I have series EE bonds that have reached final maturity and have stopped earning interest. If I don’t cash them in now, can I defer the tax on this interest?

No. A taxpayer who has not reported interest annually but opted to defer it must take all of the accrued interest into income on the earlier of these events:

• When the bonds are cashed in
• When you give up ownership (e.g., transfer them)
• When the bonds stop earning interest because they reached final maturity