[mister_tee]

I might be wrong but don't gifts count against the recipient's annual $10k limit? That is, you could only give $2k to someone who has purchased $8k for themselves, all within the same year?

Though, here is a Bogleheads thread where people suggest buying gift bonds even beyond 10k as you mention, to get higher interest rates now, storing them in the TreasuryDirect "gift box" until a year where the recipient comes in under the limit and they can be transferred.

https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=306297

edit, adding:

https://thefinancebuff.com/buy-i-bonds-as-gift.html#htoc-pur...

[mNovak]

Yes, but buying and 'delivering' the gift are two separate actions. So I can buy $30k in bonds for you today (which benefit from the current rates), held in the gift box until I transfer them to you. But as you said, I can only transfer $10k/year less any purchases you make that same year.

In the 1 year hold case (buying direct + gifts for 1 year only) you can transfer and immediately sell the gifts alongside the original bonds, in the new year.