Guide
Cashing the Savings Bonds of Someone Who Died (FS Form 5336, Explained)
Paper savings bonds are the classic shoebox asset. Treasury has a real no-probate path for modest amounts — a mailed, signature-certified form — and it is exactly the kind of filing that dies from one small mistake.
The no-probate path: FS Form 5336
When the deceased's total Treasury securities are under the small-estates limit ($100,000 [Verify current limit at treasurydirect.gov]) and no probate is underway, a voluntary representative can request payment with FS Form 5336, certified signature, death certificate attached, mailed to Treasury Retail Securities Services.
Over the limit, or with probate open, redemption runs through the estate — which means letters of appointment and, usually, the estate EIN first.
Finding lost bonds
Treasury Hunt (treasurydirect.gov) searches matured, unredeemed bonds by SSN. For bonds you believe exist but can't find, FS Form 1048 requests replacement or payment of lost, stolen, or destroyed bonds.
Want it handled?
Estate EIN Filing does this for $99 — or follow the steps above yourself, free.
Straight answers
Do I owe tax when I cash inherited bonds?
The accumulated interest is taxable to someone — the estate or the redeemer, depending on elections made. It's the one genuinely tax-advice-shaped question here; ask the estate's tax preparer.