Are Treasury bills a good investment?
Treasury bills are considered one of the safest investments you can make since they are backed by the full credit of the U.S. government, which has never defaulted on its debts.
While interest rates and inflation can affect Treasury bill rates, they're generally considered a lower-risk (but lower-reward) investment than other debt securities. Treasury bills are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. If held to maturity, T-bills are considered virtually risk-free.
T-bills pay a fixed rate of interest, which can provide a stable income. However, if interest rates rise, existing T-bills fall out of favor since their return is less than the market. T-bills have interest rate risk, which means there is a risk that existing bondholders might lose out on higher rates in the future.
In fact, I-bonds often outperform many of the highest-performing stocks as well during inflationary periods. These Treasury-issued bonds generate high returns without all the risks of those other high-yielding investments because they're backed by the U.S. government.
Treasury bonds are widely considered a risk-free investment because the U.S. government has never defaulted on its debt. However, investors should understand that even U.S. government bonds have interest rate risk. That is, if market interest rates rise, the prices of these bonds will fall, as they did throughout 2022.
Investors Near or in Retirement
A portfolio that includes Treasury bonds, bills, or notes, provides safety and helps to preserve their savings since Treasuries are considered risk-free investments. With their consistent interest payments, T-bonds can offer an ideal income stream after the employment paychecks cease.
Treasury bonds, notes, or bills sold before their maturity date could mean a loss, depending on bond prices at the time of the sale. Simply put, the face value is only guaranteed if the Treasury is held until maturity.
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.
Taxes: Treasury bills are exempt from state and local taxes but still subject to federal income taxes. That makes them less attractive holdings for taxable accounts. Investors in higher tax brackets might want to consider short-term municipal securities instead.
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 is a better investment than Treasury bills?
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.
Treasury bonds tend to pay higher interest than the shorter T-bills and notes to compensate investors for the interest rate risks they take with their purchase. Keep in mind the opposite can also happen when interest rates fall and the price of your bond increases.
The Bottom Line
Safe assets such as U.S. Treasury securities, high-yield savings accounts, money market funds, and certain types of bonds and annuities offer a lower risk investment option for those prioritizing capital preservation and steady, albeit generally lower, returns.
When the bill matures, you are paid its face value. You can hold a bill until it matures or sell it before it matures.
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.
Treasury bills can be a good choice for those looking for a low-risk, fixed-rate investment that doesn't require setting money aside for as long as a CD might call for. However, you still run the risk of losing out on higher rates and returns if the market is on the upswing while your money is locked in.
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 can buy and sell them on a secondary market.
Key Takeaways
Interest from Treasury bills (T-bills) is subject to federal income taxes but not state or local taxes. The interest income received in a year is recorded on Form 1099-INT. Investors can opt to have up to 50% of their Treasury bills' interest earnings automatically withheld.
These are U.S. government bonds that offer a unique combination of safety and steady income. 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.
Consistent Income: For investors seeking a steady income during retirement, long-term treasuries, such as Treasury notes and bonds, offer regular interest payments. Cons: Interest Rate Risk: Long-term treasuries are more sensitive to changes in interest rates than short-term ones.
Do banks charge to buy T-bills?
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 short term T bills mature, the interest income is mistakenly shown as capital gains in tax reports. The interest is taxable on Fed, tax exempt on most states. T bills are short term zero coupon purchased at a discount and paid at face vale at maturity.
Both Treasury bonds and Treasury bills are low-risk debt securities issued by the federal government. T-bonds are designed for long-term investing, while T-bills have much shorter maturity periods. Both can help diversify your investment portfolio while shielding you from state and local taxes.
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.
