonds cashed and that Part III is correctly omitted.
How to file this form
- 1Complete Part I by entering information (Serial number, Issue date, Face value) for each Paper Series EE bond issued after 1989 onto Line 1.
- 2Calculate the total cost of these paper series EE bonds and enter it on Line 3; then, if applicable, complete Part II detailing other redeemed bonds.
- 3Enter the total redemption proceeds from all listed bonds (Parts I and II) onto Line 6, ensuring this figure matches what the teller provided.
- 4Calculate the final interest amount by subtracting the Total Cost (Line 7) from the Total Redemption Proceeds (Line 6), recording the result on Line 8 for record-keeping.
Known limitations
- 1The form is optional; it helps record redemption but is not required unless the filer intends to exclude interest from income.
- 2A separate Form 8818 must be used each time a series EE or series I bond issued after 1989 is cashed.
- 3Bonds issued before 1990 should be separated from bonds issued after 1989 prior to cashing for Part I entry.
- 4If an individual does not use Form 8818 but intends to exclude interest, the filer must keep records containing the information asked on this form.
Field map
Compact field-by-field guide
Entity Info
1 items
Name and taxpayer ID of the entity claiming the credit.
Credit Info
1 items
Type of credit or incentive being claimed.
Calculation
2 items
The base amount used to calculate the credit.
Calculated credit amount after applying formulas and limitations.
Certification
1 items
Detailed breakdown supporting the credit calculation.
Signatures
1 items
Sign and date the form.
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Fillable formOpen in Editor->The current edition is dated December 2007 (Rev. 12-2007). The source does not point to a separate page for the absolute latest information, but all facts are derived from this specific revision.
What changed or needs a fresh check
- Edition date — confirm the revision date reads 12-2007.
- Form Number — confirm the form number is 8818 and OMB No. is 1545-0074.
- Purpose — confirm the official title is Optional Form To Record Redemption of Series EE and I U.S. Savings Bonds Issued After 1989.
- Retention Rule — confirm you must keep Form 8818 for your records, as it does not need to be sent to the IRS.
Quick Facts
Downloads
After you file
- 1Keep Form 8818 for personal records; do not send it to the IRS.
- 2The information from Form 8818 is needed to complete Form 8815, Exclusion of Interest From Series EE and I U.S. Savings Bonds Issued After 1989.
- 3Interest on the bonds listed on Form 8818 is exempt from state and local income taxes.
- 4If qualifying for exclusion due to qualified higher education expenses, note that interest may be taxed at the child’s rate once they reach age 18.
Sources
- SRCForm 8818 (Rev. 12-2007) is an optional record of redemption for post-1989 Series EE and I U.S. Savings Bonds.
- SRCThe form must be kept for the filer's records and does not need to be sent to the IRS [Form p.2].
- SRCFor each paper series EE bond, enter details on line 1 using columns (a), (b), and (c) [Form p.2].
- SRCThe issue date entered for any bond must be after 1989 [Form p.1].
- SRCPart I is used for Paper Series EE Bonds; Part II is for Series I Bonds; Part III is for Electronic Series EE Bonds [Form p.1].
- SRCFor series I bonds and electronic series EE bonds, enter details on line 4 using columns (a), (b), and (c) [Form p.2].
Common confusion points
When do I use Part II instead of skipping straight to Part III on Form 8818?
Use Part II if you also cashed series I bonds or electronic series EE bonds, otherwise skip Part II and go to Part III.
→ Check the instructions for your income tax return.
What is the difference between Series EE and Series I bonds that should be entered in Part I vs. Part II/III?
Part I is for Paper Series EE Bonds; Part II is for Series I Bonds (if applicable); Part III is for Electronic Series EE Bonds (if applicable).
→ Confirm which section matches the physical bond type.
If my paper series EE bond was converted to electronic, where do it go on Form 8818?
Include post-1989 series EE bonds that were converted from paper to electronic in Part II.
→ Verify this placement against the instructions for your income tax return.
What qualifies as a 'qualified higher education expense'?
Expenses must be for you, your spouse, or your dependent and include tuition/fees, but not room and board required for college, university, or vocational school.
→ Review Pub. 550 or Pub. 970 for comprehensive details.
Does the bond have to be in my name to qualify for exclusion?
The bonds must be issued after 1989 in your name, or if married, they may be issued in your name and spouse's name.
→ Confirm the names listed on the bond certificate.
If I was under age 24 when the bond was issued, does that affect qualification?
A bond bought by a parent and issued for their child who is under age 24 will not qualify for the exclusion by the parent or the child.
→ Check the issue date relative to your age.
Workflow map
Related forms and next steps
Before
Current
After
Often used with
⚠ If something goes wrong
- Keep records of Form 8818 if you choose not to use the form but still want to exclude interest.
Questions about IRS Form 8818
What is IRS Form 8818 used for?
This form lets you keep a record of the post-1989 Series EE and I bonds you cash in. You use this information to figure out how much bond interest you can exclude from your taxable income when you file your return. Additionally, if you paid qualified higher education expenses, you may be able to exclude part or all of that interest.
Who must file IRS Form 8818?
Individuals who cash Series EE or Series I U.S. Savings Bonds issued after 1989 must use Form 8818 to keep a record.
What information does IRS Form 8818 require?
Part I collects data for individual bonds, while Part II details information for paper series EE bonds. Line 4 specifically requires data entry for each series I bond and electronic series EE bond issued after 1989.
When is IRS Form 8818 due?
Use Form 8818 each time you cash series EE or series I bonds issued after 1989; there is no single filing deadline stated.
Where do I file IRS Form 8818?
Keep Form 8818 for your records and do not send it to the IRS. The form itself does not specify a mailing address, only that it should be kept by the filer.
How do I complete IRS Form 8818?
Use a separate Form 8818 each time bonds are cashed. For Part I, enter details for individual bonds on Line 1; for Paper Series EE Bonds (Part II), use Line 2. Finally, ensure all relevant bond data is recorded before finalizing the form.
What happens if IRS Form 8818 is filed incorrectly?
If you choose not to use Form 8818 but intend to exclude interest from your income, failing to keep records with this information means you lack documentation for tax purposes.
When do I use Part II instead of skipping straight to Part III on Form 8818?
Use Part II if you also cashed series I bonds or electronic series EE bonds, otherwise skip Part II and go to Part III. Check the instructions for your income tax return.
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