Your child won't receive the $1,000 until accounts officially open on July 5, 2026. But there's a step you need to take before then to claim it.
Here's exactly how the $1,000 works.
Who Gets the $1,000?
The government seed contribution is specifically for children born between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2028. If your child was born within that window, they're eligible for the $1,000 as long as they're a U.S. citizen with a Social Security Number.
Children born before 2025 or after 2028 can still open a Trump Account. They just don't receive the government seed. They can still benefit from the tax-deferred growth and the $5,000 annual contribution limit.
What Do You Need to Do to Claim It?
There are two ways to claim the $1,000 seed:
Option 1 (Recommended): File IRS Form 4547 by April 15, 2026.
File IRS Form 4547 with your 2025 tax return. This establishes your child's eligibility before accounts even open. The $1,000 is then deposited when the account is created in July.
Option 2: Use the online portal after July 5, 2026.
If you miss April 15, you can apply for the seed contribution directly through trumpaccounts.gov when it opens.
Option 1 is cleaner and keeps you ahead of the process. April 15 is the deadline to do it this way.
When Is the Money Actually Deposited?
Once your child's account is opened after July 5, 2026, the government deposits $1,000 into the account. From there, it's invested in a low-cost S&P 500 index fund and starts compounding.
The $1,000 doesn't show up as cash. It's invested immediately. That's the point.
How Much Could It Grow?
$1,000 invested in an S&P 500 index fund for 18 years, at a 6% average annual return, grows to roughly $2,850 by the time your child turns 18. Add $5,000 a year in family contributions on top of that, and the numbers get significantly larger.
The seed isn't the whole story. It's the starting line.
Can I Check If My Child Qualifies?
Yes. Take the 30-second quiz at investamericaquiz.com. It'll tell you whether your child is eligible for the seed and what they qualify for.
For a full walkthrough of the process, see our step-by-step guide to opening a Trump Account, and learn more about how Trump Accounts work overall.
Find out if your child qualifies at investamericaquiz.com.
Still have questions? Here's every question people are asking about Trump Accounts.
This post is for educational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or investment advice. Grifin is not affiliated with the U.S. government or the Invest America program.
