Pillar 3a

Pillar 3a is part of the Swiss pension system, which is based on the three-pillar principle.

Pillar 3a is voluntary. Colloquially, people talk about the third pillar, but they usually mean pillar 3a. Theoretically, there is also a pillar 3b, but this is only indirectly related to pension provision.

Money in pillar 3a is tied up. It can only be withdrawn before retirement in the following exceptional cases: Financing home ownership, taking up self-employment or emigration.

Payments into pillar 3a can be claimed as deductions in your tax return. This allows you to reduce your taxable income. For many, the tax savings are the main reason why they make provisions with pillar 3a.

There are three different ways of making provision with pillar 3a: 3a account, 3a fund or 3a insurance.

Read more about pillar 3a.