I saw on television that the company pension is subject to health and long-term care insurance contributions, making the returns unattractive. Is that true?
Company pensions are subject to social security contributions if the health insurance status is not 'privately insured.' In this case, contributions for health and long-term care insurance are deducted from company pensions, but only if the current exemption amount of €164.50 per month is exceeded. Example: A company pension of €200 per month.Contributions are only due on €35.50. With an assumed contribution rate of 20%, the company pension is reduced by only about seven euros.As a result, the return on a company pension scheme remains highly attractive.In fact, this was different until the end of 2019, which is why an outdated report may have led to a different conclusion.
Pension reduction
In the case of deferred compensation, the gross salary is reduced. As a result, fewer pension points are accumulated, which leads to a reduced statutory pension. This effect can be disregarded because the company pension provides a significantly higher replacement. This applies regardless of the entry age.
Tax burden
The tax system in Germany is quite simple: the more income you have, the more taxes you pay. This is called tax progression. Since retirees typically only receive statutory pension income, these amounts are low and either not taxed or taxed at a very low rate. The tax savings from deferred compensation reduce the tax burden in times of high income. This tax shift has a positive effect and makes deferred compensation attractive.The tax savings from deferred compensation reduce the tax burden in times of high income.This tax shift has a positive effect and makes deferred compensation attractive.
Claim lost
Company pension schemes, as the name suggests, are always tied to the “company,” meaning the respective employer. If an employer finances the company pension in addition to the salary, they can link it to the duration of employment. In the past the legislator used to set this duration at ten years. In the meantime, the so-called "statutory vesting period" has been reduced to a maximum of three years. However, this does not apply to contributions you finance yourself! These are always “immediately vested,” because, of course, this is your money, and it naturally “belongs” to you.However, this does not apply to self-financed contributions! These are always "immediately vested". After all, it is clear that this is your money, which of course also "belongs" to you.
Why now
Saving is always difficult because it means giving up consumption. And who doesn’t enjoy spending? Holidays, shopping and hobbies are things you want to enjoy extensively when you're young. However, pensions are not God-given; it is financed through a pay-as-you-go system supported by the entire working population. However, because we have more and more older people and fewer young people, it is already clear that the statutory pension will only provide around 40% of the last income. If you haven’t saved enough by then, it’s no longer about enjoying life but about survival.
The further away retirement is, the longer the saved money can "work" for you. If it’s also supported by your employer and the government, there’s no such thing as starting “too early.The further away retirement is, the longer the money saved can "work". If it is then also subsidised by the employer and the state, there is no such thing as "started too early".
Stay flexible
The amount of contributions paid into a company pension can be adjusted at any time. Depending on the employer’s program, you can also "overpack," meaning you can put too much into the company pension scheme (bAV). The statutory legal entitlement to deferred compensation is a good initial guide.
Inheritance
Company pensions are comparable to state pensions when it comes to inheritance. A spouse, a partner in a civil partnership (with the same registered address), and "children eligible for child benefits" can receive the maximum agreed benefits in the event of death. However, since child benefits are limited to the age of 25, it’s not possible for single parents to leave their full company pension entitlements to their "adult" children.
For such cases, among others, the statutory regulations provide for the payment of the so-called death grant. However, the amount of this is limited to €8,000.
Boring
A company pension is not a capital investment. It is therefore not comparable with private investments. And that's not the point, because in the end, the distribution of funds and risks across different models results in an overall solution for each individual.
A company pension is not a capital investment. So it’s not comparable to private investments. That’s not the point either, because in the end, each individual benefits from a total solution by spreading funds and risks across different models.
The strength of the company pension isn’t characterised by the profitability of the investment, but by the special structure: government subsidies and employer support “leverage” the contributions that flow into the pension scheme. In the end, the focus is on an attractive solution in the form of lifelong pension payments. Private investments usually aim to generate interest and income from the product and last until the capital stock is exhausted at the end of the savings phase. It’s problematic if the capital runs out before the end of one’s life.
When private and company investments are combined, the advantages and disadvantages are linked as well. So, the rule should be: Do both, don’t leave one out!
When private and company investments are combined, the advantages are just as interlinked as the disadvantages. Therefore, only one thing can apply: Do one without leaving the other!
Parental leave
As a rule, the employer's contribution payments into a company pension scheme are automatically paused during so-called "unpaid periods of service", which include, for example, parental leave and periods outside of continued salary payment in the event of illness.
Short-time work
During short-time work, the company pension continues to be funded. Only when short-time work is "zero," meaning no salary is paid, does the contribution through salary conversion stop - here, the rule applies: where there is no salary, there can be no contributions made.
Hartz IV
The place of residence of the retiree does not affect the payment of a company pension. German company pensions can be received worldwide.
Thailand
The place of residence of the retiree does not affect the payment of a company pension. German company pensions can be received worldwide.
