A Treasury bill, or T-bill, is a short-term U.S. government debt security issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. It does not pay periodic interest; instead, it is sold at a discount to its par value and pays the par value at maturity. Maturity lengths include about 4, 8, 13, 26, or 52 weeks depending on auction outcomes.
T-bills are sold at Treasury auctions through competitive and noncompetitive bids. An investor can submit a bid specifying the discount rate or purchase price; the resulting yield is the implied return earned if held to maturity. The difference between the purchase price and the par value at maturity represents the investor's interest income. T-bills are highly liquid, meaning they can be quickly sold in secondary markets with relatively small price moves.
Interest income from U.S. government securities such as T-bills is exempt from state and local income taxes but is subject to federal income tax. The tax treatment is based on the discount method used at purchase and reported on the federal tax return.
Because they mature quickly and are backed by the U.S. government, T-bills are commonly used for short-term cash needs or as a temporary parking place for funds in a diversified fixed income portfolio. They can help reduce duration risk in a broader bond allocation but should be considered in light of overall liquidity needs and prevailing interest rates.
In practice, an investor participates in a 26-week T-bill auction, paying less than its $10,000 par value; at maturity, the investor receives $10,000.
Treasury Note (T-Note) · Treasury Bond (T-Bond) · Auction (Treasury) · Discount Yield · Money Market Instrument · Government Securities