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How to Open or Claim a Trump Account (2026 Step-by-Step)
Your child probably already has a Trump Account. Here's how to claim it, get the $1,000, and what to do if no account was opened.
The short answer
Most parents don't need to open a Trump Account anymore. They need to claim one. On October 1, 2026, the Treasury automatically opened an account for every child under 18 with a valid Social Security number. To use it, claim it in the official Trump Accounts app. If your child was born 2025 through 2028, also submit Form 4547 and choose the $1,000 pilot contribution, because the $1,000 is never added automatically.
What you'll need
- Your child's Social Security number and date of birth
- Your own Social Security number, date of birth and contact details
- A way to verify your identity online (the IRS route uses ID.me)
- A bank account or debit card, if you want to add money
Step 1: Get the official app
Go to trumpaccounts.gov and choose the option to download the official Trump Accounts app for iPhone or Android, or use the web version on a computer. Start only from trumpaccounts.gov or irs.gov/trumpaccounts. Copycat sites exist, and the real government sites never charge a fee.
Step 2: Claim your child's account
In the app, choose to claim an existing account. You'll verify your identity and your relationship to the child. Once claimed, the money in the automatic account (for example, the Dell $250) moves into the claimed account, and you can see the balance, choose an investment and add money.
A parent, legal guardian or legal custodian can claim the account. For separated parents, whoever claims first gets control, so agree on who will do it.
Step 3: Elect the $1,000 (children born 2025–2028)
The IRS says you must elect the $1,000 even if the Treasury opened the account automatically. Submit Form 4547 and select the pilot program contribution. You can do this:
- In the Trump Accounts app during or after claiming
- In your IRS online account at irs.gov/trumpaccounts: sign in with ID.me, open Forms, choose Trump Accounts and select Begin form. The IRS estimates it takes 5 to 10 minutes.
- With your federal tax return, attaching Form 4547
- On paper, if you can't file electronically
The child must be a US citizen with a Social Security number, born from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2028. The person electing should expect to claim the child as a qualifying child for that tax year. You can check the status of your election in your IRS online account.
Step 4: Watch for the activation email
Official emails come from [email protected]. Follow the link to finish activating, or open the app directly. Be careful with look-alike emails or texts asking for payment or passwords.
Step 5: Add money (optional)
Link a bank account or debit card in the app. Family, friends and employers can add up to $5,000 a year in total until the year the child turns 18. Not sure whether to add your own savings here or to a 529? Compare them.
What if no account was opened?
If your child got a Social Security number after October 1, 2026, the Treasury opens accounts in periodic enrollment rounds. You don't have to wait: submitting Form 4547 also opens an account.
What happens if you never claim it?
The account stays in your child's name, invested in an S&P 500 index fund. Nobody can add family money to it, and the $1,000 only arrives if someone elects it. Your child can claim it themselves at 18.
Questions parents ask
Do I still need to file Form 4547?
Only to get the $1,000 (children born 2025–2028), or if no account was opened for your child. Claiming an automatic account happens in the app.
Does it cost anything?
No. Opening and claiming are free. Investments inside the account are limited by law to funds with total fees of 0.1% a year or less.
How long does it take to get the $1,000?
The Treasury deposits it after the election is processed and the child's eligibility is confirmed. Check the status in your IRS online account or the app.
Can grandparents claim the account?
Claiming is for parents, legal guardians and legal custodians. Grandparents can contribute once a parent has claimed it.
Last checked November 11, 2026 against IRS guidance and the September 2026 temporary regulations.