Trump Account Calculator
Project a Trump Account (Section 530A) from today to your child's 18th birthday — the $1,000 federal seed, your contributions under the $5,000 annual cap, and compounding in between. Then see, honestly, where a custodial account or 529 fits alongside it.
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Trump Account vs UTMA vs 529 — side by side
These are complements, not competitors. The Trump Account's seed and tax treatment are unmatched — but its $5,000/yr cap and age-18 lock-up mean many families pair it with a flexible custodial (UTMA) account, a 529, or both.
| Trump Account (530A) | Custodial UTMA | 529 Plan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where you open it | Federal pilot enrollment (Treasury); approved custodians only — not retail brokerages | Any major brokerage, in minutes | State plans or brokerages |
| Free money | $1,000 federal seed (eligible children born 2025–2028); some employers may contribute | None | State tax deductions/credits in many states |
| Contribution cap | $5,000/yr | None (gift-tax rules apply above annual exclusion) | High lifetime limits, state-dependent |
| What it can hold | Designated broad index funds | Almost anything — stocks, ETFs, funds | Plan menu of funds |
| When the child can use it | Locked until 18, then IRA-style treatment (retirement-oriented) | Transfers to the child at majority; usable for anything | Anytime, for qualified education expenses |
| Best at | Capturing the free seed + tax-advantaged compounding to adulthood | Flexibility — first car, gap year, seed capital, anything | Education costs specifically |
Common questions
Can I open a Trump Account at a brokerage?
No. Enrollment runs through the federal pilot program with approved custodians. Brokerages can't open one — anyone telling you otherwise is mistaken. What a brokerage can hold is the flexible custodial account many families run alongside.
What happens at 18?
The balance moves to IRA-style treatment for the child. That's powerful for retirement compounding and restrictive for everything else — which is exactly why the comparison above matters before your child needs a first car or tuition.
Is the $1,000 seed automatic?
Eligibility covers children born 2025–2028, subject to enrollment — confirmation and current rules live at treasury.gov, not on third-party sites (including this one). Rules are new and still being clarified; this page states its as-of date and updates as guidance lands.
Educational estimates only, not tax or investment advice. See our disclaimer and affiliate disclosure.