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Form 8815: Exclusion of Interest From Series EE and I U.S. Savings Bonds Issued After 1989 (For Filers With Qualified Higher Education Expenses)
IRS Form 8815 is used to calculate the exclusion of interest earned on series EE or I U.S. savings bonds cashed in 2025 that were issued after 1989, and is filed by taxpayers who meet the qualified education‑expense and filing‑status requirements.
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IRS Form 8815 - Exclusion of Interest From Series EE and I U.S. Savings Bonds Issued After 1989 (For Filers With Qualified Higher Education Expenses)
IRS Form 8815 is used to calculate the exclusion of interest earned on series EE or I U.S. savings bonds cashed in 2025 that were issued after 1989, and is filed by taxpayers who meet the qualified education‑expense and filing‑status requirements.
Risk Radar
Scan points- 1Omitting the required bond record (serial number, issue date, face value, proceeds) can cause the exclusion to be denied.
- 2Failing to attach a written record of each bond with serial number, issue date, face value, and redemption proceeds.
- 3Leaving the eligible student’s name blank on line 1, column (a).
- 4Omitting the school’s name or address on line 1, column (b).
- 5Including room‑and‑board costs as qualified expenses on line 2.
Plain English
Form 8815 lets you subtract the interest from certain EE or I savings bonds from your taxable income. You can do this only if you cashed the bonds in 2025, they were issued after 1989, and you paid qualified higher‑education costs for yourself, a spouse or a dependent. The form walks you through reporting the bonds, the expenses, and any prior interest already reported.
Submission Date
- Filing date: 2025-12-16 08:10:40
- Preparation window: collect IDs, supporting records, and signatures in advance.
- Final review: verify names, dates, and required fields before submission.
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What this form is for
- Use this form when you cashed post‑1989 Series EE or I U.S. savings bonds in 2025 and you paid qualified higher education expenses in 2025 for yourself, your spouse, or dependents.
- Do not use it when your filing status is married filing separately.
- Check Form 8818 instead when you need a written record of each bond you cashed.
Form selector
Use this form or another form?
Need to claim education credit
Education credits are claimed on Form 8863, not on Form 8815
✓ Verify you are not double‑counting expenses on both forms
Recording bond redemption details
Form 8818 provides the required serial number, issue date, face value, and proceeds record
✓ Confirm you have completed Form 8818 for each bond
Calculating deductible investment interest
Form 4952 is used to compute deductible investment interest separate from the bond interest exclusion
✓ Ensure you use a dummy Form 4952 for the exclusion calculation
Deadline or filing window
Not stated in the official source.
Checklist
What you need before filling it out
Line 1 (a) – Person’s name
Name of enrolled student or dependent · Tax return (Form 1040) dependent list
Line 2 – Qualified higher education expenses
Receipts or billing statements for tuition, fees, books · Educational institution billing records
Line 3 – Nontaxable educational benefits
Scholarship award letters, veterans’ assistance statements · Award letters or VA documents
Bond record – Serial number, issue date, face value, proceeds
Form 8818 or bond redemption receipt · Bond redemption receipt
Worksheet line 3 – 50% of face value
Total face value of cashed bonds · Form 8818 line 2
Before you submit
- 1Confirm the form revision reads 20 25.
- 2Enter the enrolled student’s or dependent’s name in line 1(a).
- 3Enter the eligible institution’s name and address in line 1(b).
- 4Calculate and enter total qualified higher education expenses on line 2.
- 5Identify scholarships or veterans’ benefits and enter them on line 3.
- 6Complete the bond worksheet and enter the result on line 6.
- 7Attach Form 8815 to your Form 1040 or 1040‑SR.
- 8Sign the attached Form 8815.
- 9Retain a copy of the completed Form 8815 and supporting documents.
- 10Verify you have a written bond record (Form 8818) for each bond.
How to file this form
- 1Gather bond redemption records and qualified education expense documentation.
- 2Complete Form 8818 to record each bond’s serial number, issue date, face value, and proceeds.
- 3Fill out Form 8815, entering names, institution details, expenses, and worksheet calculations.
- 4Attach Form 8815 to your Form 1040 or 1040‑SR.
- 5Sign the attached Form 8815.
- 6Mail the tax return with the attached Form 8815 to the IRS address for your filing location.
- 7Retain a copy of the mailed return and supporting documents as proof of filing.
Known limitations
- 1Does not apply to bonds issued before 1990.
- 2Excludes expenses such as room and board or non‑degree hobby courses.
- 3Not available to taxpayers filing married filing separately.
- 4Expenses already used for a Form 8863 education credit cannot be claimed.
- 5Benefits covered by nontaxable educational aid cannot be included on line 2.
Field map
Compact field-by-field guide
Entity Info
1 items
Name and taxpayer ID of the entity claiming the credit.
Credit Info
1 items
Type of credit or incentive being claimed.
Calculation
2 items
The base amount used to calculate the credit.
Calculated credit amount after applying formulas and limitations.
Certification
1 items
Detailed breakdown supporting the credit calculation.
Signatures
1 items
Sign and date the form.
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Fillable formOpen in Editor->The form is the 2025 edition (revision 20 25) and the top of the page directs users to www.irs.gov/Form8815 for the latest information.
What changed or needs a fresh check
- Edition date — confirm the revision reads 20 25 on the form header.
- Fee — Not stated in the official source — verify on the agency site.
- Mailing address — Not stated in the official source — verify on the agency site.
- Signature — Not stated in the official source — verify on the agency site.
- Attachment requirement — confirm you attach Form 8815 to Form 1040 or 1040‑SR.
Quick Facts
Downloads
After you file
- 1Store the completed Form 8815 and attached Form 8818 with your tax records.
- 2Keep receipts for qualified education expenses for at least three years.
- 3Monitor your IRS account for confirmation that the exclusion was processed.
- 4If the IRS issues a notice, review the worksheet calculations and amend if needed.
- 5Retain copies of scholarship letters to support line 3 entries.
- 6Update your records if you later discover additional eligible bond interest.
Sources
- SRCForm p.1 — revision date 20 25 appears on the form header.
- SRCForm p.1 — attachment instruction: Attach to Form 1040 or 1040‑SR.
- SRCForm p.3 — purpose: Exclude interest from series EE or I bonds cashed in 2025 issued after 1989.
- SRCForm p.3 — eligibility: You cashed qualified U.S. savings bonds in 2025 that were issued after 1989.
- SRCForm p.3 — eligibility: You paid qualified higher education expenses in 2025 for yourself, your spouse, or dependents.
- SRCForm p.3 — eligibility: Filing status any except married filing separately.
- SRCForm p.3 — record requirement: Written record must include serial number, issue date, face value, and total redemption proceeds.
- SRCForm p.3 — alternative form: Use Form 8818 to record bond redemption details.
- SRCForm p.3 — line 3 benefits: Scholarships (section 117) and veterans’ educational assistance benefits.
- SRCForm p.3 — worksheet: Multiply face value by 50% (0.50).
Common confusion points
Can I include room and board as qualified expenses?
Room and board are explicitly excluded in the instructions.
→ Check the qualified expenses list on the form instructions.
Do scholarships go on line 2 or line 3?
Scholarships are nontaxable benefits and belong on line 3.
→ Verify scholarship amounts are entered on line 3.
What if my filing status is married filing separately?
The form is not allowed for that filing status.
→ Confirm your filing status before using Form 8815.
Do I need to attach Form 8818?
Form 8818 is optional but recommended as a written record.
→ Ensure you have a completed Form 8818 for each bond.
Should I use the bond’s interest amount or face value in the worksheet?
The worksheet multiplies the face value by 50 %.
→ Enter the total face value on worksheet line 2.
Can I claim the same education expense for a credit and the bond exclusion?
Expenses used for a credit on Form 8863 cannot be used here.
→ Cross‑check that expenses are not used on Form 8863.
Workflow map
Related forms and next steps
Before
Current
After
Often used with
⚠ If something goes wrong
- Form 4952 – dummy form to compute deductible investment interest without attaching.
Questions about IRS Form 8815
What is IRS Form 8815 used for?
Form 8815 lets you subtract the interest from certain EE or I savings bonds from your taxable income. You can do this only if you cashed the bonds in 2025, they were issued after 1989, and you paid qualified higher‑education costs for yourself, a spouse or a dependent. The form walks you through reporting the bonds, the expenses, and any prior interest already reported.
Who must file IRS Form 8815?
Taxpayers who cashed qualified series EE or I bonds issued after 1989 in 2025, paid qualified higher‑education expenses for themselves, their spouse or dependents, and are not filing married filing separately must file IRS Form 8815.
What information does IRS Form 8815 require?
Form 8815 collects the student’s name (line 1, column a), the school’s name and address (line 1, column b), total qualified education expenses (line 2), nontaxable benefits covering those expenses (line 3), and a worksheet to compute the bond‑interest exclusion (lines 5‑8). It also requires a written record of each bond (serial number, issue date, face value, redemption proceeds).
How do I complete IRS Form 8815?
First, gather a written record for each post‑1989 EE or I bond cashed, including serial number, issue date, face value and redemption proceeds. Next, enter the eligible student’s name on line 1 (a) and the institution’s name and address on line 1 (b). Then report qualified tuition and fees on line 2, subtract any scholarships or veteran benefits on line 3, and complete the interest‑exclusion worksheet through line 8. Finally, sign the form before filing.
Can I include room and board as qualified expenses?
Room and board are explicitly excluded in the instructions. Check the qualified expenses list on the form instructions.
Do scholarships go on line 2 or line 3?
Scholarships are nontaxable benefits and belong on line 3. Verify scholarship amounts are entered on line 3.
What if my filing status is married filing separately?
The form is not allowed for that filing status. Confirm your filing status before using Form 8815.
Do I need to attach Form 8818?
Form 8818 is optional but recommended as a written record. Ensure you have a completed Form 8818 for each bond.
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