# How to Open a Trump Account on IRS.gov URL: https://elevatedtaxstrategies.com/tax-planning/how-to-open-a-trump-account/ Markdown: https://elevatedtaxstrategies.com/tax-planning/how-to-open-a-trump-account.md Category: Tax Planning Published: 2026-06-30 Author: Ramon Liriano Jr. > A step-by-step guide to opening a Trump account on IRS.gov: what you need, the 5-minute application, how to claim the $1,000, and what happens next. ## TLDR You can open a Trump account for your child right now at **irs.gov/trumpaccounts**. You sign in with ID.me, fill out the one-page **Form 4547**, and submit. The whole thing takes about **5 minutes** and there is no fee to open or hold the account. Children born **January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2028** also get a one-time **$1,000** from the government. Contributions and those $1,000 deposits begin **July 4, 2026**. The IRS does not send a confirmation email, so you check your status right on the portal. When we opened one ourselves, we applied on a Friday and it was approved by Monday. Look, Trump accounts are new, and most parents we talk to are not sure if they are real, who qualifies, or how to actually get one. So here is the simple version. A Trump account is a long-term investment account for a child, created by the [One Big Beautiful Bill Act](https://elevatedtaxstrategies.com/tax-planning/obbba-overview-what-changed/) (the law signed July 4, 2025). The IRS now lets you open one online, and the process is fast. As of March 31, 2026, about 4 million kids were already signed up. This guide is the how-to. If you want the full breakdown of what a Trump account is, how it is taxed, and how it compares to a 529, read our [Trump accounts explained](https://elevatedtaxstrategies.com/tax-planning/obbba-trump-accounts-explained/) guide. This page is about getting one open. In this guide, you'll learn: - See exactly what you need before you start (it is short) - Follow the step-by-step to open the account on IRS.gov in about 5 minutes - Learn how to claim the $1,000 and whether your child qualifies - Know what happens after you apply, since the IRS does not email you - Understand what to do if your child was born before 2025 > **Note: First time hearing about Trump accounts? Start here.** > > This guide assumes you have decided to open one and just want the steps. If you are still weighing whether it is right for your family, our [Trump accounts explained](https://elevatedtaxstrategies.com/tax-planning/obbba-trump-accounts-explained/) guide covers what a Trump account actually is, how the money is taxed, the yearly limits, and how it stacks up against a 529 plan and a kid Roth IRA. Read that first, then come back here to open one. ## What you need before you start You do not need much. Gather these three things and you can finish in one sitting. ### Your ID.me login The IRS uses **ID.me** to confirm who you are. If you already have an IRS online account, you already have this. If not, our [step-by-step ID.me setup guide](https://elevatedtaxstrategies.com/id-me-setup/) walks you through it in a few minutes. **Your name has to match what the IRS has on file**, so use your legal name. A separate email address is fine. ### Your child's basic info You will enter the child's **Social Security number, date of birth, and address**. That is it. If you are signed in to your IRS account, a lot of your own information fills in automatically, which is why it goes so fast. ### About 5 minutes and no money There is **no fee to open a Trump account and no fee to keep it**. That is rare for an investment account, and it is a nice change. You do not need to fund anything today either. You are just opening the account and, if your child qualifies, claiming the $1,000. - **$1,000**: Free government seed (Kids born 2025 to 2028) - **~5 min**: To apply online (Form 4547 on IRS.gov) - **4 million**: Kids already signed up (As of March 31, 2026) Sources: IRS.gov (irs.gov/trumpaccounts); IRS News Release IR-2026-42, March 31, 2026. ## How to open a Trump account on IRS.gov Here is the whole thing, click by click. **The hard part is not filling out the form. It is finding it**, because the IRS site is not the easiest to navigate. We opened one ourselves, so here is exactly where to click, in order. **Opening a Trump account on IRS.gov, click by click** 1. **Step 1: Sign in to *IRS.gov* first.** Go to **IRS.gov** and sign in to your account with ID.me. **Sign in before you start**, because being logged in is what fills in your details later. New to ID.me? Our [ID.me setup guide](https://elevatedtaxstrategies.com/id-me-setup/) walks you through it first. 2. **Step 2: Go to *Forms* and find Trump Accounts.** This is the step people miss. Go to the **Forms** section of IRS.gov. The IRS made a **dedicated Trump Accounts slot** right there on the forms page, so you do not need to hunt for a form number. Click the Trump Accounts entry. 3. **Step 3: Click *Begin Form*.** That opens the Trump Account Election (Form 4547). It is short. There is **no fee** to open the account or to keep it. 4. **Step 4: Check your *prefilled profile*.** Because you are logged in, your **name and address fill in for you** from your IRS account. Look it over and fix anything that is wrong. 5. **Step 5: Enter your *child's information*.** Type in your child's **name, Social Security number, and date of birth**. Have the SSN handy, since it is often masked in your own records. 6. **Step 6: Review the *eligibility screen*.** The system tells you if your child qualifies for the $1,000 based on their birth date. **If they do not qualify, you can still create the account** and contribute to it. Only the $1,000 is date-limited. 7. **Step 7: Sign and *submit*.** Attest that your information is correct, then submit. **The whole thing takes about 5 minutes.** 8. **Step 8: Watch your *status* right there.** Right after you submit, IRS.gov shows your **progress and status**. There is no confirmation email, so this page is how you track it. > **Tip: Two ways in (use the IRS.gov path)** > > There are two front doors. **IRS.gov is the faster one** and the steps above use it. The other site, **trumpaccounts.gov**, is mostly for learning more, and its "complete the form" option is a longer route. Start on IRS.gov. Down the road, trumpaccounts.gov becomes the place you log in to manage the account. ### You can also file it with your tax return If your child was born in 2025, you can also claim the account and the $1,000 by filing **Form 4547 with your 2025 tax return** instead of doing it online. Both paths work. The online portal is just faster. ## How to claim the $1,000 The $1,000 is a one-time deposit from the government. Not every child gets it, but opening the account is the same either way. ### Who qualifies for the $1,000 To get the $1,000 seed, your child must: - Be **born January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2028** (four birth years) - Be a **U.S. citizen with a valid Social Security number** - Not have had this $1,000 claimed for them already by someone else That is the whole list. There is **no income limit** on you or the child. ### When the $1,000 shows up The money does not hit the account the day you apply. **The Treasury begins depositing the $1,000 on July 4, 2026** into accounts that are already enrolled. So if you want the deposit, the move is to get enrolled now and let the funding catch up. > **Compliance note: The $1,000 does not use up your contribution room** > > The $1,000 government seed is **on top of** the regular contribution limit. You (and anyone else) can still put in up to **$5,000 per year** for the child for 2026 and 2027. The deadline to make the election for a child is December 31 of the year the child turns 17. ## What happens after you apply This is the part that trips people up, so here is what to expect. ### No confirmation email **The IRS does not send a confirmation email when you apply.** That is normal. Do not sit waiting for one. You check your status on the portal whenever you want to see where things stand. ### Approval is fast In our own test, we **applied on a Friday and the account was approved by Monday**. Approval usually takes **a couple of business days**. That is a lot faster than most government paperwork. With 4 million kids already signed up, the system is clearly built to move. ### What you can see once you are in Once your account is approved, there is more inside than just a balance. When we logged into ours, we found: - **Basic education** on how the account works, in plain terms - A **"What's next"** view that walks you through the next steps - An **estimated balance projection** to age 18, so you can see what, say, **$100 a month** could grow into by the time your child turns 18 - **Hands-off investing:** the money is managed for you in low-cost U.S. index funds, so there is nothing to pick or trade - A **status tracker** so you always know where things stand ### Then funding begins July 4 Once you are approved and enrolled, the account is ready. **Contributions and the $1,000 deposits begin July 4, 2026.** The money grows over time until your child turns 18. After that date, you can log in to **track your $1,000 and your balance** as it grows. ### What's next: setting up and tracking your account Applying is step one. In a couple of business days you get access to the account itself. That is where you set your contributions, watch the $1,000 land, and follow the balance. **We are putting together a follow-up guide** that walks through setting up and tracking your account once your access arrives, so check back for it. ## What if your child was born before 2025 This is a common question, and the answer is good news. **Your child can still have a Trump account even if they do not qualify for the $1,000.** The $1,000 seed is only for kids born 2025 through 2028. But the account itself is open to **any U.S. citizen child under 18 with a Social Security number**. So if your older kids do not get the free money, you can still open accounts for them and contribute up to $5,000 a year. Just so you know, we opened one for our own child who was born before the cutoff. No $1,000, but the account is a clean, low-cost way to invest for them. The free money is a bonus, not the whole point. > **Note: A few rules are still being finalized** > > Trump accounts are brand new. The IRS put out the main rules and the application is live, but some details are still in **proposed form** as of mid-2026. The big ones to watch: which banks and brokerages will offer the accounts, the exact rules for employer contributions, and how these accounts affect college financial aid. We are tracking all of it. If any of it changes how you should act, we will tell you. ## Common questions **Where do I actually open a Trump account?** On IRS.gov. Sign in with ID.me, go to the Forms section, and open the Trump Accounts entry (it has its own slot on the forms page). Click Begin Form, check your prefilled info, add your child's details, and submit. It takes about 5 minutes. **How much does it cost to open one?** Nothing. There is no fee to open a Trump account and no fee to keep it. **How long does approval take?** Fast. When we opened one ourselves, we applied on a Friday and it was approved by Monday. There is no confirmation email, so check your status on the portal. **Who gets the $1,000?** Children born January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2028 who are U.S. citizens with a valid Social Security number. The deposits begin July 4, 2026. **Can I open one if my child was born before 2025?** Yes. Your child will not get the $1,000, but you can still open the account and contribute up to $5,000 a year. **How much can I put in each year?** Up to $5,000 per year for the child for 2026 and 2027, from you or anyone else. The $1,000 government seed does not count against that limit. **Do I have to put money in right away?** No. You can open the account now and fund it later. Contributions begin July 4, 2026. **What can the money be used for?** The money stays invested until your child turns 18. After that, it follows regular retirement-account rules. We cover how withdrawals and taxes work in our [Trump accounts explained](https://elevatedtaxstrategies.com/tax-planning/obbba-trump-accounts-explained/) guide. **Is this the same as a 529 plan?** No. A Trump account and a 529 are taxed differently and used for different things. Many families use both. Our [Trump accounts explained](https://elevatedtaxstrategies.com/tax-planning/obbba-trump-accounts-explained/) guide breaks down the difference. --- Just so you know, the application really does take about 5 minutes, so if you have a few minutes and your child's Social Security number handy, you can knock it out today. If your child was born in 2025 or later, getting enrolled now is what lines you up for the $1,000 on July 4. If you want help fitting a Trump account into the rest of your family's plan, alongside a 529, the [Child Tax Credit](https://elevatedtaxstrategies.com/tax-planning/obbba-child-tax-credit-expanded/), and your other moves, book a 20-minute [Tax Discovery](https://elevatedtaxstrategies.com/discovery/). Google Meet, no pitch, free advice either way.