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How to weigh when to sell government savings bonds to maximize return while minimizing taxes?
I’m retired and have some paper EE and I savings bonds that won't mature until 2030 but are earning an interest rate higher than what I could currently earn in a CD or high-yield savings account. My spouse died this year, so I will be in a lower tax bracket for my 2025 taxes (12 percent, since I can file married jointly and don't have to take RMDs yet) than I will be in subsequent years when I must file single and take RMDs (22 percent).
If, for the sake of comparing apples to apples, I assume that tax brackets rates will be the same in 2030 as they are now, is there a way to weigh the pros and cons of selling the bonds now while I’m in a lower tax bracket versus holding them to maturity when I'm in a higher tax bracket? Is there a way I could model both scenarios in TurboTax desktop, or is there formula I could use to do the comparison?