5 tips for buying into a pension fund in Switzerland

Voluntary purchases into the pension fund are regarded as an attractive option for saving taxes. But there are constraints and risks involved that you should clarify in advance.
A voluntary purchase into the pension fund means raising the level of second-pillar finance with additional amounts to close so-called gaps in contributions.
A gap in contributions can occur, for example, following a salary raise: the new, higher salary is not fully reflected in the pension fund because the lower income from the previous years is the main contributory factor. Luckily, this contribution gap can be made up, as long as your financial situation enables you to do so.
But how much sense do voluntary purchases make, when all factors: ranging from taxes via yields to pension fund benefits are taken into consideration? Also, specific cantonal regulations are an important factor in this context.
Should I buy into my pension fund?
This five-point check will help you to decide whether buying into the pension fund makes sense::
When is caution required when buying in?
Buying a house, moving house, divorce: Certain decisions in life also open a new chapter in our old-age provisions. In order for purchases into the pension fund not to end up conflicting with other objectives, advanced planning is recommended in the following four situations:
DID YOU KNOW?
The information included on your pension fund’s insurance certificate is not always binding. That is particularly the case if you have retirement assets saved elsewhere: e.g., vested benefits foundations, basic provisions or in pillar three. We can support you in optimizing your overall situation.
Tax savings 2022—Swiss cities compared
The example below shows how much you can save in taxes if you buy into the second pillar with CHF 50,000.
2022 | ZURICH | BERN | BASEL | ST GALLEN |
LAUSANNE |
Employment income |
200,000 |
||||
Buy-in second pillar |
50,000 |
||||
Taxable income |
150,000 |
||||
Tax without pension fund purchase |
43,946 |
56,856 |
59,040 |
51,671 |
48,537 |
Tax saving with pension fund purchase |
17,452 |
20,261 |
18,245 |
19,320 |
18,230 |
Tax with pension fund purchase |
26,484 |
36,595 |
40,795 |
32,351 |
30,307 |
Amounts in CHF. Calculation basis for pension fund purchase: Married couple with two children, Catholic. Wealth not factored in. For each city, calculated tax and tax saving includes all types of tax (Federal, canton and municipal taxes).
Do you have specific questions on this theme?
Needs and financial objectives change depending on your life phase. With detailed financial planning from our experienced experts, you will be well prepared.
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