Is My Child Eligible for a Trump Account?
Updated July 2026 · 3 minute read
Eligibility for Trump Accounts has two separate layers that are easy to blur together: who can have an account at all, and who gets the free $1,000 government deposit. They're not the same question.
Who can have an account
Any child under 18 with a Social Security number can generally have a Trump Account opened for them, and family, employer, or other contributions can be made into it, up to the combined $5,000/year (indexed) cap. That part is broad — it isn't restricted to a specific birth window.
Who gets the $1,000 seed
The automatic $1,000 government-funded starter deposit is narrower. It's specifically for children born between 2025 and 2028 — that window is written directly into the law. A child born in 2024 or earlier, or after 2028, is not eligible for that specific deposit, even though they can still have an account funded entirely by family or employer contributions.
If you have kids on both sides of the window
This comes up constantly with siblings — a family with one child born in 2024 and another in 2026 will find only the younger one qualifies for the seed. That's not a reason to skip an account for the older child; it just means their account starts at $0 instead of $1,000 and depends entirely on contributions from there. Run both scenarios through the growth calculator to see how much of a difference the seed alone makes over 18 years — it's a real gap, but consistent contributions can close most of it.
What's still unclear
As of this writing, exactly how a family claims or activates the seed deposit — whether it's automatic based on the child's SSN and birth date, or requires an application through a specific financial institution — was still being clarified through Treasury and IRS guidance. If you're expecting a child in the eligible window, it's worth checking official IRS or Treasury guidance, or asking a tax professional, closer to the child's birth for the current process rather than relying on early reporting that may be out of date.
Frequently asked
Is my child eligible for a Trump Account?
Any child under 18 with a Social Security number can generally have a Trump Account opened for them. The automatic $1,000 government seed deposit specifically requires the child to be born between 2025 and 2028.
What if my child was born before 2025?
They can still have an account opened and receive family or employer contributions up to the annual cap — they just won't receive the automatic $1,000 government seed deposit, which is limited to the 2025–2028 birth-year window.
Does my child need a Social Security number?
Yes, a Social Security number is required to open and fund a Trump Account.
Do I need to do anything for my child to get the $1,000 seed?
The exact enrollment mechanics — whether it's automatic or requires an application — were still being clarified by Treasury and IRS guidance as of this writing. Check official Treasury or IRS guidance, or a tax professional, for the current process.