I 债券，也被称为美国储蓄债券，是由美国财政部发行的一种储蓄债券。I 债券旨在为个人提供一种安全可靠且便于存取的投资和储蓄方式，同时防范通货膨胀。
以下是 I 债券的一些主要特点：
- 防通胀保护： I 债券独特之处在于其利率由固定利率和通货膨胀率组成。通货膨胀率每六个月根据城市消费者物价指数（CPI-U）的变化进行调整。这意味着 I 债券上的利息随通货膨胀而变化，为您的资金购买力提供了保护。
- 利息计算： I 债券的利息是由固定利率和半年通货膨胀率的组合计算而得。利息每半年复利一次。
- 税收优惠： I 债券上赚取的利息免除州和地方所得税。此外，如果 I 债券的资金用于合格的高等教育支出，利息可能也会免除联邦所得税。
- 购买限制： 2023年9月，根据最新政策，个人可以在每个日历年内通过 TreasuryDirect 网站以电子方式购买高达1万美元的 I 债券。此外，纸质 I 债券不再在金融机构销售，但您仍然可以使用税款退款购买它们, 每人每年最高可以通过退税购买额外5000美金的 I 债券。
- 流动性： 尽管 I 债券有最低持有期限为一年，但如果持有时间不到五年，可以在一年后赎回，罚款为三个月的利息。五年后，赎回 I 债券不再需要支付罚款。
- 长期投资： I 债券的到期期限为30年。尽管可以在一年后赎回，但它们的设计初衷是长期持有，以充分利用其防通胀特性。
I 债券可能适合那些希望在保持与通货膨胀同步的同时投资于低风险储蓄工具的人。然而，值得注意的是，I 债券的利率可能会有所变动，而且在通货膨胀较低的时期，其利率可能不会始终与其他投资选项竞争。在做出投资决策之前，务必考虑您的财务目标和当前的经济状况。请从官方来源获取最新信息，因为政策和法规可能自我上次更新以来发生了变化。
I Bonds, also known as U.S. Savings Bonds, are a type of savings bond issued by the United States Department of the Treasury. I Bonds are designed to provide a safe and accessible way for individuals to invest and save money while protecting against inflation.
Here are some key features of I Bonds:
- Inflation Protection: I Bonds are unique because their interest rates consist of a fixed rate and an inflation rate. The inflation rate is adjusted every six months based on changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). This means that the interest earned on I Bonds keeps pace with inflation, providing a level of protection for the purchasing power of your money.
- Interest Calculation: The interest on I Bonds is calculated using a combination of the fixed rate and the semiannual inflation rate. The interest is compounded semiannually.
- Tax Benefits: The interest earned on I Bonds is exempt from state and local income taxes. Additionally, if the funds from I Bonds are used for qualified higher education expenses, the interest may also be exempt from federal income taxes.
- Purchase Limits: As in September 2023, individuals are allowed to purchase up to $10,000 worth of I Bonds per calendar year electronically through the TreasuryDirect website. Additionally, paper I Bonds are no longer sold at financial institutions, but you can still purchase them using your tax refund, each individual is allowed to purchase up to additional $5,000 worth of I Bonds per calendar year by using tax refund.
- Liquidity: While I Bonds have a minimum holding period of one year, they can be redeemed after one year with a penalty of three months’ interest if held for less than five years. After five years, there’s no penalty for redeeming I Bonds.
- Long-Term Investment: I Bonds have a maturity period of 30 years. While you can redeem them after one year, they are designed to be held longer to take full advantage of their inflation-protecting features.
I Bonds can be a suitable option for those who want to invest in a low-risk savings vehicle while keeping up with inflation. However, it’s important to note that interest rates on I Bonds can vary and may not always be competitive with other investment options, especially during periods of low inflation. Always consider your financial goals and current economic conditions before making investment decisions. Please verify the most up-to-date information from official sources, as policies and regulations may have changed since my last update.