U.S. Savings Bonds, Municipal Bonds & Tax-Exempt Bonds

U.S. savings bonds provide Americans with an affordable way to save. In 2012, Treasury stopped selling paper savings bonds at banks as part of its broader electronic initiative. As a result, savings bonds generally must be purchased through TreasuryDirect (R). The one exception is the Tax Time Savings Bond program, established in 2010 to enable taxpayers to use their tax refund to buy paper savings bonds. The program is one way for lower-income families to save. Chapter One of this book examines the effect of Treasury's elimination of paper U.S. savings bonds on the program and bond purchases; the extent to which the Tax Time Savings Bond program has promoted savings by lower-income households and Treasury's future plans for the program; and the extent to which lower-income households are saving and programs developed by federal agencies and others. Chapter Two informs Congress about various developments related to the demand for municipal bonds, which are debt securities issued by states, cities, counties, and other government-created agencies to finance capital projects, such as highways, airports, sewers, bridges, schools, hospitals, and other public goods for residents. Chapter Three provides information about state and local government debt.