How to Open a Trump Account: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Go to the official Trump Account source

If your child was auto-enrolled, you do not need to open a new account. On October 1, 2026 the Department of the Treasury automatically opened an account for every eligible child under 18 with a Social Security number. Check for that account and claim it first, and open a new one only if your child was missed. About 60 to 70 million children were enrolled, depending on the source. Our guide on how do I claim an auto-enrolled Trump Account shows how to activate the auto-enrolled account in the app.

Open a Trump Account only at TrumpAccounts.gov or the official Trump Accounts app. These are the government's channels, and they are the safe place to sign up. Opening takes only a few minutes once you have your child's details ready.

The program went live on July 4, 2026, so no accounts or contributions existed before then.

Be careful, because scammers copy government pages to steal personal data. Never enter your child's Social Security number on a random third-party site. Type the official web address yourself instead of clicking links from ads, texts, or emails.

Step 2: Gather the documents you need to sign up

You need three things to open a Trump Account: the child's Social Security number, date of birth, and address. Have these ready before you start so the process moves quickly. With them on hand, signing up takes just a few minutes.

Any parent can open an account, no matter their own immigration status. The child is the account owner, so their details are what the form asks for. Double-check the Social Security number, since a typo can delay your application. A grandparent opening one on a grandchild's behalf should note that a parent or legal guardian generally opens the account itself, though grandparents can still contribute once it's open.

Keep this information private during and after setup. The official site is secure, but you should still avoid sharing these details anywhere else. To confirm your child qualifies, review who qualifies before you apply.

Step 3: Which bank or trustee holds the account

Robinhood Securities holds and invests every Trump Account today. The Treasury uses Bank of New York Mellon (BNY) as its financial agent behind the scenes. Robinhood is the initial trustee.

Fidelity and Vanguard have said they plan to accept rollovers once Treasury issues guidance, and J.P. Morgan says rollovers are not yet available; as of October 2026 no other firm is live. Our Trump Account trustee comparison tracks where each firm stands.

Whichever trustee holds it, the account still follows the same federal rules. The money goes into an S&P 500 index fund regardless of provider. Learn more about the rules that apply no matter which trustee you use.

Step 4: Fund the Trump Account after you open it

You fund the account with family contributions once it is open. Family money can go in only after the account is claimed or opened, and contributions have been allowed since July 4, 2026. Contributions go straight into the S&P 500 index fund.

There is a yearly limit on how much you can add. The cap is $5,000 per year combined, and an employer can add up to $2,500 within that same cap. The $1,000 government seed does not count against this limit.

You do not have to max it out to start. Even small, steady contributions add up over years of market growth. Use our Trump Account calculator or investment calculator to see how funding choices grow over time.

Who can open a Trump Account

Almost any U.S. child under 18 with a Social Security number can have a Trump Account. Any parent can open one, regardless of their immigration status. This makes the account widely available to American families.

Opening an account is separate from getting the $1,000 seed. The government seed is only for U.S.-citizen kids born between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2028. Your child can still have an account and grow savings even without qualifying for the seed.

So two rules apply: one to open, and one to receive the seed. Understanding both prevents confusion at sign-up. If you have a baby, see our guide on Trump Accounts for newborns.

IRS Form 4547 and the Trump Account Election

Taxpayers use IRS Form 4547, titled "Trump Account Election(s)", to elect to open an initial Trump account for an eligible child and to request the one-time $1,000 pilot program contribution. Since Treasury auto-enrolled eligible children on October 1, 2026, most families no longer need the form to open an account, but it remains the documented way to make the $1,000 pilot election; see our Form 4547 guide. Under the IRS instructions for Form 4547, the authorized individual who signs for the account must be the child's legal guardian, parent, adult sibling, or grandparent, in that order of priority. To request the pilot contribution, the signer must also anticipate that the child will be their qualifying child for that tax year. Review who qualifies to check the child's age and Social Security number requirements before you submit the paperwork.

You can submit Form 4547 at any time, and the IRS instructions describe e-filing with your current-year income tax return as the fastest method. The instructions note that online elections may be available at trumpaccounts.gov starting in the middle of 2026. For a paper submission, mail the document to the address listed at IRS.gov/PaperReturns for that return year, and ensure you include a handwritten signature. Do not attach Form 4547 to Form 1040-X, and do not amend a Form 1040, 1040-SR, or 1040-NR to include it.

The form contains four distinct sections. Part I collects your name, address, and Social Security number, while Part II records the child's details, relationship to you, and a checkbox confirming your authority to open the account. Part III contains line 7, which you check to request the one-time $1,000 pilot program contribution for a child born after December 31, 2024, and before January 1, 2029. Leave line 7 blank if the child does not meet the pilot birth dates, as you will still use the form to open the underlying account. Part IV requires your disclosure consent, signature, and date. Any approved pilot contribution is deposited after the Treasury confirms the account is open, though not before July 4, 2026. See our guide on Trump Account taxes to see how the account is taxed.

What happens after you open a Trump Account

After you open the account, the $1,000 seed is added by the government if your child qualifies. Your family contributions are invested in an S&P 500 / U.S.-equity index fund. This is the same fund for every account, chosen for broad market growth.

The account is built for the long term. Earnings grow tax-deferred, so you owe no yearly tax on the gains inside it. The money is locked until January 1 of the year the child turns 18.

That long runway is the point of the account. Years of contributions plus market growth can build a meaningful sum by adulthood. To weigh the trade-offs, read whether Trump Accounts are worth it for your family. To check the balance and deposits, see how to use the Trump Accounts app.

Frequently asked questions