Pillar 3a calculator
Calculate your Pillar 3a (voluntary private pension) capital at retirement – plus your annual and cumulative tax savings. 2026 maximum amounts pre-filled.
Typical values in Switzerland (federal + cantonal + municipal):
• Income CHF 60–80k: 18–24 %
• Income CHF 100–130k: 24–32 %
• Income CHF 150k+: 30–40 %
For an exact figure: your most recent tax assessment or the official ESTV tax calculator.
Pillar 3a balance over time
After 10 / 20 / 30 years
| After | Savings account (CHF) | Invested (CHF) | Difference (CHF) |
|---|
There are fewer than 10 years to retirement, so the table shows no steps.
Note: Maximum amounts per BVV3 Art. 7 para. 1 (as of 2026). A reduced capital payment tax applies on withdrawal (5–10% depending on canton). Tax savings use a constant marginal tax rate; in reality the rate decreases slightly as the deduction reduces income. Not tax or investment advice.
Savings account or invested?
With the switch “Compare savings account and invested” the calculator runs the same contributions twice: once at the interest rate of a Pillar 3a savings account (default 0.5% a year, the same value as in the Geldfuchs app) and once at the return you set under “Expected annual return, invested”. The chart shows both paths until retirement; the small table shows the balance after 10, 20 and 30 years and the difference in francs. An example: if you pay in CHF 7'258 every year from age 35 to 65, you have paid in CHF 217'740 after 30 years. On a savings account at 0.5% that becomes about CHF 235'460; invested at 4% it becomes about CHF 423'347. The difference is about CHF 187'887.
The assumptions are deliberately simple and open:
- Constant return: the calculator assumes the same return every year. Real markets do not move evenly.
- No fees: the calculator has no fee rate and deducts nothing. Investment solutions have management and product costs, so enter the “invested” return after those costs, that is, lower than the gross return.
- Fluctuations: securities fluctuate. Losses are possible in single years, also shortly before retirement. The 4% is an assumption, not a promise and not a forecast. A savings account balance does not fluctuate, but the interest rate can fall or rise.
- Investment horizon: the more years remain until retirement, the more compound interest works, and the easier it is to sit out fluctuations. With few years left the difference is small and the fluctuation matters more. The table shows how the gap grows over time.
- Tax savings: they depend only on your contribution and your marginal tax rate and are the same in both variants.
No investment advice: the comparison is a calculation under the stated assumptions, not a recommendation for a product or a provider. How much fluctuation you can and want to bear depends on your situation; get individual advice if needed.
Frequently asked questions about Pillar 3a
What is the Pillar 3a maximum contribution in 2026?
Employees with a Pensionskasse: CHF 7'258 per year.
Self-employed without a Pensionskasse: max. 20% of earned income, up to CHF 36'288 per year. The amounts are adjusted every few years in line with wage growth.
How much tax do I save with Pillar 3a?
You can deduct the full annual contribution from your taxable income. With a marginal tax rate of 25% and the maximum contribution of CHF 7'258, you save around CHF 1'815 in taxes per year. The calculator shows you the total savings over your entire contribution period.
When can I withdraw my Pillar 3a capital?
Normally: at the earliest 5 years before and at the latest 5 years after AHV retirement age. Early withdrawal is only allowed for: purchase of owner-occupied property, becoming self-employed, emigration, or permanent incapacity to work. Tip: holding multiple Pillar 3a accounts allows staggered withdrawals and reduces taxes.
What return is realistic for Pillar 3a?
Pillar 3a savings accounts typically pay around 0.5%. Pillar 3a investment solutions (e.g. VIAC, frankly, finpension) have historically returned 3–5% per year with a higher equity allocation – with fluctuations. For long time horizons, usually the better choice.
See your real pension situation
Geldfuchs combines your Pillar 3a with AHV (state pension), Pensionskasse (employer pension), and private assets – and shows you what your retirement will actually look like.
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