>Mr Buffett : Gift Contributions to Reduce Debt Held by the Public

>Mr Buffett : Gift Contributions to Reduce Debt Held by the Public


The Bureau of the Public Debt may accept gifts donated to the United States Government to reduce debt held by the public. Acting for the Secretary of the Treasury, Public Debt may accept a gift of:


Money, made only on the condition that it be used to reduce debt held by the public.
An outstanding government obligation, made only on the condition that the obligation be retired and the redemption proceeds used to reduce debt held by the public.


Other intangible personal property made only on the condition that the property is sold and the proceeds from the sale used to reduce the public debt.
Gifts to reduce debt held by the public may be inter vivos gifts or testamentary bequests.


The fiscal year to date information includes total gifts received for the months of October through September. For the years 1996 and 1997, monthly data is not available.


Read about how to make a contribution to reduce the debt.


Gift Contributions  and  Fiscal Year to Date Totals
2011 $2,035,349.94
2010 $2,840,466.75
2009 3,063,057.05
2008 2,189,358.89
2007 2,624,862.42
2006 1,646,209.41
2005 1,455,541.65
2004 664,911.25
2003 1,277,423.40
2002 744,675.06
2001 1,645,082.28
2000 1,868,891.93
1999 1,457,510.59
1998 1,535,541.02
1997 955,897.15
1996 1,985,175.10


Gifts to Reduce Debt Held by the Public have been reported in the footnotes of the Monthly Statement of the Public Debt since February 1988. Visit the MSPD to view the debt historical information archives including fiscal year to date tables through and including 1987.


Financing the Debt


Why does the debt sometimes decrease?


The Public Debt Outstanding decreases when there are more redemptions of Treasury securities than there are issues.


How do you make a contribution to reduce the debt?


There are two ways for you to make a contribution to reduce the debt:


You can make a contribution online either by credit card, checking or savings account at Pay.gov
You can write a check payable to the Bureau of the Public Debt, and in the memo section, notate that it’s a Gift to reduce the Debt Held by the Public. Mail your check to: 


Attn Dept G
Bureau of the Public Debt
P. O. Box 2188
Parkersburg, WV 26106-2188