The 3rd pillar in Switzerland is a voluntary retirement savings system designed to supplement the benefits of the AHV (first pillar) and pension funds (second pillar). It comes in two main forms. On one hand, the pillar 3a, dedicated to retirement, offers tax advantages in exchange for certain withdrawal restrictions. On the other hand, the pillar 3b allows for more flexible savings, although it does not offer the same tax incentives.
Did you know?
The combined benefits of the 1st and 2nd pillars generally cover only about 60% of the previous income.
Pillar 3A: private pension provision
The pillar 3a offers a structured solution to supplement AHV and pension fund income, enabling you to build up savings on advantageous terms. With a 3A, you can:
- Withdraw the available funds to acquire a primary residence
- Pledge your 3A for the purchase of a principal residence
- Building a comfortable retirement
- Making 2nd pillar purchases
It is possible to take out a 3A with a bank or an insurance company, with some differences in terms of payment flexibility and risk coverage.
Possible shapes
On the banking side, it can take the form of a traditional savings account, which is secure but offers low returns. Others choose investment funds, which offer higher return potential but also come with market-related risks. Between the two, some hybrid solutions offer a balance between security and performance by combining a guaranteed portion with an invested portion.
Visit bankit may be a savings account classic, secure but not very profitable. Others opt for investment fundswhich offer higher potential returns, but also entail market risks. In between, some hybrid solutions offer a balance between security and performance, combining a guaranteed portion with an invested portion.
As far as insurance is concerned, 3a often takes the form of insurance contracts.life insurancein investment funds, ETF or pure savings. These products enable you to save while benefiting from protection in the event of death or disability. Depending on the contract, the capital can be guaranteed or subject to investment performance.
What are the conditions for opening a 3A?
- You are gainfully employed and receive a income subject to AHV (self-employed or employed)
- You work in Switzerland while living abroad (e.g. cross-border commuters)
- You receive a daily allowance from theunemployment insurance.
- You receive a daily allowance from thedisability insurance subject to AHV
- You become partially disabled with income subject to AHV
- You've reached retirement age but keep working (up to 5 years after age 65)
- You have temporarily stopped working (civilian service, illness, unemployment, etc.)
Pillar 3a tax benefits
Tax incentives are one of the main attractions of Pillar 3a. Here are just some of the tax benefits associated with this scheme:
Deduction of contributions
The maximum amounts paid into a Pillar 3a account are fully deductible from your taxable income up to a maximum of CHF 7'258 / year (limit 2025), while a person not affiliated to a pension fund (e.g. self-employed) can pay in up to 20% of their income, capped at CHF 36,288.
This means an immediate reduction in your taxable income, and a lower tax bill every year.
Advantageous taxation on withdrawal
When a withdrawal is made, whether at retirement or for the purchase of a primary residence, the amount withdrawn is subject to the capital benefits tax. It is therefore taxed separately from income, at a reduced rate (1/5 of the regular tax).
Exemption from wealth tax
During the term of your pillar 3A contract, the surrender value is not subject to the wealth tax, which represents a real advantage compared to a pillar 3B.
What are the other advantages of Pillar 3A?
A 3rd pillar A also allows you to withdraw or pledge part of your savings to finance the purchase of your primary residence, making it easier to access home ownership. Additionally, by regularly contributing to this account, you build up an essential supplementary income to ensure a comfortable retirement and maintain your standard of living after the end of your professional activity.
Finally, pillar 3a offers the possibility of making buy-ins into the 2nd pillar, which can help fill gaps in your occupational pension plan and thus optimize your overall financial coverage.
A few figures on tied pension plans
In 2022, over CHF 137 billion were invested in tied pension plans, of which CHF 87 billion in banking and CHF 50 billion in insurance¹.
¹Federal Social Insurance Office. Statistics [online]. Available at: https://www.bsv.admin.ch/bsv/fr/home/assurances-sociales/bv/statistik.html. Accessed: March 10, 2025.
What are the disadvantages of Pillar 3A?
Pillar 3a has a number of disadvantages to consider, such as
Blocking funds
Amounts paid are locked-in until five years before legal retirement age. A early withdrawal is only possible in situations such as the purchase of a principal residence, the start of self-employment, definitive departure from Switzerland or the purchase of years of Pillar 2ᵉ contributions.
Penalizing surrender value
In the event of an early withdrawal, especially with a pillar 3a taken out through an insurance provider, the amount recovered may be lower than the amounts paid in due to unamortized setup fees.
Pillar 3b: unrestricted retirement provision
Pillar 3b is a form of free individual savings, offering much greater flexibility compared to pillar 3a. Unlike the latter, contributions to a pillar 3b are not subject to an annual limit and do not offer the same tax advantages — they are generally not deductible from taxable income, except in certain cantons.
This means that, although it does not offer such attractive tax deductions (unless conditions are met), Pillar 3b allows you to save and withdraw your capital whenever you wish. This makes it an ideal complementary solution for diversifying your savings strategy and financing personal projects.
What can a free pension plan consist of?
Pillar 3b comprises all savings other than the first and second pillars, as well as tied pension provision. These can include classic cars, securities, real estate, works of art and much more.
Tax benefits
Tax exemption on withdrawal
The withdrawal of your Pillar 3B capital can be entirely exempted from taxes if the contract is a provident plan, i.e. if the following conditions are met:
- The term must be at least 5 years (classic) or 10 years (fund-linked).
- The contract must be taken out before age 66.
- Payment is made after age 60.
Deduction of annual payments
The cantons define the amount of annual contributions that can be deducted. In some cantons, a Pillar 3B is not deductible at all, while in the canton of Geneva it is possible to deduct up to:
- CHF 2,232 for a single person
- CHF 3,348 for a married couple
In the canton of Fribourg, the following deductions are available:
- CHF 750 for a single person
- CHF 1,500 for a married couple
Disadvantages of Pillar 3B
The choice between a pillar 3A and a pillar 3B mainly depends on your financial goals and personal situation. Pillar 3A is a tied solution, primarily designed for retirement. It offers significant tax advantages since your contributions are deductible from your taxable income, but in return, the money is locked in until certain conditions are met (retirement, purchase of a home, starting a self-employed activity, or permanent departure from Switzerland). This makes it ideal if you want to prepare for retirement in a disciplined way while benefiting from substantial tax savings.
In addition, Pillar 3B is subject to thewealth tax for the duration of the contract.
Pillar 3A vs 3B: Which to choose?
The choice between a Pillar 3A and a Pillar 3B depends above all on your financial objectives and personal situation. Pillar 3A is a linked solution designed primarily for retirement. It offers significant tax benefits since your contributions are tax-deductible, but in return, the money is blocked until you meet certain conditions (retirement, acquisition of a home, starting a self-employed business or leaving Switzerland permanently). This makes it ideal if you wish to prepare for retirement and benefit from substantial tax savings.
Pillar 3B, on the other hand, is a free savings account not subject to the same withdrawal restrictions. You can deposit and withdraw funds when you wish, giving you greater flexibility to finance other short- or medium-term projects. However, it does not offer the same tax advantages as the 3A, except in a few cantons where deductions are available.
Frequently asked questions
To put an end to a 3A:
- You must be 60 years old for a man and 59 for a woman.
- You are receiving a full disability pension
- You make a withdrawal for the purchase of a principal residence and withdraw the entire capital
- You (the policyholder) disappoint
To put an end to a 3B:
- There are no special conditions
There are a wide range of options for the 3rd pillar, either through a bank or an insurance provider. Most products can be subscribed to within both tied pension schemes (pillar 3a) and flexible pension schemes (pillar 3b).
In insurance, a 3rd pillar is set up in the form of a life insurance policy, while in banking, a 3a or 3b usually corresponds to a traditional savings account or one linked to investment funds.
Individuals working in Switzerland – whether employees or self-employed – who generate income subject to AVS contributions can open a pillar 3a. Notably, pillar 3a is also available to cross-border commuters.
Yes, it is possible to transfer your 3rd pillar, whether from one bank to another or from one insurance company to another 3A pension solution.
In the case of Pillar 3b, the transfer terms and conditions also depend on the contract.
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