What maturity describes
Maturity is the date when repayment of the bond’s principal is due under its terms. It is different from the date you bought the bond. The remaining time to maturity becomes shorter as time passes.
Selling before maturity is a separate transaction. The sale price may differ from both face value and your purchase price. Credit risk and changes in market conditions still matter; holding to maturity does not remove every risk. Investor.gov’s bond introduction describes these general concepts.
Keep three events distinct
For a clear record, distinguish a coupon payment, a sale, and principal repayment at maturity. Each answers a different question about what happened to the investment. Do not treat repayment of principal as if it were entirely investment income.
Reconcile the closing record
When an investment ends, compare the original terms with the actual transaction or repayment evidence. Keep any unresolved difference visible rather than forcing the record to match an expectation. Struct Capital helps organize investment information; it does not arrange redemption, execute a sale or guarantee repayment.