What are the tax advantages of T-bills?
They are generally considered to be low-risk investments because they are backed by the credit of the government. One potential tax advantage of investing in T-bills is that they are exempt from state and local income taxes. However, they are still subject to federal income tax.
Although T-bills don't pay the highest interest rate (the tradeoff for being so low-risk), their exemption from state and local taxes can give them an advantage over other short-term, fixed-income assets, such as certificates of deposit (CDs)—especially for investors living in high-income-tax states, such as California ...
The Bottom Line. Treasury Bills, or T-bills, represent short-term debt obligations by the Treasury. Because the U.S. government backs them, they are considered extremely low-risk, although they also have relatively low returns.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Zero default risk | Have an interest rate risk |
| State and local income taxes is not imposed on the interest income | Offer lower returns |
| Can be bought or sold easily in the secondary market | Leading up to maturity, it does not pay any coupon interest payments |
Are Treasury bills taxed as capital gains? Normally no. However, if you buy a T-bill in the secondary market and then achieve a profit, you may be liable for capital gains depending on your exact purchase price.
As a result, T-bills have interest rate risk meaning there is a risk that existing bondholders might lose out on higher rates in the future. Although T-bills have zero default risk, their returns are typically lower than corporate bonds and some certificates of deposit.
Interest from corporate bonds and U.S. Treasury bonds interest is typically taxable at the federal level. U.S. Treasuries are exempt from state and local income taxes. Most interest income earned on municipal bonds is exempt from federal income taxes.
The biggest downside of investing in T-bills is that you're going to get a lower rate of return compared to other investments, such as certificates of deposit, money market funds, corporate bonds or stocks. If you're looking to make some serious gains in your portfolio, T-bills aren't going to cut it.
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.
A Treasury bill, or T-bill, is a short-term debt obligation backed by the U.S. Treasury Department. It's one of the safest places you can save your cash, as it's backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. T-bills are auctioned off at a discount and then redeemed at maturity for the full amount.
What happens when a T-bill matures?
When the bill matures, you are paid its face value. You can hold a bill until it matures or sell it before it matures.
Treasury bonds—also called T-bonds—are long-term debt obligations that mature in terms of 20 or 30 years. They're essentially the opposite of T-bills as they're the longest-term and typically the highest-yielding among T-bills, T-bonds, and Treasury notes.
Differences between investing in CDs and T-bills
If you live in a state with income taxes, and rates are similar for CDs and T-bills, then it makes sense to go with a T-bill. The amount you save on taxes will likely result in a higher payout from a T-bill than a CD. Another benefit of T-bills is their liquidity.
You buy bills at a discount — a price below par — and profit from the difference at the end of the term. While T-bills don't pay interest like other Treasurys, the difference between your discounted price and the par value is essentially the "interest" earned.
- Report interest each year and pay taxes on it annually.
- Defer reporting interest until you redeem the bonds or give up ownership of the bond and it's reissued or the bond is no longer earning interest because it's matured.
You can sell a T-Bill before its maturity date without penalty, although you will be charged a commission. (With CDs, you pay a sizeable penalty for early withdrawals.)
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. If you're interested in investing in Treasury bonds or have other questions about your portfolio, consider speaking with a financial advisor.
They guarantee a fixed interest rate over a set time period, both of which depend on the CD or T-bill you choose. It's a great time to open one of these, because interest rates are high right now. If you have money you don't mind locking up in return for a solid payout, you could do that with a CD or T-bill.
When you buy T-bills through your bank, it may charge you additional fees and expenses such as sales commissions or transaction charges. These extra costs can add up over time and eat into your returns on your investment.
When your bill matures, the proceeds will be reinvested or used to purchase the next available security of the same type and term as the original purchase.
Why are CD rates higher than Treasuries?
Often, CDs pay higher rates for longer term lengths. Treasury bills are short-term securities issued by the U.S. Treasury, with terms that range between four and 52 weeks. They are considered a type of bond, but don't pay a coupon (interest).
We put a 1099 into your TreasuryDirect account if: You cash a savings bond in TreasuryDirect. (We don't provide a 1099 if you only buy or hold a savings bond.) You hold a marketable security in TreasuryDirect and the security earns interest.
Like Treasury bonds and notes, T-bills have no default risk since they're backed by the U.S. government.
As recently as two years ago, the yearly return for T-Bills was effectively zero. It was so low that a $10,000 T-Bill would have paid out $1 in profit over a full year. Interest rates, which were effectively zero at times in 2021, are now well over 5%.
Treasury bills, or bills, are typically issued at a discount from the par amount (also called face value). For example, if you buy a $1,000 bill at a price per $100 of $99.986111, then you would pay $999.86 ($1,000 x . 99986111 = $999.86111). * When the bill matures, you would be paid its face value, $1,000.
