(2024) What are contributions to occupational pension schemes?

Members of the liberal professions such as doctors, lawyers, notaries, tax consultants, or architects can make contributions to occupational pension schemes. These schemes are part of profession-specific pension provision and offer similar benefits to the state pension insurance. For the contributions to be recognised for tax purposes, the pension scheme must offer benefits comparable to those of the state pension insurance.

In 2024, pension contributions of up to 27.566 Euro (for single persons) and 55.132 Euro (for married couples) can be deducted as special expenses. These contributions have a 100% tax-reducing effect and fully reduce the taxable income.

Occupational pension schemes differ from private pension schemes as they are mandatory pension schemes for certain professional groups and are legally regulated. Unlike private pension schemes, such as the Riester pension, there is a direct link to the professional activity.