How to claim the $1,000 Trump Account seed
Short answer: If your child is a U.S. citizen with a Social Security number born in 2025 through 2028, the Treasury will deposit a one-time $1,000 once you claim their Trump Account. You claim it in the official Trump Accounts app, or file IRS Form 4547 through your IRS online account (IRS, Treasury, verified Oct 16, 2026).
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For eligible children, the U.S. Treasury makes a one-time $1,000 “pilot program contribution” to their Trump Account. Here's how the official process works, based only on IRS and Treasury sources.
Step 1: Check eligibility
Your child must:
- be a U.S. citizen,
- have a valid Social Security number,
- be born after Dec 31, 2024 and before Jan 1, 2029 (that is, in 2025, 2026, 2027 or 2028), and
- not already have had a pilot program election processed.
The person making the election should expect the child to be their qualifying child for that tax year. Source: IRS Instructions for Form 4547 (verified Oct 16, 2026); IRS: Trump Accounts page (verified Oct 16, 2026).
Children under 18 born before 2025 can still have a Trump Account, but they don't get the $1,000. Source: IRS: Trump Accounts page (verified Oct 16, 2026).
Step 2: Claim your child's account (or make the Form 4547 election)
As of Oct 1, 2026, Treasury says it has finished automatic enrollment, so every eligible child under 18 with a valid SSN now has a Trump Account. A parent or guardian still has to claim it in the official Trump Accounts app (iOS and Android), and eligible children must have their account claimed to get the $1,000. Source: U.S. Treasury press release, Oct 1, 2026 (automatic enrollment) (verified Oct 16, 2026).
The election itself is IRS Form 4547 (Trump Account Election(s)). The IRS says you can sign in to your IRS online account with ID.me and submit Form 4547 there. It takes about 5 to 10 minutes, and you'll need your child's SSN, date of birth and address. Source: IRS: Trump Accounts page (verified Oct 16, 2026). The official Trump Accounts support site says you can also complete the claim form in the app or web portal, or attach it to your 2026 tax return. Source: Trump Accounts support: Complete the claim form (verified Oct 16, 2026).
Filing the form yourself? See our step-by-step guide: How to file Form 4547 to open a Trump Account and claim the $1,000. Worried about scams? Read Is the Trump Account app legit?
Step 3: Watch for the confirmation email
After the IRS confirms eligibility, you'll get an email from no-reply@trumpaccounts.treasury.gov and an in-app notification with instructions to finish claiming. Source: Trump Accounts support: Complete the claim form (verified Oct 16, 2026).
Step 4: The $1,000 is deposited
Treasury makes the pilot contribution as soon as practicable after the election, once it confirms the account is open. No deposit is made before July 4, 2026. Source: IRS Instructions for Form 4547 (verified Oct 16, 2026). If your child qualifies, the deposit goes into the account automatically. Source: Trump Accounts support: Complete the claim form (verified Oct 16, 2026).
Deadlines
- An account can be elected for a child who doesn't turn 18 before the end of the calendar year of the election. Source: IRS: Trump Accounts page (verified Oct 16, 2026).
- Only children born in 2025 through 2028 qualify for the $1,000. Source: IRS Notice 2025-68 (PDF) (verified Oct 16, 2026).
- Not officially confirmed: we couldn't find a primary source with a specific final cutoff date for making the $1,000 election. Don't wait. We'll update this page when the IRS or Treasury publishes one.
What happens after
The money is invested in eligible low-cost index funds that track mainly U.S. companies. Family members and employers can add money up to the combined $5,000-a-year limit, and the $1,000 doesn't count toward that limit. Source: IRS Notice 2025-68 (PDF) (verified Oct 16, 2026). See what it could grow to in our calculator and check who's adding money in the tracker.
Common mistakes
- Assuming automatic enrollment means you're done. You still need to claim the account to get the $1,000 (U.S. Treasury press release, Oct 1, 2026 (automatic enrollment) (verified Oct 16, 2026)).
- Falling for look-alike emails or sites. Activation emails come only from no-reply@trumpaccounts.treasury.gov (Trump Accounts support: Complete the claim form (verified Oct 16, 2026)). Type the address in yourself rather than clicking random links.
- Expecting $1,000 for an older child. Kids born before 2025 aren't eligible for the seed (IRS: Trump Accounts page (verified Oct 16, 2026)).
- Counting employer money per child. The $2,500 tax-free employer limit is per employee (Federal Register: proposed regulations on employer contributions, Aug 11, 2026 (verified Oct 16, 2026)).
- No SSN yet. A valid SSN is required. Apply for one first (IRS Instructions for Form 4547 (verified Oct 16, 2026)).
General education only, not financial, tax or legal advice. Rules may change. Always confirm on IRS.gov and with Treasury.