Can you buy US treasury bills as a foreigner? - Richard Coward (2024)

January 4, 2023Posted byBy Richard Coward

Can you buy US treasury bills as a foreigner? - Richard Coward (1)

Why Buy T-Bills?

They’ve recently reached rates of over 6% and are one of the most attractive investments and ways to keep cash.

There are several advantages to buying US Treasury bills, which are a type of low-risk, short-term investment issued by the US government.

  1. Safety: Treasury bills are considered to be among the safest investments because they are backed by the full faith and credit of the US government. This means that the government is committed to paying the face value of the T-bill when it matures.
  2. Liquidity: T-bills are very liquid, which means they can be easily bought and sold in the secondary market. This makes them a good choice for investors who need to access their money quickly or who may need to sell their investments at short notice.
  3. Low risk: T-bills are considered to be low risk because they are backed by the government and have a very short term to maturity. This means that investors are not exposed to the possibility of interest rate fluctuations or other risks over a long period of time.
  4. High interest rates: T-bills often offer higher interest rates than other types of low-risk investments, such as bank certificates of deposit (CDs). This makes them a good choice for investors who are looking for a higher return on their money.

Warren Buffet, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, is known for his investment strategies that focus on long-term value and steady, reliable returns. He has said in the past that he considers Treasury bills to be a good investment because of their low risk and relative stability.

Can you buy T-Bills as a foreigner?

As a foreigner, you can’t buy treasury bills from treasurydirect.gov website as a foreigner. That is only for US citizens.

You can buy U.S. Treasury bills through a bank or brokerage account that allows you to purchase U.S. securities.

Retirement savers and investors who already have brokerage accounts are often better off buying bonds on the secondary market or with exchange-traded funds(ETFs). Treasury money market accounts also offer more convenience and liquidity than TreasuryDirect.

Some banks and brokerages may have minimum account balance requirements or other restrictions for purchasing U.S. Treasury bills. It is also possible to buy U.S. Treasury bills through a government securities broker or dealer, who can help facilitate the purchase on your behalf. You may need to provide documentation such as a passport or other identification to open an account and buy U.S. Treasury bills.

It is important to note that buying U.S. Treasury bills involves some risk, as the value of the bills may fluctuate due to changes in interest rates or other market conditions.

Interactive Brokers

One place to buy treasury bills is interactive brokers.

You can open an account on Interactive Brokers here.

Last updated on February 18, 2024

Can you buy US treasury bills as a foreigner? - Richard Coward (2)

Richard Coward is CEO of Global Admissions and is based between Beijing and London. He creates content about finance, investing, and learning and growing. Follow Richard on Youtube and join the mailing list.

Can you buy US treasury bills as a foreigner? - Richard Coward (2024)

FAQs

Can you buy US treasury bills as a foreigner? - Richard Coward? ›

As a foreigner, you can't buy treasury bills from treasurydirect.gov website as a foreigner. That is only for US citizens. You can buy U.S. Treasury

U.S. Treasury
United States Treasury securities, also called Treasuries or Treasurys, are government debt instruments issued by the United States Department of the Treasury to finance government spending, in addition to taxation.
https://en.wikipedia.org › United_States_Treasury_security
bills through a bank or brokerage account that allows you to purchase U.S. securities.

Can anyone buy U.S. Treasury bills? ›

Individuals, organizations, fiduciaries, and corporate investors may buy Treasury securities through a bank, broker, or dealer. With a bank, broker, or dealer, you may bid for Treasury marketable securities non-competitively or competitively, but not both, for the same auction.

Can I buy I bonds if I am not a US citizen? ›

The U.S. Treasury doesn't let just anyone purchase I bonds, so you'll need to see if you qualify to buy them. You'll need to be one of the following: A U.S. citizen, even if you live abroad. A U.S. resident.

Can a UK citizen buy U.S. Treasury bonds? ›

How to Buy US Government Bonds in UK. Unlike UK Government bonds, which can be purchased directly, UK citizens cannot buy US Treasury bonds directly from the US government. However, US government bonds are accessible to UK residents through the secondary market or via brokerage services.

Why people don t invest in Treasury bill? ›

Taxes: Treasury bills are exempt from state and local taxes but still subject to federal income taxes. That makes them less attractive holdings for taxable accounts. Investors in higher tax brackets might want to consider short-term municipal securities instead.

How can foreigners buy US Treasury bills? ›

Can you buy T-Bills as a foreigner? As a foreigner, you can't buy treasury bills from treasurydirect.gov website as a foreigner. That is only for US citizens. You can buy U.S. Treasury bills through a bank or brokerage account that allows you to purchase U.S. securities.

How much does a $1000 T bill cost? ›

To calculate the price, take 180 days and multiply by 1.5 to get 270. Then, divide by 360 to get 0.75, and subtract 100 minus 0.75. The answer is 99.25. Because you're buying a $1,000 Treasury bill instead of one for $100, multiply 99.25 by 10 to get the final price of $992.50.

Can other countries buy U.S. Treasury bonds? ›

Foreign banks often buy U.S. Treasury securities as investments.

Who are the foreign holders of the T-bill? ›

The three largest holders of Treasuries -- Japan, China and the UK -- led the purchase U.S. government debt.

How do you avoid tax on treasury bonds? ›

The Treasury gives you two options:
  1. Report interest each year and pay taxes on it annually.
  2. Defer reporting interest until you redeem the bonds or give up ownership of the bond and it's reissued or the bond is no longer earning interest because it's matured.
Dec 12, 2023

Can you lose principal on Treasury bills? ›

The No. 1 advantage that T-bills offer relative to other investments is the fact that there's virtually zero risk that you'll lose your initial investment. The government backs these securities so there's much less need to worry that you could lose money in the deal compared to other investments.

Are Treasury bills safer than CDs? ›

Treasury bills can be a good choice for those looking for a low-risk, fixed-rate investment that doesn't require setting money aside for as long as a CD might call for. However, you still run the risk of losing out on higher rates and returns if the market is on the upswing while your money is locked in.

How to buy Treasury bills for beginners? ›

You can only buy T-bills in electronic form, either from a brokerage firm or directly from the government at TreasuryDirect.gov. (You can also buy Series I savings bonds through TreasuryDirect.gov). The most common maturity dates are four weeks, eight weeks, 13 weeks, 26 weeks and 52 weeks.

How much do you make on a 3 month T-bill? ›

3 Month Treasury Bill Rate is at 5.25%, compared to 5.25% the previous market day and 5.12% last year. This is higher than the long term average of 4.19%. The 3 Month Treasury Bill Rate is the yield received for investing in a government issued treasury security that has a maturity of 3 months.

What is a 1 year T-bill paying today? ›

1 Year Treasury Rate is at 5.14%, compared to 5.15% the previous market day and 5.07% last year. This is higher than the long term average of 2.95%. The 1 Year Treasury Rate is the yield received for investing in a US government issued treasury security that has a maturity of 1 year.

Do you pay taxes on Treasury bills? ›

Key Takeaways

Interest from Treasury bills (T-bills) is subject to federal income taxes but not state or local taxes. The interest income received in a year is recorded on Form 1099-INT. Investors can opt to have up to 50% of their Treasury bills' interest earnings automatically withheld.

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