A simpler way to invest in your child’s future
A Trump Account is a newer type of investment account for a child. A parent or guardian manages it until the child turns 18 — then it belongs to them.
Who’s eligible?Independent guide · Updated for 2026
Trump Accounts: Complete Guide for 2026
A tax-advantaged investment account for children, explained in plain English. Learn who qualifies, how the one-time $1,000 government contribution works, annual limits, taxes, and how to open one — with links to verify everything against official sources.
We are an independent publisher — not the U.S. government, Treasury, IRS, or the official program. For enrollment and official details, visit trumpaccounts.gov.
How Trump Accounts help your child
Eligible children may start with $1,000
A child may qualify for a one-time federal contribution if they are a U.S. citizen born between 2025 and 2028. A few steps confirm it.
Who’s eligible?Contributions are invested automatically
You can add up to $5,000 a year. The balance is invested in low-cost index funds that track hundreds of large U.S. companies.
How money is investedSmall amounts can add up over time
Because returns can build on returns, steady contributions may grow meaningfully over many years. Try the illustration to see how.
See how it growsThe essentials
Trump Account quick facts
The key numbers and rules at a glance. Each fact links to the official source so you can confirm it yourself.
Who can have one
Any child under 18 with a valid Social Security number
A parent or guardian sets up and manages the account until the child turns 18. The $1,000 seed is a separate, narrower benefit tied to birth year and citizenship.
Source: The White House (opens in a new tab) Verified September 2026
$1,000 government contribution
One-time $1,000 federal seed
A one-time $1,000 pilot-program contribution is made for each eligible child who is a U.S. citizen born on or after January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2028, and for whom the election is made.
Source: IRS (opens in a new tab) Verified September 2026
Annual contribution limit
$5,000 per child, per year
The general annual limit is $5,000 for 2026 and 2027, indexed for inflation after 2027. Contributions can come from family, friends, the child, employers, and the government.
Source: IRS / program guidance (opens in a new tab) Verified September 2026
Account ownership
Owned by the child
The child is the account owner (beneficiary). A responsible adult manages the account during the growth period, before January 1 of the year the child turns 18.
Source: IRS (opens in a new tab) Verified September 2026
Tax treatment
Tax-deferred growth (traditional-IRA style)
Funds grow tax-deferred. From January 1 of the year the child turns 18, the account is generally treated as a traditional IRA and subject to those rules.
Source: IRS (opens in a new tab) Verified September 2026
How funds are invested
Low-cost U.S. index funds (fees ≤ 0.10%)
Balances must be invested in mutual funds or ETFs that track the S&P 500 or another index of primarily U.S. companies. Under proposed IRS rules, an eligible fund must be unleveraged and charge no more than 0.10% (10 basis points) in annual fees. Treasury announced a default fund plus additional low-cost index options.
Source: IRS (proposed regulations) (opens in a new tab) Verified September 2026
Start here
What are Trump Accounts?
A Trump Account is a tax-advantaged savings and investment account for a child, created under Internal Revenue Code Section 530A as part of the 2025 budget law. In practice it works much like a traditional IRA opened on a child's behalf: contributions are invested in low-cost funds that track U.S. stocks, and the balance grows tax-deferred over the long term.
The program launched nationwide on July 4, 2026. Two things often get mixed together, so it helps to separate them: almost any child under 18 with a Social Security number can have an account, while a narrower group — U.S. citizen children born from 2025 through 2028 — can also receive a one-time $1,000 contribution from the federal government.
Not a social media account. Despite the name, a Trump Account has nothing to do with Truth Social or any social platform. It is a federal savings account for children under tax law.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
It helps to look at two questions separately: who can have an account, and who also gets the $1,000 government contribution.
Who can have a Trump Account
- A child under age 18
- Has a valid Social Security number
- A parent or guardian sets up and manages the account
Who gets the one-time $1,000
- U.S. citizen child
- Born January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2028
- Has a valid Social Security number
- The election is made for the child
Step by step
How Trump Accounts work
From confirming eligibility to accessing the money as an adult, here is the full lifecycle.
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Confirm eligibility
Check that the child is under 18 and has a valid Social Security number. Note separately whether they qualify for the $1,000 government contribution.
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Make the election (Form 4547)
A parent or guardian files IRS Form 4547 — on paper or through the official online form — to open the initial account. Filing the form is free.
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Account is activated
Treasury processes the election and opens the account. Eligible children receive the one-time $1,000 government contribution.
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Contributions are added
Family, friends, the child, and employers can contribute up to the $5,000 annual limit. Employers may add up to $2,500 per employee, which counts toward that limit.
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Funds are invested
The balance is invested in low-cost funds that track the S&P 500 or another index of primarily U.S. companies, and grows tax-deferred.
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Access as an adult
Money generally cannot be withdrawn before January 1 of the year the child turns 18. After that, the account is generally treated as a traditional IRA.
Government contribution
The one-time $1,000 federal contribution
As part of a pilot program, the federal government makes a single $1,000 contribution into the Trump Account of each eligible child. This is a one-time deposit, not an annual one.
To qualify for the $1,000, a child must:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Be born from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2028
- Have a valid Social Security number
- Have the account election made on their behalf
Children born outside that window can still have a Trump Account funded by family and others — they just are not eligible for this specific $1,000 deposit. Confirm the current rules on the official program site.
Contribution limits
How much can go in each year
Most contributions share one annual cap. Here is how the pieces fit together.
$5,000
General annual limit
Per child, per year for 2026 and 2027, indexed for inflation after 2027. Contributions can come from parents, family, friends, and the child.
$2,500
Employer contributions
An employer may contribute up to $2,500 per employee per year. This amount counts toward the $5,000 limit and is generally tax-free to the employee.
$1,000
Government seed
The one-time federal contribution for eligible children is separate from the amounts families and employers add each year.
The power of time
See how it could grow with them
Thanks to compounding, a small start can grow over the years. Pick an age to see an illustration at three different yearly contribution levels.
$3,000
Contributing $0/year
$12,000
Contributing $250/year
$173,000
Contributing $5,000/year
Illustration only — not financial advice, not a prediction, and not a guaranteed result. Assumes a one-time $1,000 starting amount and a constant 7% annual return, compounded yearly, with taxes and fees ignored. Real returns vary and can be negative. Contribution rules limit when money can be added; confirm details with official sources.
Compare options
Trump Account vs a 529 plan
Families often weigh a Trump Account alongside a 529 education-savings plan. They serve different goals — here is a side-by-side look.
News & updates
Latest Trump Account updates
Program rules can change. These are our most recent, source-checked updates.
Trump Accounts Update: Sign-Ups, the App, and New Proposed Rules (2026)
Where the Trump Accounts program stands in 2026: millions of children signed up, an official app with financial-education modules, and fresh proposed rules on…
Trump Account or 529: Which Fits Your Family?
A quick look at how a Trump Account and a 529 plan differ — and why some families use both.
Understanding the One-Time $1,000 Government Contribution
The $1,000 is one-time, not annual, and has narrower rules than the account itself. Here is who qualifies.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Short, plain-English answers to the questions people ask most.
Verify with official sources
Official Trump Account resources
We are an independent guide. For enrollment, legal details, and the final word on any rule, use these official government sources.
Official Trump Accounts program (trumpaccounts.gov) (opens in a new tab)
The official U.S. government website for the Trump Accounts program. Use this for enrollment and official program details.
trumpaccounts.gov
IRS — Trump Accounts guidance & Form 4547 (opens in a new tab)
Official IRS instructions for the Form 4547 election used to open an initial Trump Account.
www.irs.gov
U.S. Department of the Treasury (opens in a new tab)
Treasury announcements on launch, the investment lineup, and program administration.
home.treasury.gov
IRS newsroom (opens in a new tab)
Primary-source guidance notices and program updates from the IRS.
www.irs.gov