IRS Trump Account Auto Enrollment Rules Became Effective September 30, 2026

On September 30, 2026, temporary IRS regulations in Treasury Decision 10056 took effect. The rules provide for Treasury to open Trump accounts automatically for eligible children, generally those with a Social Security number who have not turned 18 before the end of the election year. Family members cannot add money to an automatic account until an authorized adult, or the child after gaining legal capacity, claims it.

What Trump Auto Accounts Are

A Trump account is a type of traditional IRA established under section 530A for the exclusive benefit of an eligible child.

Under proposed rules from March 9, 2026, a parent or other person generally had to file an election, such as Form 4547, to open a child's first account. The temporary regulations instead provide for Treasury to make that election itself.

Treasury opens an "auto account" on or about October 1, 2026, for each eligible child with no prior election, and periodically after that. An election filed before October 1, 2026, that was not activated by September 30, 2026, results in an auto account instead. Activation includes signing the trustee's account agreement.

The Legal Framework Under Section 530A

The rules appear in 26 CFR 1.530A-1T and 1.530A-7T under section 530A of the Internal Revenue Code. They apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and expire September 30, 2029. Treasury published matching proposed regulations the same day and withdrew the March 9, 2026 proposal.

Until December 31 of the year the child turns 17, an auto account may accept only two kinds of deposits. The first is equal contributions Treasury distributes from governments, tribal governments, or 501(c)(3) charities to a defined group of children. The second is the $1,000 pilot program deposit for U.S. citizen children born in 2025 through 2028, if a pilot election was made.

Gifts from family members and employer contributions cannot go into an auto account.

Implications for Parents, Guardians and Relatives

A guardian or legal custodian with authority under applicable law over the child's property or finances may claim the auto account through Treasury's app or website. The person claiming must verify identity, prove that authority, and consent to release of the child's tax information.

The full balance moves to a new Trump account once that account is activated. If more than one person files a claim, the first to activate becomes the responsible party.

Family gifts to a claimed account count toward a $5,000 annual limit, adjusted for inflation after 2027. Treasury-distributed contributions and the $1,000 pilot deposit do not count toward that limit.

A gift to an eligible donor organization is treated as a charitable gift under Internal Revenue Code section 2522. The IRS also issued Rev. Proc. 2026-25 on July 13, 2026, with a transfer tax safe harbor for certain individual donors to Trump accounts.

Rules for Estates and Deceased Children

If a child dies before the end of the year the child turns 17, a funded auto account that was never claimed stops being a Trump account but remains an IRA. The child's estate is the beneficiary.

A person authorized to act for the estate may claim the account. That person must also show the right to receive the decedent's tax information before claiming it.

This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Always consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice tailored to your circumstances.