Who is eligible for a Trump Account?
Any child under 18 with a valid Social Security number can have a Trump Account. Only children born from 2025 through 2028 who are US citizens also get the $1,000 deposit from the federal government. Older children can still open an account, and many aged 10 and under may get $250 from the Dell pledge instead.
| Child | Trump Account | $1,000 federal seed | Dell $250 gift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Born 2025–2028, US citizen with an SSN | Yes | Yes | No (gets the $1,000) |
| Born 2025–2028, not a US citizen, has an SSN | Yes | No | No |
| Aged 10 or under, born before 2025 | Yes | No | Likely, if your ZIP code's median income is under $150,000 |
| Aged 11 to 17 | Yes | No | Only if funds remain |
| Turns 18 this year or older | No | No | No |
The $1,000 federal seed
The US Treasury deposits a one-time $1,000 for each child who meets all of these rules:
- Born after December 31, 2024 and before January 1, 2029
- A US citizen with a valid Social Security number
- Expected to be the qualifying child of the person who makes the election
- No earlier pilot contribution election has been processed for the child
The money doesn't arrive automatically. You must request it by ticking the pilot contribution box on IRS Form 4547.
Trump Accounts for older kids
Children born before 2025 can still have a Trump Account as long as they are under 18 at the end of the year it's opened. For an account opened in 2026, that means born in 2009 or later. They don't get the $1,000, but family can contribute up to $5,000 a year and the account grows the same way.
To help this group, Michael and Susan Dell pledged $6.25 billion to put $250 into the accounts of children aged 10 and under, born before 2025, who live in ZIP codes with a median income under $150,000. The gift is paid into an open Trump Account, so you need to open one to receive it.
Who can open the account
A legal guardian, parent, adult sibling or grandparent can open a child's Trump Account, in that order of priority. To request the $1,000 seed, the person filing should be the one who expects to claim the child as a qualifying child for that tax year. Anyone can contribute once the account is open.
How to open a Trump Account
- Make sure your child has a Social Security number.
- File IRS Form 4547, either with your federal tax return or online at trumpaccounts.gov.
- Tick the pilot contribution box if your child was born from 2025 through 2028.
- Follow the Treasury's activation instructions. Contributions open on July 4, 2026.
Questions parents ask
Is my child eligible for a Trump Account if born before 2025?
Yes, if they are under 18 at the end of the year you open it and have a Social Security number. They won't get the $1,000 federal seed, but may qualify for the Dell $250 gift if aged 10 or under.
Do non-citizen children qualify?
A child with a valid Social Security number can have a Trump Account. Only US citizens get the $1,000 federal seed.
Can grandparents open a Trump Account?
Yes. Grandparents are on the IRS list of people who can open one, after a legal guardian, a parent and an adult sibling. Grandparents can also contribute to an account a parent opens.
Is there a deadline to sign up?
The IRS says Form 4547 can be filed at any time. The child must still be under 18 at the end of the year you file, and the $1,000 seed is only for children born from 2025 through 2028.
Should I open a Trump Account if I already have a 529?
Often yes, to collect any free money. Use our Trump Account vs 529 calculator to see where your own savings should go.