How to Buy Treasury Bonds and Bills (2024)

There are several ways to buy Treasuries. For many people, TreasuryDirect is a good option; however, retirement savers and investors who already have brokerage accounts are often better off buying bonds on the secondary market or with exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Treasury money market accounts also offer more convenience and liquidity than TreasuryDirect.

Key Takeaways

  • TreasuryDirect allows investors to buy Treasury bonds and bills directly from the U.S. government.
  • It is not possible to open IRAs or other tax-advantaged accounts at TreasuryDirect.
  • Investors must transfer bonds from TreasuryDirect to banks or brokerages if they want to sell them before the maturity date.
  • Some of the other ways to buy treasuries include ETFs, money market accounts, and the secondary market.
  • When you buy bond ETFs or bonds on the secondary market through a broker, you can hold them in an IRA or another tax-free retirement account.

TreasuryDirect

TreasuryDirect is an electronic marketplace and online account system where investors can buy, hold, and redeem eligible book-entry Treasury securities. The TreasuryDirect system is run by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Individual investors with TreasuryDirect accounts can participate in Treasury debt auctions and purchase debt securities including U.S. savings bonds directly from the U.S. Treasury. Opening an account takes about 10 minutes. TreasuryDirect offers a simple and relatively inexpensive way to buy government debt securities.

While you can't open tax-advantaged retirement accounts at TreasuryDirect, you can do so at banks and brokers.

Investors must have a valid Social Security number (or taxpayer identification number) and a U.S. address. They also need an email address, a web browser that supports 128-bit encryption, and a checking or savings account.

Bear in mind that you can't redeem Treasuries purchased on TreasuryDirect before maturity. If you decide that you need or want to sell them, you must transfer your securities to a broker and then sell them on the secondary market through that broker.

How to Purchase Treasuries on TreasuryDirect

Eligible securities for TreasuryDirect purchases include Treasury bills, Treasury notes, Treasury bonds, Floating Rate Notes (FRNs), and Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS). Buying is simple. Once you log on, you can access the BuyDirect system. You'll be prompted to select the owner of the security.

Many investors buy Treasuries for gifts and charitable transfers. You'll also choose the product type or term, source of funds, and the amount to purchase. You can schedule the purchase whenever you like and how often you like, although dates are subject to availability. The system will allow you to review your order before submitting it.

Securities are generally issued to your account within two business days of the purchase date for savings bonds or within one week of the auction date for bills, notes, bonds, FRNs, and TIPS.

Transfers into TreasuryDirect are permissible and start at the outgoing firm. That is unlike the ACAT transfer process for broker-to-broker transfers, which is initiated at the receiving firm.

Once T-bills have matured, their proceeds are easy to reinvest. Simply select the "schedule repeat purchases" option and then choose the number of repeat purchases and their frequency after you have finished entering the registration and purchase information for your transaction. Maturing notes and bonds may also be reinvested.

Your account is subject to several restrictions. The minimum purchase amount for savings bonds is $25 per person. Above that, savings bonds are sold in penny increments up to $10,000 per year. For T-bills, notes, bonds, and TIPS, an investor may submit noncompetitive bids from $100 up to $10 million for each security type in $100 increments.

How to Participate in Treasury Auctions

TreasuryDirect account holders can participate in Treasury auctions held on a regular schedule throughout the year. In 2022, there were 384 public auctions for $15 trillion in Treasury debt securities.

The first step in the auction process is the announcement of upcoming auctions, generally four to five business days before the auction date. The announcement discloses the date of the auction, the amount of a security to be auctioned, its issue and maturity dates, terms and conditions, eligible participants, and deadlines for competitive and noncompetitive bids.

Noncompetitive bids guarantee the bidder will receive the desired amount of the auctioned security at a price set by competitive bidders in the auction. Noncompetitive bids are limited to $10 million. Competitive bids specify the expecteddiscount rate, yield, or spread for a security and may only be filled in part, or not at all. Most individual investors make noncompetitive bids, while competitive bids typically come from financial institutions.

The second step of the auction process is the auction itself. On the auction date, the Treasury reviews all bids received for compliance with applicable rules. Compliant noncompetitive bids must be received by the close time stated in the auction announcement.

The final step of the auction process is the issuance of the securities. Securities are deposited to investor accounts, and payment is delivered to the Treasury.

Buying Treasuries at Auction: TreasuryDirect vs. Brokers

You can buy Treasuries at auction from online brokers for the same price as at TreasuryDirect. Some brokers may charge a fee for this service whereas others do not. In addition, there is a difference in the settlement process. TreasuryDirect takes your payment on the day the securities are issued, which is usually several days after the auction date. Some online brokers, on the other hand, may require payment before the issue date.

Finally, you can instruct TreasuryDirect to handle the rollover of funds from a maturing security into the purchase of another. Some brokers offer such automatic rollovers but you should check with yours for the details, including any fee charged for the service.

Transferring Treasuries Through TreasuryDirect

Treasuries can be held until they mature or sold before that time. To sell Treasuries held in your account at TreasuryDirect, first, you must transfer them to an account you have with a bank, broker, or dealer, and then place an order to sell them.

A Transfer Request Form must be completed online or on paper to transfer Treasuries out of your TreasuryDirect account. This form should indicate the correct routing number, bank name, and any special handling instructions for your transfer.

To redeem a savings bond electronically, click the "Redeem" button found near the bottom of the "Current Holdings" page. You will need to specify whether it is a partial or full redemption and furnish the payment destination where you want the redemption proceeds deposited.

The redeem button will not appear on the holdings page if there are no bonds eligible for online redemption in your account. You can redeem paper bonds at most local financial institutions, such as your bank. That is the easiest and quickest way to get access to your money.

Other Ways to Buy Treasuries

Some of the other ways to buy Treasuries include ETFs, money market accounts, and the secondary market.

Buying Treasuries as ETFs

It is possible to buy Treasuries through ETFs at most brokerages. ETFs are bought and sold like stocks, and many qualify for commission-free trades. Investors can choose from government bond ETFs focused on short-term Treasuries, long-term Treasuries, TIPS, and FRNs.

Treasury ETFs can be held in IRAs and other tax-advantaged retirement accounts.

Many Treasury ETFs have modest fees. Some of the largest funds offer expense ratios as low as 0.15% annually, making them a very affordable investment option.

Buying Treasury Bills Through the Money Market

You can also buy Treasury bills by investing in a Treasury money market mutual fund. Such funds typically have low fees and low yields limited by rates on the shortest-term Treasury bills.

The U.S. Treasury's Office of Financial Research tracks the investments of U.S. money market mutual funds in the aggregate and by financial institution.

Buying Treasuries in the Secondary Market

Buying Treasuries in the secondary market is easier than most people think. Many brokerages give their customers full access to the bond market, but fees vary. If buying and selling Treasuries is important to you, many of the best brokerages offer free trading for Treasury bonds.

Even better, you completely avoid the annual fees of ETFs and the money market. Buying standard U.S. government bonds is easier than buying most other bonds because all you need to know is the time to maturity. TIPS can be trickier to trade.

When you buy bonds on the secondary market through a broker, you can hold them in an IRA or another tax-free retirement account. Buying on the secondary market also makes it easier to sell Treasury bonds at a later date.

We recommend the best products through anindependent review process, and advertisers do not influence our picks. We may receive compensation if you visit partners we recommend. Read ouradvertiser disclosurefor more info.

Compare the Best Online Brokers
CompanyCategoryInvestopedia RatingAccount MinimumBasic Fee
Fidelity InvestmentsBest Overall and Best for Low Costs4.8$0$0 for stock/ETF trades, $0 plus $0.65/contract for options trade
TD AmeritradeBest for Beginners and Best Mobile App4.5$0$0 for stock/ETF trades, $0 plus $0.65/contract for options trade
TastytradeBest for Options3.8$0$0 stock/ETF trades, $1.00 to open options trades and $0 to close
Interactive BrokersBest for Advanced Traders and Best for International Trading4.6$0$0 for IBKR Lite, Maximum $0.005 per share for Pro platform or 1% of trade value
Charles SchwabBest for ETFs4.7$0$0 for stock/ETF trades, $0 plus $0.65/contract for options trade

How Do You Buy and Sell Short Term Treasury Bills?

You can buy short-term Treasury bills on TreasuryDirect, the U.S. government's portal for buying U.S. Treasuries. Short-term Treasury bills can also be bought and sold through a bank or broker. If you do not wish to hold your Treasuries until maturity, the only way to sell them is through a bank or broker.

How Many Treasury Bills Can You Buy?

The maximum amount of Treasury bills that you can buy in a single auction is $10 million if the bids are noncompetitive, or 35% of the offering amount for competitive bids.

How Do You Buy T-Bills Online?

You can buy T-bills online directly from the U.S. government at TreasuryDirect. Alternatively, you can also buy T-bills at auction or on the secondary market through a bank or broker. Bills are issued weekly through an auction bidding process.

How Do You Buy Canadian Treasury Bills?

You can buy Canadian Treasury bills from a financial institution or from a broker. The minimum investment for purchasing a Canadian Treasury bill is CA$1,000.

The Bottom Line

Treasuries are a great way to diversify your investment portfolio and reduce its risk since U.S. Treasuries are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Treasuries are an important part of a retirement portfolio for many savers because they are liquid, low-risk, and provide an income stream.

How to Buy Treasury Bonds and Bills (2024)

FAQs

How do I buy Treasury bonds and bills? ›

To buy, you must have a TreasuryDirect account. In TreasuryDirect, you may open an account and buy Treasury marketable securities for yourself (an individual registration). With an individual registration, you may also link your account to an account for a child under the age of 18.

How to buy Treasury bills for dummies? ›

For newly issued T-bills, the minimum purchase is $100 and the securities are sold in increments of $100. New issues are sold at auction, and to participate, you must sign up with your broker or at TreasuryDirect.gov. Auctions happen every four weeks for 52-week T-bills and weekly for shorter-term T-bills.

What is the best way to invest in Treasury bonds? ›

For many people, TreasuryDirect is a good option; however, retirement savers and investors who already have brokerage accounts are often better off buying bonds on the secondary market or with exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

How long does it take to get money from TreasuryDirect? ›

You just bought a security from the U.S. Treasury. Securities are generally issued to your account within two business days of the purchase date for savings bonds or within one week of the auction date for Bills, Notes, Bonds, FRNs, and TIPS.

How much will I make on a 3 month treasury bill? ›

3 Month Treasury Bill Rate is at 5.25%, compared to 5.26% the previous market day and 5.20% last year. This is higher than the long term average of 4.19%. The 3 Month Treasury Bill Rate is the yield received for investing in a government issued treasury security that has a maturity of 3 months.

Can I buy Treasury bills from my bank? ›

T-bills sell in increments of $100 up to a maximum of $10 million, and you can buy them directly from the government through its TreasuryDirect website, or through a brokerage, bank or self-directed retirement account, like a Roth IRA.

What is the downside to buying Treasury bonds? ›

These are U.S. government bonds that offer a unique combination of safety and steady income. But while they are lauded for their security and reliability, potential drawbacks such as interest rate risk, low returns and inflation risk must be carefully considered.

How much does a $1000 T bill cost? ›

To calculate the price, take 180 days and multiply by 1.5 to get 270. Then, divide by 360 to get 0.75, and subtract 100 minus 0.75. The answer is 99.25. Because you're buying a $1,000 Treasury bill instead of one for $100, multiply 99.25 by 10 to get the final price of $992.50.

How much is a $100 savings bond worth after 30 years? ›

How to get the most value from your savings bonds
Face ValuePurchase Amount30-Year Value (Purchased May 1990)
$50 Bond$100$207.36
$100 Bond$200$414.72
$500 Bond$400$1,036.80
$1,000 Bond$800$2,073.60

How do you avoid tax on treasury bonds? ›

You can skip paying taxes on interest earned with Series EE and Series I savings bonds if you're using the money to pay for qualified higher education costs. That includes expenses you pay for yourself, your spouse or a qualified dependent. Only certain qualified higher education costs are covered, including: Tuition.

How do I deposit money into TreasuryDirect? ›

You fund your TreasuryDirect account through your bank account or by payroll deduction. Securities you buy in TreasuryDirect are electronic, not paper. If you hold savings bonds in paper form, you can convert them to electronic securities in TreasuryDirect.

What happens after a T-bill matures? ›

Maturity of T-bills

Upon maturity of the T-bills, when will I receive the principal amount? On maturity, the principal amount will be credited to your respective account by the end of the day, typically after 6pm.

How much does a $1000 T-Bill cost? ›

To calculate the price, take 180 days and multiply by 1.5 to get 270. Then, divide by 360 to get 0.75, and subtract 100 minus 0.75. The answer is 99.25. Because you're buying a $1,000 Treasury bill instead of one for $100, multiply 99.25 by 10 to get the final price of $992.50.

Is it better to buy Treasury bills or bonds? ›

Compared with Treasury notes and bills, Treasury bonds usually pay the highest interest rates because investors want more money to put aside for the longer term. For the same reason, their prices, when issued, go up and down more than the others.

How much does it cost to buy a Treasury bond? ›

Bonds at a Glance
Now issued inElectronic form only
Interest paidEvery six months until maturity
Minimum purchase$100
In increments of$100
Maximum purchase$10 million (non-competitive bid) 35% of offering amount (competitive bid) (See Buying a Treasury marketable security for information on types of bids.)
5 more rows

What is the 1 year T-Bill rate? ›

Basic Info

1 Year Treasury Rate is at 5.08%, compared to 5.11% the previous market day and 5.20% last year.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rev. Porsche Oberbrunner

Last Updated:

Views: 5411

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (53 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rev. Porsche Oberbrunner

Birthday: 1994-06-25

Address: Suite 153 582 Lubowitz Walks, Port Alfredoborough, IN 72879-2838

Phone: +128413562823324

Job: IT Strategist

Hobby: Video gaming, Basketball, Web surfing, Book restoration, Jogging, Shooting, Fishing

Introduction: My name is Rev. Porsche Oberbrunner, I am a zany, graceful, talented, witty, determined, shiny, enchanting person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.