What does "voluntary statutory pension insurance" mean?

Individuals exempt from statutory pension insurance can make voluntary contributions to the statutory pension insurance and declare these in their tax return. This applies, for example, to the self-employed, civil servants, clergy, or homemakers.

You cannot enter your regular contributions to statutory pension and nursing care insurance here, as these are not voluntary contributions. If you pay contributions to a state-subsidised private pension scheme, please enter them under the item “Riester pension”.