Trump Kid Accounts: Guide for Older Kids (Ages 1-17)

Most of the headlines about Trump Accounts focus on newborns and the $1,000 government deposit. But here is what many parents miss: any U.S. citizen child under 18 can open a Trump Account. Your 3-year-old, your 8-year-old, even your 16-year-old.

The rules are simple. If your child has a valid SSN and is under 18, they are eligible. The only thing older kids miss out on is the $1,000 pilot deposit. Everything else — family contributions, employer match, tax-deferred growth, the IRA conversion at 18 — is identical.

What Older Kids Get (and What They Miss)

Growth Projections by Age

The younger the child, the more compounding time they have. Here is what $5,000/year (about $417/month) could grow to by age 18, assuming 8% average annual returns:

Why Open One for an Older Child?

1. Tax-Deferred Growth

In a regular brokerage account, your child pays taxes on dividends and capital gains every year. In a Trump Account, growth is tax-deferred. No taxes until withdrawal after 18. Over even 5-10 years, that tax savings compounds significantly.

2. Head-Start IRA

At 18, the Trump Account becomes a traditional IRA. Most young adults do not start retirement saving until their mid-20s or 30s. Your child starts with an IRA that already has years of growth — a massive advantage.

Even better: at 18, your child can convert it to a Roth IRA while in a low tax bracket. That means decades of tax-free growth for retirement. See our Roth conversion strategy guide.

3. Employer Match

If your employer offers Trump Account contributions under IRC Section 128, that is up to $2,500/year in tax-free money — regardless of your child's age. This benefit applies equally to a 2-year-old and a 15-year-old.

4. Dell Pledge for Under 10

Children under 10 in ZIP codes with median income below $150,000 may qualify for the $250 Dell pledge. This is separate from the federal pilot deposit and applies to already-born children.

5. Financial Literacy

Older kids can actually understand what is happening with their money. Showing a 10-year-old their S&P 500 returns teaches investing basics that will benefit them for life.

Is It Worth It for a Teenager?

Even with only a few years of growth, the answer is usually yes. Here is why:

• The IRA conversion alone has value. At 18, your teenager has an IRA. Most 18-year-olds have nothing. Even $5,000-$15,000 in an IRA at 18 can grow to $100,000+ by retirement age without any additional contributions.
• Tax-deferred growth matters even short-term. Three years of S&P 500 returns without annual capital gains taxes is better than a taxable brokerage account.
• Employer match is free money. If available, $2,500/year of tax-free contributions for even 2-3 years is significant.

How to Open an Account for an Older Child

The process is identical to opening one for a newborn:

1. Verify eligibility: U.S. citizen, valid SSN, under 18.
2. File IRS Form 4547 with your 2025 tax return (due April 15, 2026) or through trumpaccounts.gov.
3. Choose an eligible index fund (VOO, IVV, SPLG, VTI, etc.).
4. Start contributing — up to $5,000/year from all sources.

Note: Do NOT check the pilot deposit box. The $1,000 deposit is only for 2025-2028 births. Checking it for an older child could cause a processing error.

For the full walkthrough, see our step-by-step guide to opening a Trump Account. To check eligibility, use our eligibility checker.

Bottom Line

Do not skip a Trump Account just because your child is not a newborn. The $1,000 deposit is a nice bonus, but it is small compared to what a family can contribute over time. Even 5 years of $5,000/year at 8% returns creates real wealth. And the IRA conversion at 18 gives every child — newborn or teenager — a financial head start that most adults never had.