Education Savings Bond Program: What it is, How it Works (2024)

An education savings bond program lets qualified taxpayers exempt all or a portion of interest earned upon redemption of eligiblesavings bondsfrom their annual gross income. The bonds become tax exempt when their owners use both the principal and interest to pay for higher education at qualified institutions, either attended by themselves, their spouses, or their dependents.

To take advantage of this program, investors must comply with the following rules:

1. The bond owner must be 24 years of age or older at the time of purchase. If a parent buys the bond and puts it in the name of a child who is under 24 years of age, the bond does not qualify.
2. When savings bonds are redeemed, all funds must be used to pay off higher education expenses for the owners, their spouses, or their dependents. The Internal Revenue Service only recognizes payments made to qualified institutions where the U.S. Department of Education has established student-aid programs.
3. Funds can only be used towards tuition-related expenses, including lab fees and degree-required courses. The funds may not be used to cover the costs of board, books, or recreational activities.
4. Funds from the redeemed bonds can also be used to make tax-free contributions to aCoverdell Education Savings Account.
5. Eligible education expenses must be incurred during the same tax year as the bond's redemption.
6. Any nontaxable education payments, education aid, or tax-free scholarships must be subtracted from eligible expenses.
7. If the total proceeds from the bonds equal less than the amount of eligible expenses, all of the interest accrued on the bond remains tax-free. But if the bond proceeds exceed the eligible expense amount, the amount of tax-exempt interest is subject to a prorated reduction.
8. The amount of tax exempt interest is based on the owner'smodified adjusted gross income (MAGI). If the owner's MAGI reaches a certain threshold, they may not be eligible for this program. For joint tax filers in 2020, that threshold was $153,550. For single filers, the MAGI threshold was $97,350. Married owners are required to file joint taxes in order to receive the exemption.
9. All payments made with bond proceeds must be reported to the IRS along with detailed receipts. It is also necessary to maintain itemized records of all redeemed bonds. Filers must use forms the IRS specifically designed for this purpose.