When should a bond be refunded?

Asked by: Carley Lynch  |  Last update: February 19, 2026
Score: 4.7/5 (68 votes)

A bond should be refunded when its conditions are fully met, such as a court case concluding favorably for a bail bond, the terms of a surety bond being satisfied, or a financial bond reaching its maturity date, often requiring a formal court order or request to the issuing agency for processing, which can take weeks to months.

When should a bond be paid back?

A general bond is usually refunded at the end of the tenancy if there is no money owed.

What is the process of bond refunding?

Refunding involves retiring outstanding bonds and issuing new ones, often at more favorable terms. This is usually done to take advantage of lower interest rates, reduce financing costs, or eliminate restrictive covenants. For example, imagine a city with a $100 million bond at a 10% interest rate.

How long do bonds take to be refunded?

If you are using Rental Bonds Online and all your details are correct, you should get your bond back in two business days after your claim is accepted by your landlord or agent. Refunds from Rental Bonds Online are paid by direct deposit into your nominated bank account.

How does bond work in Colorado?

About Bonds

A bond is a formal written agreement where a person agrees to do something (such as appear in court) or stop doing something (such as committing a crime). If the person doesn't comply with the agreement, he/she (or a "surety", also called a "bondsman") then forfeits the money paid for the bond.

How To Get Immigration Bond Refund? - CountyOffice.org

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Do you get bond money back in Colorado?

Once the criminal case ends, the judge will order that your bail money be returned to you (“exonerated”). Bail money is exonerated regardless of whether the criminal charge results in dismissal, acquittal, or conviction.

How does a bond get paid back?

Most bonds offer a fixed interest rate—usually paid twice per year—and return the full principal amount on the maturity date. For example, let's say you purchase a 2-year, $1,000 bond with a 5% fixed interest rate that's paid semiannually. You'll earn $25 in interest every 6 months.

What exactly is a bond refund?

Generally unique to municipal securities, a refunding is the process by which an issuer refinances outstanding bonds by issuing new bonds. This may serve either to reduce the issuer's interest costs or to remove a restrictive covenant imposed by the terms of the bonds being refinanced.

What are common bond disputes?

Typical bond claims include the contractor's willful departure in any material respect from accepted trade standards for good and workmanlike construction, the contractor's willful or deliberate disregard and violation of the building laws of the state or of any political subdivision, and any willful or fraudulent act ...

Does bonds do refunds?

Yes, you generally get your cash bail money back after the case ends if you attend all court dates, but the fee paid to a bail bondsman (premium) is non-refundable, as it's their service charge. If you use a bondsman, the full bail amount goes to the court, and after the case, the court refunds it to the bondsman, not you. For rental bonds, you get it back minus deductions for damages or cleaning, but you need to follow lease terms and claim it. 

How long does the refund process take?

Refund processing times vary widely, but for IRS tax refunds, e-filing typically takes under 21 days, while paper returns take 6-8 weeks; for retail purchases, it's often 2-10 business days for debit/credit cards but can be longer (up to 30 days) depending on the merchant and card issuer, as funds travel from the merchant's bank to the network and then to your bank. 

What is an example of a refunded bond?

Example of refunded bond

Consider the case where a municipality issued bonds with a higher interest rate years ago. Since then, interest rates have dropped, so the municipality took advantage of the rosy market circumstances. They issue new bonds at the current reduced interest rate to repay the initial bond issue.

How do I know if I get my bond money back?

After the case is closed, any remaining bail (after it is applied to the restitution, fine, court costs, assessments, and surcharges) will be returned to the person whom posted the bail. A bail refund check is usually mailed within 30 days of sentencing/disposition of the case.

Do you always get money back from bonds?

Getting your bail money back usually happens after the trial ends, no matter the outcome. Cash bonds are always refunded 100%. Property bonds also return 100% of the collateral. But, surety bonds only refund 90% of the bail amount, with 10% going to the surety company.

What is the date when a bond must be repaid in full?

Generally, bonds have a set maturity date —the date when the issuer must fully repay the loan. Bonds typically have terms ranging from one to 30 years.

What is the process for submitting a bond refund form?

Submission Process

Once you have the form, fill it out with accurate details. Double-check the information to avoid delays. It's important to include the bond receipt number and any relevant case details. Mail or deliver the completed form to the appropriate office.

How much is a $100 bond worth after 30 years?

A $100 Series EE savings bond issued in October 1994 would be worth approximately $164.12 after 30 years, with $114.12 of that being interest earned, as these bonds stop earning interest at 30 years and mature at their final value. The exact value depends on the bond's type (Series EE is common) and its specific issue date, so using the TreasuryDirect Savings Bond Calculator is the best way to check your specific bond's value. 

What are common bond conditions?

Common bond conditions include: Obeying all laws. Attending all scheduled court dates. Avoiding contact with alleged victims or co-defendants.

Does a landlord have to charge a bond?

Landlords can charge a general bond when tenants move into a property. Find out when they can charge a general bond, what it covers and how much they can charge. Landlords can charge a pet bond if they have given consent for the tenant to keep a pet at the property.

Are there time limits for claiming a refund?

You can't get a credit or refund if you don't file the claim within 3 years of filing your original return, or 2 years after paying the tax, whichever is later, unless you meet an exception that allows you more time to file a claim.

How much do you have to pay on a $500,000 bond?

For a $500,000 surety bond, rates typically range between 0.5% and 10% of the bond amount. Applicants with excellent credit and strong financials might pay between 0.5% and 3%, which equals $2,500 to $15,000 annually. Higher-risk applicants with fair or poor credit might pay 4% to 10%, or $20,000 to $50,000 annually.

How is a bond paid back?

A bond is a loan. When you purchase a bond, you provide a loan to an issuer (like the federal government, a municipality, or a corporation) for a set period of time. In return, the bond issuer promises to pay back the money it borrowed, with interest.

How to get a refund of a bond?

Refund using Bond refund form. If the landlord is not using their property management system (PMS), the landlord and tenant must fill out the 'Bond refund' form and email or post it to Tenancy Services. The landlord fills out and signs page 1. The tenant fills out and signs page 2 (up to 2 tenants can complete page 2).

What does "bond refunded" mean?

Understanding Refunded Bond

By definition, the term “refunding” means refinancing another debt obligation. It is not unheard of for municipalities to issue new bonds in order to raise funds to retire existing bonds. The bonds which are issued to refund older bonds are called refunding bonds or pre-refunding bonds.

How do you get the money from a bond?

They're available to be cashed in after a single year, though there's a penalty for cashing them in within the first five years. Otherwise, you can keep savings bonds until they fully mature, which is generally 30 years. These days, you can only purchase electronic bonds, but you can still cash in paper bonds.