Trump Accounts: which kids get the $1,000 and how to sign up

Rather read it? Here’s the whole thing.

In the news. Last checked October 31, 2026. Rules can change; the official site is trumpaccounts.gov.

What it is

Trump Accounts are savings and investment accounts for children, created by the 2025 federal tax law. They opened on July 4, 2026.

Who gets the $1,000

A child who is a U.S. citizen, was born from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2028, and has a Social Security number can get a one-time $1,000 deposit from the U.S. Treasury. A parent or guardian has to request it.

How to sign up

Use IRS Form 4547, Trump Account Election(s). You can submit it through trumpaccounts.gov, the Trump Accounts app, your IRS Individual Online Account, or with your federal tax return. It’s free. Don’t file an amended return just to make this election.

Older children

Any child under 18 with a Social Security number can have an account opened, but children born before 2025 don’t get the government’s $1,000.

How the money works

• It’s invested in low-cost index funds that track mostly U.S. stocks, with fees capped at 0.1% a year.
• Family and others can add up to $5,000 a year in total. Employers can add up to $2,500 a year, which counts inside that $5,000. Nobody has to add anything.
• Money generally can’t be taken out before January 1 of the year the child turns 18. After that, the account follows the rules for a traditional IRA, including taxes and penalties on some early withdrawals.
• How much it grows depends on the stock market. No one can promise a number.

Private gifts

Michael and Susan Dell pledged $250 each for up to 25 million children age 10 and under, born before 2025, who live in ZIP codes with a median family income of $150,000 or less. Some other foundations and employers have announced their own gifts.

Watch out for scams

You have to pay a fee to claim the $1,000. Signing up never costs money. Ignore calls, texts and websites that charge a fee to “claim” the $1,000 or ask for your Social Security number out of the blue. Use only trumpaccounts.gov and IRS.gov.

What’s still unclear

• Some investment rules were only proposed by the Treasury and IRS in 2026 and may change before they’re final.
• Which private gifts a child gets depends on each donor’s own rules.
• Whether this is the best choice depends on your goals. A 529 plan, for example, is built for education costs.