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Form 8818: Optional Form To Record Redemption of Series EE and I U.S. Savings Bonds Issued After 1989
IRS Form 8818 is an optional record‑keeping form for individuals who cash Series EE or Series I U.S. Savings Bonds issued after 1989. It captures bond details and redemption amounts needed to claim the education‑interest exclusion on Form 8815.
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IRS Form 8818 - Optional Form To Record Redemption of Series EE and I U.S. Savings Bonds Issued After 1989
IRS Form 8818 is an optional record‑keeping form for individuals who cash Series EE or Series I U.S. Savings Bonds issued after 1989. It captures bond details and redemption amounts needed to claim the education‑interest exclusion on Form 8815.
Risk Radar
Scan points- 1Not keeping Form 8818 prevents you from claiming the education‑interest exclusion.
- 2Using a single Form 8818 for multiple cashing events instead of a separate form for each.
- 3Omitting the issue date (must be after 1989) for any bond listed.
- 4Failing to add the amounts in column (c) of line 1, leading to incorrect cost calculations.
- 5Including bonds issued before 1990 in Part I, which the form does not allow.
Plain English
Form 8818 lets you write down the key facts when you cash a post‑1989 Series EE or Series I bond. The information you record is later used to figure any interest you can exclude from income if you have qualified education expenses.
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 issued after 1989 and need a record for the education‑interest exclusion.
- Do not use it when you are not cashing post‑1989 Series EE or I bonds, or when you prefer to keep separate records instead of using the form.
- Check Form 8815 instead when you need to figure the amount of interest to exclude from income.
Form selector
Use this form or another form?
Cashing post‑1989 Series EE or I bonds and planning to claim the education‑interest exclusion
Provides the calculation to exclude interest from taxable income
✓ Verify qualified education expenses and bond eligibility
Preparing your annual income tax return after using Form 8818 records
Determines the exclusion amount to report on the return
✓ Confirm you meet age and education‑expense criteria
Reviewing bond interest for a dependent’s tax filing
Ensures the correct exclusion is applied for a child’s bonds
✓ Check that the bonds were issued after 1989 and the child was under 24 at issuance
Deadline or filing window
Not stated in the official source.
Checklist
What you need before filling it out
Date cashed
Date the bond was redeemed · Form 8818 line (Date cashed)
Name
Your legal name · Form 8818 line (Name)
Issue date (must be after 1989)
Bond issue date from certificate · Form 8818 line (b)
Face value
Original amount of the bond · Form 8818 column (c)
Serial number
Bond serial number from certificate · Form 8818 column (a)
Total redemption proceeds
Amount received from teller · Form 8818 line 5
Total cost of bonds
Sum of cost lines (3 + 5) · Form 8818 line 7
Total interest
Difference between proceeds and cost · Form 8818 line 8
Before you submit
- 1Confirm the form revision date reads 12‑2007
- 2Enter the correct date you cashed each bond
- 3Write your full legal name in the Name field
- 4Record each bond’s issue date, ensuring it is after 1989
- 5Enter each bond’s serial number accurately
- 6Input the face value for each bond in column (c)
- 7Obtain the total redemption proceeds figure from the teller and enter it on line 5
- 8Calculate and enter the cost of paper series EE bonds on line 3 if applicable
- 9Add lines 3 and 5 to get total cost on line 7
- 10Subtract line 7 from line 6 to determine total interest on line 8
- 11Keep the completed Form 8818 for your records
- 12Do not send Form 8818 to the IRS
How to file this form
- 1Gather all Series EE and Series I bonds issued after 1989 and the teller receipt
- 2Complete Form 8818 by entering bond details, redemption proceeds, and required calculations
- 3Review every entry for accuracy and ensure totals are correct
- 4Retain the finished Form 8818 with your tax records as proof of filing
- 5Use the information from Form 8818 when completing Form 8815 on your tax return
Known limitations
- 1Form 8818 does not apply to bonds issued before 1989 — Form p.1
- 2Form 8818 is optional; you are not required to file it with the IRS — Form p.1
- 3The education‑interest exclusion cannot be claimed for bonds issued when the owner was under age 24 — Form p.2
- 4You must use a separate Form 8818 for each cashing event; you cannot combine multiple cashings on one form — Form p.2
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 form is Revision December 2007 (Rev. 12‑2007); the source does not reference a newer revision or a latest‑information page.
What changed or needs a fresh check
- Edition date — confirm the revision reads 12‑2007
- OMB number — confirm OMB No. 1545-0074 appears on the form
- Fee — Not stated in the official source
- Mailing address — Not stated in the official source
- Signature — Not stated in the official source
Quick Facts
Downloads
After you file
- 1Keep the completed Form 8818 for your records — Form p.2
- 2Retain the form as long as its contents may become material to the administration of any Internal Revenue law — Form p.2
- 3Use the information on Form 8818 when completing Form 8815 to calculate any education‑interest exclusion — Form p.2
- 4Do not send Form 8818 to the IRS; it is for personal record‑keeping only — Form p.1
- 5Separate bonds issued after 1989 from those issued before 1990 before cashing them — Form p.2
Sources
- SRCForm p.1 — Form 8818 is optional and marked “Do not send to the IRS.”
- SRCForm p.2 — Use a separate Form 8818 each time you cash series EE or series I bonds issued after 1989.
- SRCForm p.1 — Issue date (must be after 1989) is required for each bond entry.
- SRCForm p.2 — Information on Form 8818 is needed to complete Form 8815 for the education‑interest exclusion.
- SRCForm p.2 — Interest on U.S. savings bonds is exempt from state and local income taxes.
- SRCForm p.2 — Exclusion requires bonds issued after 1989 in your name or spouse’s name and you must have been age 24 or older before issuance.
- SRCForm p.2 — Qualified higher education expenses include tuition and fees but not room and board; also contributions to qualified tuition programs or Coverdell ESA.
- SRCForm p.2 — Books or records must be retained as long as their contents may become material in the administration of any Internal Revenue law.
- SRCForm p.2 — Before cashing series EE bonds, separate bonds issued after 1989 from those issued before 1990.
Common confusion points
Do I have to mail Form 8818 to the IRS?
The form is labeled “Do not send to the IRS.”
→ Verify the form’s top note says “Do not send to the IRS.” — Form p.1
Can I record several bond cashings on one Form 8818?
Instructions say to use a separate Form 8818 each time you cash bonds.
→ Ensure you start a new Form 8818 for each cashing event. — Form p.2
Does this form work for bonds issued before 1989?
Issue date field requires a date after 1989.
→ Check the bond’s issue date is after 1989 before filling the form. — Form p.1
Do I need Form 8818 if I’m not claiming the education exclusion?
The form is optional and can be replaced by other records.
→ Confirm you are keeping equivalent records if you skip Form 8818. — Form p.2
Will the interest on my bonds be reported on my state tax return?
Interest is exempt from state and local income taxes.
→ Verify your state tax instructions exclude bond interest. — Form p.2
Can a bond bought by a parent for a child under 24 qualify for the exclusion?
The source states a bond issued to a child under 24 does not qualify for exclusion.
→ Ensure the bond owner was 24 or older at issuance for exclusion eligibility. — Form p.2
Workflow map
Related forms and next steps
Before
Current
After
Often used with
⚠ If something goes wrong
- Form 8818 – you may keep alternative records if you choose not to use Form 8818 but still need the information. — Form p.2
Questions about IRS Form 8818
What is IRS Form 8818 used for?
Form 8818 lets you write down the key facts when you cash a post‑1989 Series EE or Series I bond. The information you record is later used to figure any interest you can exclude from income if you have qualified education expenses.
Who must file IRS Form 8818?
Anyone who cashes a Series EE or Series I U.S. Savings Bond issued after 1989 files Form 8818.
What information does IRS Form 8818 require?
The form collects the cash date, bond holder’s name, issue date, face value, serial number, redemption proceeds, cost, and total interest, using Part I, Part II and Part III lines 1‑8.
Where do I file IRS Form 8818?
Do not send Form 8818 to the IRS; keep it for your records.
How do I complete IRS Form 8818?
Use a new Form 8818 each time you cash bonds issued after 1989. Enter bond details in Part I for paper Series EE bonds, then move to Part II for Series I or electronic EE bonds, and finish with Part III. Add the amounts in column (c) of line 1, calculate cost and interest as instructed, and retain the completed form.
What happens if IRS Form 8818 is filed incorrectly?
Without the recorded information you cannot complete Form 8815 and may lose the education‑interest exclusion.
Do I have to mail Form 8818 to the IRS?
The form is labeled “Do not send to the IRS.” Verify the form’s top note says “Do not send to the IRS.” — Form p.1
Can I record several bond cashings on one Form 8818?
Instructions say to use a separate Form 8818 each time you cash bonds. Ensure you start a new Form 8818 for each cashing event. — Form p.2
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