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Key Takeaways
- According to temporary regulations published by the Department of Treasury, Trump Accounts will automatically enroll millions of eligible U.S. children under age 18 who have a Social Security number and don’t already have an account, starting Oct. 1.
- Trump Accounts provide a one-time Department of the Treasury seed contribution of $1,000 for children born between Jan. 1, 2025 and Dec. 31, 2028, invested in American companies, alongside allowable private after-tax contributions of up to $5,000 annually.
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated during a Sept. 15 House Financial Services Committee hearing that auto-enrollment is projected to increase total program participation from 8 million to 70 million children.
- Although the Department of Treasury creates auto-enrolled accounts for eligible children without requiring IRS Form 4547 submission, parents or guardians must still actively elect to receive the $1,000 seed contribution.
If you’ve been keeping an eye on the news, a recent change to Trump Account enrollment may have crossed your feeds. According to temporary regulations posted Tuesday, Sept. 29 by the Department of Treasury, Trump Accounts will begin auto-enrolling millions of children as early as Oct. 1.
Currently, 7 to 8 million American children are signed up for Trump Accounts. However, the number of youth enrolled is projected to reach 70 million with the new auto enrollment, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who stated this at a House Financial Services Committee hearing on Sept. 15.
The change could increase the number of children enrolled in Trump Accounts in 2026 by more than 60 million, according to the temporary regulations. Additionally, in the future, this could boost program enrollment by approximately 2 million accounts each year.
Many parents have already enrolled their children in Trump Accounts. Those who have not, may be eager to learn more about what this means for their family. For those parents, we have more information on Trump Accounts including what they are, and whether or not your child may be included in the new auto-enrollment.
What are Trump Accounts?
Trump Accounts are a type of investment account, most similar to an individual retirement account (IRA), created for children under age 18.
With a Trump Account, children are given a one-time seed of $1,000 from the Department of the Treasury which is invested in American companies. In this account, private contributions up to $5,000 after-tax dollars per year are allowed, and employers can contribute $2,500 to an employee’s account which isn’t counted as income.
Additionally, the $1,000 seed contribution does not count toward the $5,000 limit. Parents, grandparents, friends and other individuals can contribute within the $5,000 annual limit.
Certain states, governments and nonprofits can make contributions to groups of children that are not counted towards that annual limit, according to the IRS.
Those eligible for an automatically created account include children:
- Under age 18, and won’t turn 18 before the end of the calendar year the account is created in
- Who have a valid social security number
- Don’t already have a Trump Account
Those eligible for the $1,000 seed contribution include children:
- Born between Jan. 1, 2025 and Dec. 31, 2028
- Who are U.S. citizens
- Who have a valid social security number
- For whom no previous $1,000 seed contribution request has been made
It’s important to note the account is solely in the child’s name; however, parents are in control of it until the child turns 18-years-old (for accounts claimed by parents). Once children become legal adults, they are free to keep the money in the account or withdraw it to put towards education or purchasing a home, according to the official Trump Accounts government website.
What’s new about the Trump Accounts?
Prior to automatic enrollment, parents had to establish an account by submitting IRS Form 4547, either with a tax return or through the IRS’s online system. Now, the Treasury automatically creates accounts for eligible children who do not already have one so they can forego the form. This doesn’t impact those who already have Trump Accounts or filled out Form 4547.
It’s important to note that although the Treasury is now creating the account, they cannot elect for the $1,000 to be contributed. A parent or guardian has to make the choice — so parents must still take action, but it’s easier than before. Parents were urged by the White House to claim accounts through the Trump Accounts app on Oct. 7.
Until claimed by a parent, an auto-created account can only receive two kinds of contributions: those provided by governments or charities, and the $1,000 pilot payment (if a parent has requested it). Family and employer contributions, up to the $5,000 annual limit, can be made only after the account is claimed. The claim moves the balance into a new account controlled by parents or guardians.
Bottom line
Although children may be automatically enrolled into a Trump Account as of Oct. 1 (if they are eligible), parents still need to elect the $1,000 contribution.
Parents can reference trumpaccounts.gov and IRS.gov for more information regarding the new auto-enrollment as it becomes available.
Editor’s note: AI was used to generate the Key Takeaways for this article. It was reviewed by ParentMap’s editorial team for accuracy and edited for clarity. The article was updated on Oct. 16 by ParentMap’s managing editor who updated the enrollment start date and corrected seed money eligibility information.
