Converting paper Series EE and I savings bonds to electronic form through TreasuryDirect takes some setup, but the end result — bonds you can actually manage without digging through a filing cabinet — is worth the effort. Here’s how to do it from start to finish.
You can’t submit bonds for conversion without a dedicated account called a Conversion Linked Account (it shows up in TreasuryDirect as My Converted Bonds). To get one, log into your primary TreasuryDirect account and go to the ManageDirect tab. Under Manage My Linked Accounts, click Establish a Conversion Linked Account, then Create Account on the following screen.
After that, you’ll be taken directly into the new account. The account name and number will appear in the top-right corner with a double-arrow icon next to them, so you’ll know you’re in the right place. To get back to your primary account, use the link just above that account number.
Some prep work on the front end makes the whole process go faster.
Round up all your paper Series EE and I bonds. Don’t sign the backs — leave them completely blank. Then sort them by how the names are printed: bonds with a single name, bonds with two names connected by “OR,” bonds that show “POD” or “Beneficiary” before a second name, and anything else (like “AND” or “WITH”). Make sure you’re working at a computer with a printer nearby, since you’ll need to print something before you’re done.
Once your bonds are organized, log in and navigate into your Conversion Linked Account, then head to the ManageDirect tab.
Before any bonds go into your cart, you need to tell TreasuryDirect who owns them. These ownership structures are called registrations, and you’ll need one on file for each unique combination of names across your bonds.
From ManageDirect, under Manage My Conversions, click Create my registration list. For each registration, enter the full name and Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) for everyone listed on that bond. If you don’t have someone’s TIN, put 000-00-0000. A registration for yourself as the sole owner is already there by default.
Then pick the registration type that matches the bond:
Use Submit & Add Another to keep going, or Submit when you’ve entered the last one.
Co-owner bonds (“OR” bonds): When these convert, they become Restricted Securities in TreasuryDirect. That means you can’t change the registration on them without the other co-owner’s consent — the same protection that existed with the paper version. It doesn’t affect your ability to cash the bonds; it just locks down any registration changes until the co-owner signs off, at which point a customer service rep can update it.
Bonds with a minor child listed: If your child is a co-owner and you want the converted bonds to go into a Minor Linked Account in their name, note that in the Comments field when you add the bond to your cart. This is important to handle upfront — if the bonds convert into your account first and then get transferred to the Minor Linked Account, the IRS treats that transfer as a taxable event. Also make sure the Minor Linked Account actually exists before you start converting; you can set one up through Manage My Linked Accounts on your primary account’s ManageDirect page.
Bonds with a deceased registrant: Don’t include the deceased person’s name when entering the registration. You’ll need to mail a certified copy of their death certificate along with the bonds (note that submitted documents are not returned to you). The bond will be converted into the surviving registrant’s name, though additional documentation might be requested depending on the circumstances.
With registrations in place, go back to ManageDirect, click Convert my bonds under Manage My Conversions, and choose the registration that matches the bond you’re adding. On the Add a Bond page, fill in the series (EE or I), denomination, serial number, and issue date — all as printed on the bond. Add any relevant comments, then click Add to Cart. The cart saves each time you add a bond.
If you need to stop and come back, click Save Cart before logging off. You can pick back up through ManageDirect by selecting Convert my bonds or View my cart.
A few things to keep in mind as you build your cart:
When your cart is complete, click Create a Manifest on the Conversion Cart page. This produces a numbered list of every bond in the cart.
One thing to be clear on: creating the manifest locks the cart. You can’t add more bonds to it after that point. If you have more bonds to send, start a fresh cart and create a separate manifest for those.
Print the manifest, sign it, and keep a copy for your records. Then mail it, along with the unsigned bonds, to the address shown on the form.
TreasuryDirect doesn’t send any confirmation when your envelope arrives or when processing finishes. To check on things yourself, go into your Conversion Linked Account, click ManageDirect, then View my manifests. Select a manifest and hit Submit to pull up the current status of each bond.
| Status | What it means |
|---|---|
| In Progress | The bond is being processed |
| Pending | Customer service needs more information |
| Returned | The bond wasn’t eligible for conversion and has been mailed back |
| Not Received | No record of it arriving at Treasury |
| Canceled | The bond was previously closed — for example, a replacement was issued after it was reported lost or stolen |
| Converted | Done — check Current Holdings or Gift Box in your Conversion Linked Account, or the relevant Minor Linked Account |