Beneficiaries

To pay into a financial security institution of Pillar 3a, one has to be at least 18 years and at most 70 years old (69 years fro women). Payments can only be made by persons with an income liable to AHV/IV or wage compensation income. This includes:

• Generally
  Every individual residing and paying taxes in Switzerland.

• Employed persons whose income is liable for AHV
  In the case of employed persons, the pillar 3a plan serves as a complement to the state pension and occupational pension scheme (1^st and 2^nd pillar). This applies both to part-time and full-time employees and also includes foreign employees liable for withholding tax.

• Self-employed persons whose income is liable for AHV
  If an occupational pension scheme is optional for self-employed individuals, it may be replaced by a pillar-3a scheme. If an entrepreneur is not affiliated to an occupational pension fund, he/she may pay in larger amounts than those who are.

• Job-seekers entitled to unemployment insurance benefits
  Unemployed persons may pay into a pillar 3a plan as long as they are entitled to a daily allowance under unemployment insurance.

• Cross-border commuters and weekly residents
  Cross-border commuters and weekly residents domiciled abroad are likewise entitled to make pillar 3a payments if they work for an employer based in Switzerland. This applies irrespective of whether their mandatory pension provision is based in Switzerland or abroad.

• IV pensioners
  Individuals drawing invalidity benefits who also have a remaining income that is liable for AHV may also make pillar 3a contributions.

• Working persons beyond the regular retirement age
  Individuals who go on working after reaching the regular retirement age may continue their third-pillar payments for another 5 years. This is also the amount of time they can put off withdrawing their accumulated savings. The maximum age limit is 70 years for men and 69 years for women.