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. Your interest is the face value minus the purchase price. It is possible for a bill auction to result in a price equal to par, which means that Treasury will issue and redeem the securities at par value.
You can buy a bill in TreasuryDirect or through a bank or broker. The table below shows the types of bills available for purchase by both means. (We no longer sell bills in Legacy Treasury Direct, which we are phasing out.)
| Term | TreasuryDirect | Bank or Broker |
| 4-Week Bill | Yes | Yes |
| 8-Week Bill | Yes | Yes |
| 13-Week Bill | Yes | Yes |
| 17-Week Bill | Yes | Yes |
| 26-Week Bill | Yes | Yes |
| 52-Week Bill | Yes | Yes |
| Cash Management Bills | No | Yes |
You can bid for a bill in two ways:
- With a noncompetitive bid, you agree to accept the discount rate determined at auction. With this bid, you are guaranteed to receive the bill you want, and in the full amount you want.
- With a competitive bid, you specify the discount rate you are willing to accept. Your bid may be: 1) accepted in the full amount you want if the rate you specify is less than the discount rate set by the auction, 2) accepted in less than the full amount you want if your bid is equal to the high discount rate, or 3) rejected if the rate you specify is higher than the discount rate set at the auction.
To place a noncompetitive bid, you may use TreasuryDirect, or a bank or broker.
To place a competitive bid, you must use a bank or broker.
Key Facts:
- Bills are sold at a discount. The discount rate is determined at auction.
- Bills pay interest only at maturity. The interest is equal to the face value minus the purchase price.
- Bills are sold in increments of $100. The minimum purchase is $100.
- All bills except 52-week bills and cash management bills are auctioned every week. The 52-week bill is auctioned every four weeks. Cash management bills aren't auctioned on a regular schedule.
- Cash management bills are issued in variable terms.
- Bills are issued in electronic form.
- You can hold a bill until it matures or sell it before it matures.
- In a single auction, a bidder can buy up to $10 million in bills by non-competitive bidding or up to 35% of the initial offering amount by competitive bidding.
*Treasury rounds to the nearest penny using conventional mathematical rounding methods.
FAQs
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).
Can I buy Treasury bills through TreasuryDirect? ›
Buying in TreasuryDirect. TreasuryDirect is the official United States government application in which you can buy and hold savings bonds and Treasury marketable securities (Notes, Bonds, Bills, TIPS, and FRNs).
What is the best way to buy Treasury bills? ›
You can buy them from the government directly, and many buy them through a brokerage, retirement or bank account. Treasury owners pay federal taxes on the investment interest earned but no state or local taxes. Investors may turn to Treasurys during periods of volatility or uncertainty due to their safety.
What happens when a treasury bill matures on TreasuryDirect? ›
When the bill matures, you are paid its face value. You can hold a bill until it matures or sell it before it matures. Note about Cash Management Bills: We also sell Cash Management Bills (CMBs) at various times and for variable terms. Cash Management Bills are only available through a bank, broker, or dealer.
What is the current Treasury T-bill rate? ›
3 Month Treasury Bill Rate is at 5.02%, compared to 5.04% the previous market day and 5.30% last year.
How much will I make on a 4 week treasury bill? ›
Basic Info. 4 Week Treasury Bill Rate is at 5.21%, compared to 5.23% the previous market day and 5.27% last year. This is higher than the long term average of 1.46%. The 4 Week Treasury Bill Rate is the yield received for investing in a US government issued treasury bill that has a maturity of 4 weeks.
Are Treasury bills better than CDs? ›
Choosing between a CD and Treasuries depends on how long of a term you want. For terms of one to six months, as well as 10 years, rates are close enough that Treasuries are the better pick. For terms of one to five years, CDs are currently paying more, and it's a large enough difference to give them the edge.
How much does a $10,000 treasury bill cost? ›
Let's say you purchase a $10,000 T-bill with a discount rate of 3% that matures after 52 weeks. That means you pay $9,700 for the T-bill upfront. Once the year is up, you get back your initial investment plus another $300.
Does Warren Buffett buy Treasury bills? ›
Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett is a leading proponent of short-term Treasuries. Berkshire is one of the largest T-bill investors in the world, holding $153 billion at the end of the first quarter, the bulk of its $182 billion in cash and equivalents.
Why not to invest in Treasury bills? ›
Pros and Cons of T-Bills
However, should interest rates rise, the existing T-bills fall out of favor since their return is less than the market. For this reason, T-bills have interest rate risk, which means there is a danger that bondholders might lose out should there be higher rates in the future.
Treasury Bills
Except for holidays or special circumstances, the offering is announced on Tuesday, the bills are auctioned on Thursday, and they are issued on the following Tuesday.
Do you pay taxes on Treasury bills? ›
Treasury bills are taxed at the federal level but not by state and local governments. Many investors use them as a means to preserve capital when there is market turmoil, but they can also be used in other investment strategies. U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
What is the 45 day rule for TreasuryDirect? ›
4-Week Bills bought at original issue in TreasuryDirect may not be transferred at all because the term of the security is less than 45 days. The mandatory holding period also applies to securities issued through reinvestment which were not fully funded from the maturing security.
What is the 6 month Treasury rate today? ›
Basic Info
6 Month Treasury Rate is at 4.96%, compared to 4.92% the previous market day and 5.55% last year. This is higher than the long term average of 2.86%.
How often do Treasury bills pay interest? ›
Treasury notes and Treasury bonds pay interest every six months. Treasury bills don't pay a fixed interest rate. Instead, they are sold at a discount rate to their face value. The “interest” you receive (so to speak) is the difference between the face value of the bill and its discount rate when it matures.
How to buy Treasury bills for dummies? ›
You can buy a bill in TreasuryDirect or through a bank or broker. The table below shows the types of bills available for purchase by both means. (We no longer sell bills in Legacy Treasury Direct, which we are phasing out.)
Is it better to buy Treasury bills at auction or on secondary market? ›
Buying treasuries through a broker on the secondary market typically offers investors more control to trade and manage their bonds.
How much does a $1000 T bill cost? ›
T-bills are purchased at a discount rate to their face value, which is paid out in full when the T-bill reaches maturity. For example, a $1,000 T-bill might cost $950 to purchase, generating a $50 return.
What is the T bill interest rate? ›
Treasury bills are zero coupon securities and pay no interest. They are issued at a discount and redeemed at the face value at maturity. For example, a 91 day Treasury bill of Rs. 100/- (face value) may be issued at say Rs. 98.20, that is, at a discount of say, Rs.
