Replacing or Reissuing a Lost or Destroyed Paper EE Bond

On this page:

Replacing or reissuing?

Replacing:  If your paper bond is lost, stolen, mutilated, or you never received it, you can request a replacement paper bond.

Reissuing:  If you want to change who is named on the bond as owner, coowner, or beneficiary, or if there is a major error in the names, we must reissue the bond. See: Reissuing Paper EE Bonds.

If you do not receive your EE Bond

If you ordered a paper bond when they were available on or before December 31, 2011, and you did not get it within 15 business days, contact the financial institution where you bought it. They will find out why you did not get the bond and will help you fill out a claim form to request a replacement bond.

If your paper EE bond is lost, stolen or destroyed after you receive it

To request a replacement bond:

  1. Fill out Form PD F 1048. Follow the detailed instructions on the form.
    You can do this in either of two ways:
    • Order a paper Form PD F 1048
    • Fill out Form PD F 1048 on-line
      The on-line form is in Adobe Acrobat PDF. If you do not have Acrobat Reader on your computer, download the free Acrobat Reader

      If you use the online form:  After filling it out, print it so you can sign it and have your signature certified at your financial institution according to the instructions on the form.
  1. Take the filled-out form to your financial institution to sign and have your signature certified according to the instructions on the form.
  2. Mail the completed form to:

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

    Note:  Once you receive replacement bonds or payment instead of replacement bonds, the original bonds are no longer yours. They belong to the U.S. government. If you later find the original bonds, please return them to the Bureau of Public Debt at the Parkersburg, West Virginia, address listed above.

Reissuing Paper EE Bonds

Reissue will not be made if the request for reissue is received less than one full calendar month before the final maturity date of a bond.  An EE bond's final maturity date is 30 years after the issue date.

What changes do NOT require reissuing the bond?

We do not reissue bonds for these changes:

Situation What to do
Name change because you got married No reissue needed. When you cash in the bond, sign both your name
that is on the bond and your married name.
Minor typo inyour name No reissue needed. When you cash in the bond, sign your correct name.
Address change No reissue needed.
Wrong Social Security Number (SSN) No reissue needed, See: Correcting a Social Security Number (SSN) on a Bond

When must Treasury reissue the bond?

We must reissue a bond in these situations:

  • to correct a major error
  • for a court-ordered change
  • when you change the beneficiary
  • when you change who owns or co-owns the bond

Note; If you are thinking about changing who owns orco-owns the bond, it would be a good idea to contact the Treasury Retail Securities Site to find out what changes are permitted.

What form do I use?

The following sections tell you what to do for each situation that requires reissuing a bond.
Each form is available in two ways:

  • We can mail you a paper copy.
  • You can fill out a form on-line, print it, sign it, have the signature(s) certified, and mail it to us.
  • The online forms are in Adobe Acrobat PDF. If you do not have Acrobat Reader on your computer, download the free Acrobat Reader.

Instructions are on the forms. The appropriate address for mailing is on each form.

To correct a major error
For a major error, such as
  • the first or last name of an owner, co-owner, or beneficiary is missing
  • a name is misspelled with more than a minor typo
 Form PD F 4000
For a court appointment
A court has appointed a guardian, conservator, or similar representative for the estate of a living owner or co-owner. This may happen for
  • a minor (child)
  • a person who cannot handle his or her own finances due to age or illness
  • an absentee
  • Everyone named in the registration on the bond has died and a court has appointed an executor or similar legal representative for the estate of the person named in the bond's registration who died last (Death of a Savings Bond Owner)
 Form PD F 1455
When you change who owns or co-owns the bond
The owner has died (or both co-owners have died)
You want the newowner to be a personal trust estate Form PD F 1851
You want to
  • add another person as a co-owner when a bond is in the name of one living owner
  • change a beneficiary to a co-owner
  • change the name of an owner or co- owner because of marriage annulment, divorce, or court order. Note: Change for a new married name is not required.
  • name new owner or co-owner(s) instead of the current living owner or co-owner(s)
  • remove a co-owner (or both co-owners, and, forexample, name a new owner or new co-owners
Form PD F 4000
When you change the beneficiary
You want to
  • add a beneficiary when a bond is in the name of one living owner.
  • remove a living beneficiary
  • change the name of a beneficiary because of marriage annulment, divorce, or court order. Note: Change for a new married name is not required.
 Form PD F 4000
Who must approve a change?
Situation Who must sign
Two living people co-own the bond and want to request a change that is permitted. (If you are not sure if the change you want is permitted, check with the Treasury Retail Securities Site. Both co-owners must sign the form
Two people co-own the bond and one needs to make a change such as changing his or her own name Only the owner making the change about himself or herself must sign the form
The owner wants to change the beneficiary The owner may make this change. The beneficiary does not have to agree to the change.

Must I pay federal income taxes when Treasury reissues a bond?

Sometimes.

Consider this situation: You were an owner or co-owner on the old bond. You are not an owner or co-owner on the reissued bond. In that case, you are responsible for reporting on your federal income tax returninterest earned during the time you owned or co-owned the bond.

We provide an IRS Form 1099-INT.

Electronic bonds Log in to TreasuryDirect and go to ManageDirect. Form 1099-INT is one of the links on the ManageDirect page.
Paper bonds Form 1099-INT is mailed to you after the end of the calendar year in which the bond was reissued.

Tax Considerations for EE Bonds