(2022) What are contributions to occupational pension schemes?

Contributions to occupational pension schemes can be made by members of the liberal professions. This includes, for example, doctors, lawyers and notaries, tax advisors, or architects. However, only contributions to such occupational pension schemes whose benefits are comparable to those of the statutory pension insurance provider are accepted. Employees can enter contributions to agricultural pension funds and contributions to a voluntary statutory pension insurance.

In 2022, pension contributions are deductible up to a total of 25.639 Euro for single persons and 51.278 Euro for married couples. However, these contributions only have a tax-reducing effect of 94%, i.e. a maximum of 24.101 Euro or 48.202 Euro.

The Federal Fiscal Court considers the statutory transitional regulations in connection with pension taxation and the deduction of pension expenses to be constitutional (BFH rulings of 19.5.2021, X R 33/19 and X R 20/21). However, it has pointed out that this does not apply to future pensioner cohorts. There could be a risk of double taxation.

The Federal Government has announced that the full deductibility of pension contributions during the working phase, planned for 2025, will be brought forward to 2023.