Geldfuchs helper · Tax year 2026

Pillar 3a: pay in the maximum and close the 2025 gap

Since this year, you can close gaps in your Pillar 3a with a buy-in, starting with 2025. In two minutes, the check shows you how much you can still pay in by the end of the year and how much tax you save.

Start the check How the buy-in works
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1Step 1

Calculate: how much can you still pay in?

Since 2026, you can buy in gaps from 2025 onwards if you had AHV-liable earned income in both years and first pay in the full 2026 contribution. The buy-in is limited to the maximum for employees with a pension fund, CHF 7'258 per year. The check adds up the contribution and the buy-in.

Your details

Example values
Do you have a pension fund?

Applies to 2025 and 2026. If your situation changed between the two years, for example employed in 2025 and self-employed in 2026, the calculation is not exact. Ask your foundation for the amount in that case.

Earned income in Switzerland

All your 3a accounts together. You'll find the amounts on your foundation's statements.

20%

This is the share of your last CHF 1'000 of income that goes to tax. The default is 20 percent, a middle value for the median salary of around CHF 84'000 a year. For a single person earning around CHF 80'000, it is for example about 11% in Zug, about 17% in Lucerne and about 23% in Belp BE. More income means a higher rate, married couples usually pay less. The tax calculator of the Federal Tax Administration works it out exactly.

Your result

Still to pay in for 2026

CHF 7'258

regular contribution

Buy in the 2025 gap

CHF 4'258

buy-in in 2026

Total by the end of 2026

CHF 11'516

fully tax-deductible

Estimated tax saving

CHF 2'303

at a marginal tax rate of 20%

    Simplified calculation with a fixed marginal tax rate. Not investment, tax or pension advice.

    2Step 2

    Request the buy-in: four steps

    You request the buy-in in writing from your 3a foundation. The foundation checks and confirms it.

    1. Pay in the full 2026 contributionThe regular 2026 contribution has to be paid into your 3a account in full first. Otherwise no buy-in is allowed.
    2. Ask the foundation for the formOn it you enter the gap year (2025), the amount and your earlier payments. Some foundations want the request by mid-December. The text for your request is next to this list.
    3. Pay after the confirmationOnly transfer the money once the foundation has confirmed, and early enough before the end of the year. What counts is the day the money arrives.
    4. Keep the statementFor your 2026 tax return, you'll get a statement. It shows the regular contribution and the buy-in with the gap year. Both are fully deductible.

    Text for your request

    The text is in German, as most 3a foundations work in German. For a foundation in French- or Italian-speaking Switzerland, take the text from the French or Italian check.

    3Step 3

    Deadlines: so it counts for the 2026 tax year

    What counts is the day the money arrives at the foundation. For the buy-in, allow time for the form and the confirmation.

    1. Now

      Calculate and ask for the form

      Ask your foundation for the buy-in form and its deadline.

    2. 2026 contribution paid in

      The transfer of the full regular contribution should be done by now. It is the condition for the buy-in.

    3. Buy-in transferred

      Only after the foundation has confirmed. That leaves enough time for the money to arrive before the end of the year.

    4. Last day for the 2026 tax year

      Anything that reaches the foundation later counts for the following year.

    5. Spring

      2026 tax return

      Enclose your foundation's statement. It also shows the buy-in with the gap year.

    The deadlines in your calendar

    Three dates with a reminder the day before. Works with Apple, Google and Outlook.

    All other money dates, from paying into Pillar 3a to save taxes and switching health insurer to AHV, are in the financial calendar.

    Only gaps from 2025 onwards

    Years before 2025 cannot be bought in. A gap can be bought in for ten years at most.

    The money is tied up

    What is in Pillar 3a can only be withdrawn at retirement or in exceptional cases. Only pay in what you don't need as a reserve.

    Frequently asked questions

    Which years can I buy in for?

    Only for gaps from 2025 onwards, going back at most ten years. You can close the 2025 gap in 2026 at the earliest. Years before 2025 cannot be bought in.

    How much can I buy in per year?

    At most the maximum for employees with a pension fund in the year you buy in, which is CHF 7'258 in 2026. This also applies if you have no pension fund. You close the gap of one year with a single buy-in. Whatever is still missing after that is lost. From 2027, the maximum for employees with a pension fund rises to CHF 7'373.

    What are the conditions for a buy-in?

    You need AHV-liable earned income in Switzerland in the gap year and in the year you buy in. In the buy-in year, the full regular contribution has to be paid in first. Only one buy-in is allowed per gap year. You must not have drawn any Pillar 3a retirement benefits yet. You request the buy-in in writing from your foundation.

    How much tax do I save with the buy-in?

    The regular contribution and the buy-in are fully deductible from your taxable income. Roughly: amount times your marginal tax rate. With CHF 7'258 and 20 percent, that is about CHF 1'452. For an average income, the marginal tax rate is roughly between 10 and 35 percent, depending on the canton.

    When does the money have to reach the foundation?

    By the end of 2026 for it to count for the 2026 tax year. What counts is the day the money arrives at the foundation. For the buy-in, some foundations want the request by mid-December at the latest. Ask your foundation about its deadline early.

    What happens to my data?

    Nothing. The check calculates in your browser. We don't see your data, we don't store it and we don't send it anywhere.

    Why doesn't Geldfuchs recommend a foundation?

    Because we stay independent and take no commissions. Compare fees, investment strategy and the option of several accounts yourself.

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    General information, not investment, tax or pension advice. The ordinance and your foundation's information are what count. As of .

    To calculate up to retirement: Pillar 3a calculator.

    Sources