Do you have to report municipal bond interest?
James Craig
Published Feb 27, 2026
Income from investing in municipal bonds is generally exempt from Federal and state taxes for residents of the issuing state. While the interest income is tax-exempt, any capital gains distributed are taxable to the investor. Income for some investors may be subject to the Federal Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT).
Do you have to report municipal bond interest on 1040?
Even though the interest you earn on your tax-free municipal bonds isn’t taxable, you’ll still need to report it to the IRS. At tax time, you’ll receive a Form 1099-INT, Interest Income, from the bond issuer.
How often do municipal bonds pay interest?
every six months
Municipal Bonds and Their Tax Advantages Bond interest typically is paid every six months (though some types of bonds work differently); interest on notes is usually paid at maturity.
How is I bond interest taxed?
When you invest in Series I savings bonds, you won’t pay state or local taxes on the interest income you earn. 1That means that more money ends up in your pocket at the end of every year than if you were to own an ordinary bond. Series I savings bonds are subject to federal taxes.
Do you have to report interest on municipal bonds?
Tax-Free Municipal Bonds. Even though the interest you earn on your tax-free municipal bonds isn’t taxable, you’ll still need to report it to the IRS. At tax time, you’ll receive a Form 1099-INT, Interest Income, from the bond issuer. In Box 8, Tax-Exempt Interest, you’ll see the tax-exempt interest you earned during the tax year.
How to report tax exempt interest on bonds?
At tax time, you’ll receive a Form 1099-INT, Interest Income, from the bond issuer. In Box 8, Tax-Exempt Interest, you’ll see the tax-exempt interest you earned during the tax year. You’ll input this information into Form 1040, line 2a, which is designated for inputting this type of interest.
How are municipal bonds exempt from federal taxes?
Municipal bonds are debt instruments issued by state and local governments to pay for large, expensive, and long-lived capital projects. The U.S. federal tax rules have always exempted interest payments from municipal bonds from taxable income.
How to report interest on a savings bond?
You have accrued interest from a bond. You are reporting original issue discount (OID) of less than the amount shown on Form 1099-OID. You are reporting interest income of less than the amount shown on a Form 1099 due to amortizable bond premium. You are claiming the exclusion of interest from series EE or I U.S. savings bonds issued after 1989.