U.S. Savings Bonds

For general information on U.S. Savings Bonds, see www.savingsbonds.gov which also has this handy Savings Bonds calculator. 

Redeeming bonds from abroad 

U.S. Savings Bonds cannot be presented for immediate payment while the owner is abroad.  The owner must execute a request for payment in the presence of a qualified witnessing official and then mail the bonds to an appropriate authority in the United States.  A dollar check will then be mailed to the owner of the bonds. 

You can execute a request for payment at the Embassy, by appointment only.  Book your appointment here.   

You must present a passport as proof of identification.  If the name in your passport differs from that on the bond, you must present evidence of a name change, such as a marriage certificate.           

You can execute FORM PD 1522 in the presence of any solicitor or notary public.  You can download this form here (4-page PDF/160Kb).

FORM PD 1522 should then be mailed to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for legalization.  There is a fee for this service.  For more information, call 037-0000-2244 or see their web page.

After your signature has been witnessed, the bonds should be forwarded for payment to the United States.  It can take up to three months for receipt of payment.  Send the signed and certified bonds to either of these addresses:

Federal Reserve Bank of Pittsburgh
P.O. Box 867
Pittsburgh, PA 15230

 or:

Bureau of the Public Debt
P.O. Box 7012
Parkersburg, WV 26106-7012

Tax information 

If you are a U.S. citizen, you should prepare a signed statement to be sent to the United States with the bonds.  This statement should include your passport number, date and place of birth, country of residence, and the name and address of the authority to which taxes are paid.

If you are a citizen of a country with a tax treaty with the United States (such as the United Kingdom), you should complete IRS FORM W-8 to claim exemption from the U.S. tax on the bonds' interest.  Submit this form along with the bonds.  IRS FORM W-8 is available online at irs.gov (1-page PDF/90Kb).