Advice?
One way to spread out the tax hit over multiple years and minimize the tax hit would be to change reporting the interest over to the annual method, rather than waiting until they mature. Especially since, under current law, the tax rates are due to return to their previous higher rates in 2026, 5 years before the bonds mature, you could get most of the interest taxed at today’s lower rates.
From IRS Pub 550 https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p550.pdf (I added some bolding to show that the IRS also indicates that interest is to be reported in the year the bonds mature.)
Reporting options for cash method taxpayers. If you use the cash method of reporting income, you can report the interest on Series EE, Series E, and Series I bonds in either of the following ways.
1. Method 1. Postpone reporting the interest until the earlier of the year you cash or dispose of the bonds or the year in which they mature. (However, see Savings bonds traded, later.)
Note. Series EE bonds issued in 1990 matured in 2020. If you have used method 1, you generally must report the interest on these bonds on your 2020 return. The last Series E bonds were issued in 1980 and matured in 2010. If you used method 1, you generally should have reported the interest on these bonds on your 2010 return.
2. Method 2. Choose to report the increase in redemption value as interest each year.
You must use the same method for all Series EE, Series E, and Series I bonds you own. If you do not choose method 2 by reporting the increase in redemption value as interest each year, you must use method 1.
Change from method 1. If you want to change your method of reporting the interest from method 1 to method 2, you can do so without permission from the IRS. In the year of change, you must report all interest accrued to date and not previously reported for all your bonds.
Once you choose to report the interest each year, you must continue to do so for all Series EE, Series E, and Series I bonds you own and for any you get later, unless you request permission to change, as explained next.
Change from method 2. To change from method 2 to method 1, you must request permission from the IRS. Permission for the change is automatically granted if you send the IRS a statement that meets all the following requirements.
1. You have typed or printed the following number at the top: “131.”
2. It includes your name and social security number under “131.”
3. It includes the year of change (both the beginning and ending dates).
4. It identifies the savings bonds for which you are requesting this change.
5. It includes your agreement to:
a. Report all interest on any bonds acquired during or after the year of change when the interest is realized upon disposition, redemption, or final maturity, whichever is earliest; and
b. Report all interest on the bonds acquired before the year of change when the interest is realized upon disposition, redemption, or final maturity, whichever is earliest, with the exception of the interest reported in prior tax years.
You must attach this statement to your tax return for the year of change, which you must file by the due date (including extensions).
AJ