Key Points
- Trump accounts are structured as traditional IRAs for minors, with a $5,000 annual contribution limit (inflation-adjusted) from parents, employers, nonprofits, and governments.
- Children born between 2025 and 2028 are eligible for a one-time $1,000 government contribution into a Trump account.
- The most powerful long-term move: converting the account to a Roth IRA around age 22, when most young adults are in their lowest lifetime tax bracket, locking in decades of tax-free growth.
When most Americans think of investment accounts for their kids, they picture a 529 plan or a custodial brokerage account. Starting this year, there is a new option: Trump Accounts.
Congress created "Trump accounts" through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The legislation added two new sections to the Internal Revenue Code: Section 530A, which establishes Trump accounts, and Section 6434, which authorizes the Treasury to deposit $1,000 into each qualifying child's account through a pilot contribution program.
The IRS filed proposed regulations (PDF File) on March 6, 2026 to clarify how the program works in practice.
The accounts are structured as a type of traditional individual retirement account, but with special rules that apply during the child's "growth period" — from the date the account is opened through December 31 of the year the child turns 17. After that, the account converts to a standard traditional IRA governed by the same rules that apply to all adult retirement accounts.
The program is expected to reach 15 million children across 12 million families, according to Treasury Department estimates.
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What Is A Trump Account?
A Trump account is a tax-deferred investment account that can be established for any child under 18 who has a Social Security number. During the growth period (open to age 17), most ordinary IRA rules are suspended and replaced with special rules specific to these accounts.
The key features during the growth period:
Contributions: Parents, grandparents, employers, nonprofits, and government entities can all contribute. The annual contribution limit is $5,000, adjusted for inflation. Notably, contributions from governments and nonprofits (which must be made in equal amounts to all eligible children within a qualified class and routed through the Treasury Department) do not count toward the $5,000 annual cap. Nor does the $1,000 pilot program contribution.
Investments: Money in a Trump account must be invested in U.S Index Funds. Annual fees and expenses are capped at 0.1%, putting the cost structure in line with the lowest-cost index funds available today.
Distributions: No withdrawals are permitted during the growth period. The only permissible movement of funds during this time is a direct trustee-to-trustee rollover to another Trump account or to an ABLE account (a tax-advantaged account for individuals with disabilities). An individual can only have one Trump account containing funds at any time.
How To Claim The $1,000 Baby Bonus
The pilot program contribution is a one-time, $1,000 payment from the Treasury Secretary directly into a qualifying child's Trump account. To receive it, a parent, foster parent, or other qualifying relative must make a "pilot program election" by filing IRS Form 4547, Trump Account Election(s).
To be eligible for the $1,000, a child must meet all of the following criteria:
- Born between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2028
- A United States citizen
- Issued a Social Security number before the election is filed
- No prior pilot program election has been processed for that child
- A qualifying child of the person filing
The election can be made as soon as the child receives a Social Security number, which usually means as early as a few weeks after birth. The deadline to file is December 31 of the year the child turns 17. Only the first processed election counts: if multiple people attempt to file for the same child, only the first one processed by the IRS will generate the $1,000 contribution.
The IRS designed the process so the election is independent of any tax return filing. It can be submitted at the same time as a tax return, but it is a separate form. The $1,000 cannot be offset against the parent's or child's debts or tax liabilities — the full amount goes directly into the child's account.
How Trump Accounts Compare To 529 Plans And UGMA/UTMA Accounts
Trump accounts occupy a different niche than the two most common savings vehicles for children.
529 Plans are state-sponsored accounts designed specifically for education expenses. Contributions are not federally tax-deductible (but many states offer tax deductions and credits), earnings grow tax-free and withdrawals for qualified education expenses (tuition, room and board, books) are tax-free. There are no income limits and no restrictions on who can contribute. Unused funds face a 10% penalty if withdrawn for non-education purposes (though they can now be rolled into a Roth IRA after 15 years, with certain limits). A 529 plan is purpose-built for education savings.
UGMA/UTMA custodial accounts are taxable brokerage accounts for minors. There are no contribution limits, no investment restrictions, and no restrictions on how funds can eventually be used. However, investment income is subject to the "kiddie tax" rules, which can tax a child's unearned income at the parent's rate. At 18 or 21 (depending on the state), the child takes full, irrevocable control of the account. There are no special tax advantages - gains are taxed as capital gains.
Trump accounts are not designed for education spending at all. They are retirement-oriented savings tools with tax-deferred growth, a low-cost equity index mandate, and a pathway to Roth conversion. They are the right tool if the goal is long-term wealth building and retirement readiness — not college funding.
A family trying to cover both goals might use a 529 for education savings while opening a Trump account to build retirement wealth from birth, treating the two as complementary rather than competitive.
Best Use Case: Roth Conversion At 22
At 18, the Trump account becomes a standard traditional IRA. At that point, regular IRA rules apply: contributions require earned income, distributions before age 59½ are subject to taxes and a 10% penalty, and required minimum distributions begin at age 73.
But the most strategically powerful move for a young adult who no longer depends on their parents is a Roth IRA conversion at age 22.
Here is why this window is exceptional. A Roth conversion requires paying ordinary income taxes on the converted amount in the year of conversion. The younger and lower-earning the account holder, the lower that tax rate. At 22, most graduates or early-career workers fall into the 10% or 12% federal tax bracket - the lowest brackets in the tax code.
Consider a child whose parents contributed the maximum $5,000 per year for 18 years plus the $1,000 baby bonus contribution, invested in a low-cost index fund. Even with conservative assumptions, the account balance at 18 could be substantial. If the young adult made no further contributions and converted the entire balance at 22 while earning a modest income, they might pay 10-12 cents on the dollar in taxes.
After conversion, the account becomes a Roth IRA. All future growth is tax-free. Qualified withdrawals in retirement are tax-free. There are no required minimum distributions during the owner's lifetime. With potentially 40 or more years of compound growth ahead, the tax savings over a lifetime dwarf the modest conversion cost.
The calculus is straightforward: pay a small tax bill at 22, in the lowest bracket you may ever occupy, and never pay taxes on that money again.
What Families Should Do Now
Five concrete steps to act on:
- If you had a baby born this year, open a Trump account as soon as your child receives a Social Security number. Every day of delayed enrollment is compound growth left on the table.
- File IRS Form 4547 to claim the $1,000 pilot program contribution. This does not happen automatically. The form is separate from your tax return and can be filed at any time during the eligible window. Children born between 2025–2028 qualify.
- Contribute annually up to the $5,000 inflation-adjusted limit. Encourage family members (grandparents, aunts, uncles) to contribute in lieu of or alongside holiday and birthday gifts. Encourage your employer - or use your own company if you're self employed.
- Do not use a Trump account to fund college. These accounts lock up funds until 18 and are structured for long-term retirement wealth. Use a 529 plan for education costs. Both can coexist in a smart family financial plan.
- Plan for a Roth conversion around age 22. Once your child is financially independent and earning a modest income, work with a tax professional to evaluate converting the Trump account balance to a Roth IRA. The tax cost is likely lowest in those early working years and the long-term payoff can be substantial.
Common Questions
What is a Trump account and how does it work during the “growth period” for minors?
A Trump Account is a child investment account. The growth period is from 0 until December 31 of the year the child turns 17. During this period, only contributions are allowed, no qualifying withdrawals.
Who can open and contribute to a Trump account, and what are the annual contribution limits?
Parents, grandparents, employers, nonprofits, and government entities can all contribute. The annual contribution limit is $5,000, adjusted for inflation.
Which children qualify for the $1,000 Trump account “baby bonus” and how do parents claim it?
Children born between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2028 are eligible for the $1,000 baby bonus, and can claim it by filling out IRS Form 4547, Trump Account Election(s).
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Robert Farrington is the founder of The College Investor and is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading voices on student loan debt and saving for college. He holds an MBA from UC San Diego Rady School of Management and has spent over 15 years researching, writing, and advising on student loans, 529 plans, financial aid programs, and saving and investing for young professionals.
Robert has been featured in the The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, NBC News, and Forbes, where he has been a regular personal finance contributor for over a decade. His work combines both professional expertise and personal experience – he successfully navigated his own student loan repayment journey and has helped thousands of readers do the same.
He is committed to making the intersection of personal finance and education transparent and accessible. You can learn more about Robert on the About Page or on his personal site RobertFarrington.com.