FS Form 1522 is the U.S. Treasury’s Special Form of Request for Payment of United States Savings and Retirement Securities, and you use it to cash paper savings bonds or retirement bonds directly with the government when a bank will not do it for you. You file it with the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, and it is the main way owners, co-owners, survivors, and estate representatives turn paper bonds into cash by direct deposit.
The form looks short, but small errors stop your money. A missing serial number, a missing signature certification, or a wrong routing number can send your bonds back unpaid and add weeks to the wait. The current version is FS Form 1522 (Revised April 2026), and the Treasury estimates it takes about 15 minutes to complete once your papers are ready.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📝 How to fill out every box on FS Form 1522, line by line, in plain English.
- 💵 When your signature must be certified by a notary and when a copy of your ID is enough.
- 👨👩👧 How owners, surviving spouses, and estate representatives each complete the form.
- 📬 Where to mail the form and your bonds, and how to keep proof you sent them.
- ⚠️ The most common mistakes that delay or reject payment, and how to dodge them.
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
FS Form 1522 is a “detached request” for payment, which means you ask the Treasury to redeem your paper securities and pay you by direct deposit. The form covers United States Savings Bonds, Savings Notes, Retirement Plan Bonds, and Individual Retirement Bonds. You use it for paper securities only, since electronic bonds are cashed inside a TreasuryDirect account. The receiving agency is the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, acting through Treasury Retail Securities Services in Minneapolis.
Most people reach for this form when a bank refuses to cash their bonds or limits how much it will pay at once. Banks set their own rules, and many will not cash bonds for non-customers or for large amounts. When that happens, the Treasury becomes your direct payer, and FS Form 1522 is the key that unlocks payment.
The form’s own instructions spell out who may complete it. The list includes the owner, a co-owner, a surviving beneficiary, the legal representative of a deceased or incompetent owner’s estate, persons entitled to a deceased registrant’s estate, and other persons entitled to payment under the regulations governing savings bonds. A minor may sign only if a notary or certifying officer believes the child understands the transaction. An incompetent person may not sign at all, which is why a guardian or representative steps in.
The rules behind the form live in federal law. The collection of your information is authorized by 31 U.S.C. Chapter 31, which governs the public debt, and your Social Security Number is required under Section 6109 of the Internal Revenue Code. The consequence of refusing to give the required details is simple: the Fiscal Service may be unable to process your request, and your bonds stay unpaid. A common myth is that this is a tax form like a W-9; it is a payment request, though it does carry a tax certification inside the signature block.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather everything before you open the form, because a request with a missing piece bounces back to you. The Treasury cannot return legal evidence you send, so you also want copies of anything important. Below is your pre-filing checklist with the reason each item matters.
- The original paper bonds. You must mail the actual bonds, and a paper bond is cashed for its full value; you cannot cash part of one. Without the bonds, there is nothing to redeem.
- The exact name(s) on each bond. Item 1 asks for the names printed on the securities, and a guess that does not match the inscription can stall the case.
- The issue date and serial number of every bond. These describe each security, and a missing serial number means that bond may not be paid.
- The current redemption value. Use the Savings Bond Calculator to total your bonds, because the $1,000 line decides whether you need a notary.
- Your Taxpayer Identification Number. An individual gives a Social Security Number; an estate or trust with an assigned number gives an Employer Identification Number. A wrong or missing TIN triggers backup withholding or a hold.
- Bank account details for direct deposit. You need the nine-digit routing number, the account number, the account type, and the bank’s name and phone number. A wrong digit sends your money to the wrong place or fails the deposit.
- A government photo ID. If your bonds total $1,000 or less, you enclose a copy of your driver’s license, passport, state ID, or military ID instead of getting certified. Without it, the small-value shortcut does not apply.
- Legal evidence for special cases. A surviving claimant or estate representative may need a certified death certificate, letters of appointment, or court documents. Missing proof stops a survivor or estate claim cold.
Having these ready also helps because the Treasury keeps whatever legal documents you send. The consequence of mailing your only certified death certificate is that you will not get it back, so order extra copies first.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
Get the form straight from the source so you have the current April 2026 revision. The official FS Form 1522 PDF is hosted on TreasuryDirect, and it carries OMB No. 1530-0028 in the top corner. Downloading from the government site protects you from outdated copies that float around third-party form sites, some of which still show the 2017 or 2019 revisions.
You can also find it on the Forms for Savings Bonds page, which lists every paper-bond form in one place. From there you can open the fillable PDF, type your answers on screen, then print it for signing. Typing reduces the chance that the Treasury misreads your handwriting, which is a frequent cause of delay.
If you prefer paper, print the blank form and fill it in with ink. The instructions say to print clearly in ink or type, and pencil is never acceptable because it can be altered. The Treasury also offers a Help Video on the cashing-a-bond page that walks through the form on screen.
Confirm the revision date once before you start. The form prints “FS Form 1522 (Revised April 2026)” at the top, and using the current version avoids a rejection for an obsolete form. A common misconception is that any old copy works; the Treasury can refuse a superseded version, so a 30-second check saves a re-do.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out FS Form 1522 Line by Line
The form has three numbered items plus a certification block. Work through them in order, and do not sign until you know whether you need a notary. Each part below is one section of the official form, with the exact labels printed on the page.
Item 1, Line A: “I am the owner or person entitled to payment… which bear the name(s) of”
This top line of Item 1, Description of Bonds asks for the names of the people currently registered or listed on the bonds. In plain English, write the name exactly as it is printed on the front of each bond. Type or print the full name, such as Robert J. Miller, and match the inscription letter for letter.
If two people are named on a bond, list both, such as Robert J. Miller OR Susan A. Miller. A nuance comes up when your name changed since the bond was issued; the form tells you to show both names and how the change happened, for example Miss Mary T. Jones now by marriage Mrs. Mary T. Smith. A common mistake is writing your current name only when the bond shows a maiden name, which creates a mismatch and a hold while the Treasury asks for proof of the change. The misconception here is that the Treasury “knows it’s you”; it cross-checks the inscription, so the printed name controls.
Item 1, Grid: Issue Date and Serial Number for Each Bond
Below the name line is a grid with paired columns for ISSUE DATE and SERIAL NUMBER. Here you describe every single bond you are cashing. Read the issue date and serial number off the face of each paper bond and copy them into the grid, one bond per slot.
Write the issue date as it appears, usually a month and year such as 03/1998, and copy the serial number exactly, including its letter prefix and suffix, such as C12345678EE. If you have more bonds than the grid allows, the form says to attach a list or use FS Form 3500 for the extra bonds. A frequent mistake is skipping a serial number or transposing digits, and the direct result is that the unlisted or mislabeled bond is not paid, even though you mailed it. People wrongly believe the Treasury will “figure out” undescribed bonds; in practice, an undescribed bond can be returned, so list every one.
Item 2: Taxpayer Identification Number for Direct Deposit
Item 2, Instructions for Direct Deposit Payment opens by asking for the payee’s Social Security Number OR Employer Identification Number. This is the number tied to the person or entity that will receive the money. Enter a Social Security Number if the payee is an individual, such as 123-45-6789, or an Employer Identification Number if an estate, trust, or other entity is the payee, such as 12-3456789.
Use only one box, not both, and match it to who is actually being paid. The edge case is an estate: if the IRS has assigned the estate an EIN, use the EIN, not the late owner’s Social Security Number. A common mistake is entering the deceased owner’s SSN when the estate is the payee, which mismatches the account name and triggers a hold. The misconception is that any household number works; the TIN must belong to the named payee, or the IRS reporting will be wrong.
Item 2: Name(s) on the Account
The next field asks for the Name/Names on the Account that will receive the deposit. Write the names exactly as the bank has them on the deposit account. For a personal account this is your legal name, such as Robert J. Miller; for a joint account, list both holders as the bank shows them.
The account name should line up with the payee TIN you just entered. A nuance arises for estates: the account should be an estate account, such as Estate of Robert J. Miller, matching the EIN. A common mistake is naming an account the payee does not actually hold, which can cause the bank to reject the deposit and bounce the payment back to the Treasury. People assume the deposit will land anywhere with their name on it; banks match the name and number, so a mismatch fails.
Item 2: Bank Routing Number
This field asks for the Bank Routing No., described as nine digits beginning with 0, 1, 2, or 3. The routing number identifies your financial institution to the payment system. Find it on the bottom-left of a check or by asking your bank, then enter all nine digits, such as 091000019.
Double-check each digit, because the form warns that the routing number must start with 0, 1, 2, or 3. The edge case is a credit union or online bank, where the routing number on a deposit slip can differ from the one used for direct deposit; call the institution to confirm. A common mistake is copying a wire-transfer routing number instead of the ACH number, and the result is a failed deposit and a delay while the Treasury reissues. The myth that “all routing numbers are the same” causes this error, so verify the ACH number.
Item 2: Depositor’s Account Number and Type of Account
Here you enter the Depositor’s Account No. and check Type of Account, either Checking or Savings. The account number is the specific account where the cash should land. Copy it carefully from a statement or check, such as 000123456789, and check the box that matches the account.
Confirm the number against an official bank document, not memory. A nuance is leading zeros, which some people drop; keep every digit exactly as the bank lists it. A common mistake is checking “Checking” when the account is a savings account, or vice versa, which can cause the bank to reject the deposit. Filers often think the account number alone is enough; the account type must also match, so check the correct box.
Item 2: Financial Institution’s Name and Phone Number
The last part of Item 2 asks for the Financial Institution’s Name and its Phone No. This identifies and lets the Treasury or your bank resolve any deposit problem. Write the bank’s full name, such as First National Bank, and a working phone number for the branch or customer line.
Use the bank’s legal name rather than a nickname or app name. The edge case is online-only banks, where the legal name may differ from the brand; use the legal name shown on your statement. A common mistake is leaving the phone number blank, which slows any follow-up if the deposit fails. People assume the routing number makes the bank name optional; the form asks for both, so complete each field.
Item 3: The Perjury and Backup Withholding Certification
Item 3, Signature begins with a certification you make under penalties of perjury. In plain English, by signing you swear that your TIN is correct, that you are not subject to backup withholding, and that you are a U.S. person, including a U.S. resident alien. You do not write anything on these three numbered statements unless one does not apply to you.
Read item 2 of the certification with care. The form says you must cross out item 2 if the IRS has told you that you are currently subject to backup withholding for failing to report interest or dividends. The edge case is exactly that IRS notice; if you got one, strike item 2, or you falsely certify. A common mistake is signing without crossing it out when you are under backup withholding, which is a false certification and can lead to penalties. The misconception is that this section is boilerplate to ignore; it is a sworn statement, so it carries legal weight.
Item 3: Signature, Printed Name, and Contact Details
This is the Sign Here block, where the person requesting payment signs in ink and prints their name, Social Security Number, mailing address, daytime telephone number, and email. Sign exactly as your name reads, and fill in each contact field so the Treasury can reach you. For example, Robert J. Miller signs, prints his name, and writes 123-45-6789, his street address, city, state, ZIP, phone, and email.
Do not sign yet if your bonds are worth more than $1,000, because that signature must be made in front of a notary or certifying officer. The form even says you may leave the signature blank if your bonds are worth $1,000 or less and you enclose an accepted ID. A nuance is a name change since issuance; show both names here too, as in Mary T. Smith, formerly Mary T. Jones. A common mistake is signing at home when certification is required, which voids the certification and forces you to start over. The myth that “a signature is a signature” causes this; for over $1,000, only a witnessed signature counts.
Item 3: Certification by Notary or Certifying Officer
The lower part of Item 3 is the Instructions to Notary or Certifying Officer and the “I CERTIFY that” block. This is where a notary or authorized certifying officer states that you appeared, proved your identity, and signed in their presence. You do not fill this in yourself; the officer completes the names, date, city and state, then signs and affixes a seal or stamp.
You only need this if the current redemption value of your bonds is more than $1,000. Acceptable seals include a notary’s seal, a financial institution’s Signature Guaranteed or Endorsement Guaranteed stamp, a corporate seal, an issuing or paying agent stamp, or a Treasury-recognized Medallion stamp; if a Medallion stamp is used, an original signature is required. A common mistake is using a plain notary when the bond value is high and the receiving party wants a Medallion; confirm what is accepted before you go. The misconception that “any notary near me will do” can waste a trip, so bring the bonds and ask the certifying officer to complete this block.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three common fact patterns, each followed through the form. The entries are samples to show what real answers look like.
Scenario 1: Robert cashes his own paper I bonds worth $2,400. Robert is the sole owner and his total is over $1,000, so he must have his signature certified at his bank.
| Form Section | What Robert Enters |
|---|---|
| Item 1, name(s) on bonds | Robert J. Miller |
| Item 1, issue date / serial | 01/2003 / L98765432I |
| Item 2, SSN or EIN | SSN: 123-45-6789 |
| Item 2, name on account | Robert J. Miller |
| Item 2, routing number | 091000019 |
| Item 2, account no. / type | 000123456789 / Checking |
| Item 2, bank name / phone | First National Bank / 612-555-0100 |
| Item 3, certification | Crosses out nothing; all three apply |
| Item 3, signature | Signs in front of a bank certifying officer |
Scenario 2: Susan, a surviving spouse, cashes her late husband’s bonds worth $800. Because the total is $1,000 or less, Susan can skip the notary and enclose a copy of her ID, plus a certified death certificate as legal evidence.
| Form Section | What Susan Enters |
|---|---|
| Item 1, name(s) on bonds | Robert J. Miller |
| Item 1, issue date / serial | 03/1998 / C12345678EE |
| Item 2, SSN or EIN | SSN: 987-65-4321 (Susan’s own) |
| Item 2, name on account | Susan A. Miller |
| Item 2, routing number | 091000019 |
| Item 2, account no. / type | 222333444 / Savings |
| Item 2, bank name / phone | Lakeside Credit Union / 612-555-0150 |
| Item 3, signature | Signs and encloses copy of driver’s license |
| Enclosures | Bonds + certified death certificate |
Scenario 3: Marcus, executor of an estate, cashes estate bonds worth $9,500. Marcus acts for the estate, uses the estate’s EIN, and must have his signature certified because the value is well over $1,000.
| Form Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| Item 1, name(s) on bonds | Estate of Robert J. Miller |
| Item 1, issue date / serial | 06/1995 / E55667788EE |
| Item 2, SSN or EIN | EIN: 12-3456789 |
| Item 2, name on account | Estate of Robert J. Miller |
| Item 2, routing number | 021000021 |
| Item 2, account no. / type | 778899001 / Checking |
| Item 2, bank name / phone | Metro Trust Bank / 612-555-0199 |
| Item 3, signature | Signs as executor before a notary |
| Enclosures | Bonds + court letters of appointment |
A fourth filer, Aisha, a daughter entitled to a small estate with no court appointment, would attach the redemption and reissue instructions the Treasury lists for survivors. A fifth filer, Janet, holding a young child’s bond, would sign for the minor only if the certifying officer agrees the rules allow it.
How to File the Completed Form
Filing FS Form 1522 is done by mail, because you must send the original paper bonds along with the form. There is no online upload for paper bonds, and there is no filing fee charged by the Treasury. Send the form, the bonds, and any required evidence or ID copies together in one envelope.
Mail everything to the address printed on the form: Treasury Retail Securities Services, P.O. Box 9150, Minneapolis, MN 55480-9150. The toll-free phone line for questions is 844-284-2676. Because the Treasury warns that legal evidence cannot be returned, send copies where the rules allow and keep your originals when possible.
There is no payment to enclose, so the only “fee” you face is mailing cost. Use a trackable, insured mailing method such as Certified Mail with return receipt or a private courier, since you are sending negotiable securities. Keep the tracking number and a photocopy of every bond and the completed form as your proof of filing.
For electronic EE or I bonds, you do not use this form at all. Instead, you log in to your TreasuryDirect account, open ManageDirect, and choose Redeem securities. That channel pays to your linked bank account without any paper at all.
What Happens After You File
After the Treasury receives your package, the Bureau of the Fiscal Service reviews the form, verifies the bonds, and confirms your identity and certification. If everything matches, it pays the redemption value by direct deposit to the account you listed in Item 2. Processing times vary, and mailed paper requests can take several weeks, so patience matters.
The Treasury reports the interest you earned to the IRS. If the Treasury cashes your paper bond, it mails you a 1099-INT the following January, which you use on your tax return. Keep that form, because the interest on savings bonds is generally taxable at the federal level.
If something is wrong, the case is held rather than silently dropped. A missing serial number, an uncertified signature on a high-value request, or a bad routing number can lead to a returned package or a request for more information. This is why a clean form and good copies speed everything up, and why your tracking number helps you confirm the package arrived.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
Each error below has a direct consequence, so check your form against this list before mailing.
- Using an old revision of the form. The Treasury may reject a superseded version, costing you a full re-do.
- Leaving out a bond’s serial number. An undescribed bond may not be paid, even though you mailed it.
- Writing a name that does not match the inscription. A name mismatch triggers a hold while the Treasury seeks proof.
- Forgetting to show a legal name change. Without both names, the signature does not match the bond and the case stalls.
- Signing at home when the value is over $1,000. An uncertified high-value signature voids the request and forces a restart.
- Using a plain notary when a Medallion is expected. The certification may be rejected, wasting a trip and time.
- Entering the deceased owner’s SSN for an estate. The TIN will not match the estate account, causing a payment hold.
- Copying a wire routing number instead of the ACH number. The direct deposit fails and payment is delayed.
- Dropping leading zeros in the account number. The deposit can bounce back to the Treasury.
- Checking the wrong account type. A checking-versus-savings mismatch can cause the bank to reject the deposit.
- Mailing your only certified death certificate. The Treasury keeps legal evidence and will not return it.
- Sending bonds by regular mail. Lost, untracked securities are hard to replace and prove.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Do download the current April 2026 form from TreasuryDirect, because the right version prevents an automatic rejection.
- Do list every bond by issue date and serial number, since each described bond is one the Treasury can actually pay.
- Do total your bonds on the Savings Bond Calculator first, because the $1,000 line decides if you need a notary.
- Do sign in front of a certifying officer when required, as only a witnessed signature counts above $1,000.
- Do enclose a copy of your ID for small-value requests, which lets you skip certification under the rules.
- Do mail with tracking and insurance, because you are sending negotiable securities you cannot easily replace.
Don’t:
- Don’t sign before you know your bond value, since signing too early can void a required certification.
- Don’t send your only original death certificate, because the Treasury cannot return legal evidence.
- Don’t guess your routing or account number, as one wrong digit fails the deposit.
- Don’t try to cash part of a paper bond, because paper bonds are redeemed for their full value only.
- Don’t use a third-party “fill” site as your final source, since some host outdated versions of the form.
- Don’t forget to keep copies of everything, because copies are your only proof if a package is lost.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Deciding whether to file FS Form 1522 yourself or get help depends on the value and complexity of your bonds.
Pros of filing on your own:
- It is free, because the Treasury charges no fee to redeem your bonds.
- You keep full control, since you handle the form and the mailing yourself.
- It is fast for simple cases, as a single owner with a few bonds can finish in about 15 minutes.
- Direct payment by deposit is convenient, because the cash lands in your account.
- No middleman fees, since you avoid any service or attorney charge.
Cons of filing on your own:
- Estate and survivor cases get complex, because court letters and death certificates add steps.
- A small error costs weeks, as a mismatch or missing field sends the package back.
- You bear the mailing risk, since you are responsible for safely sending negotiable bonds.
- Certification logistics fall on you, because you must find an acceptable notary or Medallion provider.
- No one checks your work, so a missed backup-withholding cross-out is on you.
FAQs
Is FS Form 1522 only for paper bonds?
Yes. Use it for paper savings bonds, savings notes, and retirement bonds. Electronic EE and I bonds are cashed inside your TreasuryDirect account, not with this form.
Do I always need a notary to cash my bonds?
No. If your bonds total $1,000 or less, you may sign and enclose a copy of an accepted ID. Over $1,000, you must get your signature certified.
Can I cash just part of a paper savings bond?
No. A paper savings bond must be cashed for its entire value. You cannot redeem only part of a single paper bond.
Do I write my maiden name or married name in Item 1?
Yes to both when your name changed. Show the name on the bond and your current name, such as Mary T. Jones now by marriage Mrs. Mary T. Smith.
In Item 2, do I use the deceased owner’s SSN for an estate?
No. If the estate has an IRS-assigned Employer Identification Number, use that EIN. Match the TIN to the actual payee and the account name.
Should I check both the SSN and EIN boxes in Item 2?
No. Use only one. Enter a Social Security Number for an individual payee or an Employer Identification Number for an estate, trust, or entity.
Do I cross out the backup withholding statement in Item 3?
Yes, but only if the IRS told you that you are currently subject to backup withholding. Otherwise, leave the certification as printed and sign.
Can a surviving spouse use this form?
Yes. A surviving beneficiary may complete it, often with a certified death certificate as legal evidence. Remember the Treasury keeps documents you send.
Will I get my death certificate back?
No. The form states that legal evidence or documentation you submit cannot be returned, so send a certified copy and keep your originals.
Is there a fee to file FS Form 1522?
No. The Treasury charges no fee to redeem your bonds. Your only cost is mailing, which should be trackable and insured.
Can a minor sign the form?
Yes, but only if a notary or certifying officer believes the child understands the transaction. An incompetent person may not sign at all.
Where do I mail the completed form and bonds?
Yes, there is one address: Treasury Retail Securities Services, P.O. Box 9150, Minneapolis, MN 55480-9150. Use tracked, insured mail because you are sending securities.
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