Pillar 2 · Pension Fund Buy-in
Pension Fund Buy-in: How Much Tax Do You Really Save?
A voluntary buy-in into your pension fund lowers your tax bill. How much you actually save depends on three things: your income, where you live and the right staggering. We bring clarity.
This calculator uses live federal, cantonal and municipal tax data (ESTV) to show your effective saving, the optimal staggering over several years, and how a buy-in compares with the 1e plan.
The honest view, not the sales pitch.
Saving tax is only half the story. We show you the full picture — for a buy-in that truly fits you.
Pension Buy-in Calculator
See what a buy-in really gets you.
Note:
A buy-in lands entirely in the supplementary portion – where the conversion rate and interest are set individually. Review your decision carefully.
Calculator · Occupational pension · 2nd pillar
What does a pension-fund buy-in really get you?
Type in the key figures from your pension certificate – we'll show you the effects, pros and cons of a buy-in for you.
Do you have your pension fund certificate handy?
That way we only show what's actually relevant.
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The essentials on Pillar 2 buy-ins, the tax saving, and the 1e plan — in plain language.
What is a pension fund buy-in (Einkauf)?
A buy-in is a voluntary payment into your occupational pension fund (Pillar 2) on top of your regular contributions. It closes gaps in your retirement assets — for example after a salary increase, time abroad, or years with a lower income.
How much can I pay in?
Your maximum buy-in is shown on your pension certificate (Vorsorgeausweis) as the "possible buy-in" (Einkaufspotenzial). It is the gap between your current retirement assets and the maximum your plan allows for your salary and age.
Where does a voluntary buy-in actually land?
A buy-in always increases the supplementary part of your pension (Überobligatorium), never the mandatory BVG part. That matters: the supplementary part is credited and converted at the rate your fund sets — often lower than the statutory 6.8%. The calculator reconstructs that effective conversion rate from your certificate.
Is a buy-in worth it just for the higher pension?
Often not on its own. Because the buy-in lands in the supplementary part, the extra annuity is usually modest. The real lever is the tax saving — especially if you later draw the buy-in as capital. We always recommend checking your individual case before transferring.
When can I not do a buy-in?
If you made a withdrawal for residential property (WEF), you must repay it before you can buy in with tax effect. Buy-ins are also blocked or pointless shortly before certain events — see the 3-year rule below.
How accurate is this calculator?
The tax saving is calculated from live ESTV data for your exact municipality, broken down into federal, cantonal and municipal tax. The pension figures come straight from your certificate. All values are indicative and do not replace personal advice.
How does a buy-in save tax?
The full buy-in is deductible from your taxable income in the year you pay it. Your saving is the actual reduction in tax — which depends on your income, your municipality and your marginal tax rate.
Why should I stagger the buy-in over several years?
A buy-in is only deductible up to your taxable income per year. And because the tax is progressive, a very large single buy-in pushes part of the deduction into lower brackets — a worse rate. Spreading it keeps each tranche in your high marginal bracket, so you save more overall. The calculator finds the optimal staggering for you.
Are equal tranches really the best split?
For a steady income, yes — that is mathematically the optimum. The only real lever is how many years you spread over. The calculator marks the recommended split and shows the effective rate for each option.
What is the most I can ever save?
As a rule of thumb, each franc you pay in saves at most your marginal tax rate. Finer staggering moves you closer to that ceiling, but spreading over many years also delays the buy-in — a trade-off we are happy to talk through.
Do I get the tax saving on withholding tax (Quellensteuer)?
Not automatically. If you are taxed at source, you usually need to apply for a subsequent ordinary assessment (NOV) to claim the deduction. We can check whether that is worth it for you.
What is a 1e plan?
A 1e plan covers salary components above roughly CHF 136,000. Within a 1e plan you choose your own investment strategy and carry the market risk yourself — so the return potential is higher than in a classic pension fund. A 1e contribution is tax-deductible just like an ordinary buy-in.
Buy-in or invest privately — which is better?
A buy-in gives you an immediate tax saving but a low, fixed return in the supplementary part. Investing privately keeps your money flexible and can earn more, but without the deduction. The calculator shows both paths side by side so you can weigh them.
Should I draw the buy-in as capital or as a pension?
A buy-in often pays off most when you later withdraw the capital — the one-off capital withdrawal is taxed at a reduced rate, separate from your income. But there is a strict timing rule (see below), so this needs planning.
What is the 3-year rule?
If you draw pension capital as a lump sum within three years of a buy-in, the tax authorities can deny the deduction. So a buy-in shortly before retirement or a capital withdrawal has to be timed carefully.
Can FIN review my pension certificate with me?
Yes. Send us your Vorsorgeausweis and we will read out the relevant figures, sense-check the calculator result and tell you honestly whether a buy-in makes sense in your situation.
How does FIN charge?
We work on a transparent, fee-only basis — agreed up front, with no commissions and no product sales. You get independent advice, not a pitch.
Is my data stored?
The figures you enter stay in your browser. Only the taxable income is sent anonymously to the ESTV tax service to calculate your saving — nothing is stored.
Pension planning is more than one buy-in.
A buy-in is one tool. Real planning connects your Pillar 2, Pillar 3a, investments and taxes into one clear strategy — matched to your stage of life.
FIN gives you independent guidance for every step, so your decisions are rooted in your numbers, not a product.
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We help you plan buy-ins, weigh capital against a lifetime annuity, and time everything tax-efficiently — so your retirement stays in your hands.
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Plan ahead so you save more and stay fully compliant — not just file a return.
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