Restriction on Pension Fund Contributions and Savings Deposits
Pension funds and voluntary purchases into them are an important instrument of retirement provision. However, excessive wage deductions or purchases can circumvent the principle of taxation according to ability to pay and thus achieve significant tax advantages. This initiative aims to restrict such tax practices and ensure fair taxation for all.
Problem
- High earners as well as occasionally employers use excessive pension fund contributions and purchases to avoid taxes. This undermines tax fairness, especially since only a fraction of the taxation applies upon later capital withdrawal.
- As an employee, besides pillar 3a and the purchases in pillar 2, you have no levers to reduce taxes. If you now cut something here, a well‑earning employee is left with nothing. They already pay a lot. Employers have many more options.
Solution
- Employee and employer savings contributions are limited overall to 30% of gross salary, and voluntary purchases to 10 times the AHV maximum pension (2026: approx. CHF 302,000). Contributions above this can still be made but without tax deduction.
- Ongoing savings contributions from employer and employee are only tax‑deductible up to 30 % of gross salary. Higher contributions remain allowed but are taxable.
Benefit
- The measure strengthens the constitutional principle of taxation based on economic capacity in accordance with Art. 127 para. 2 BV. Targeted tax avoidance via the pension fund is curtailed without changing the system.
- Limited deductions increase the tax base for high earners. The additional revenues relieve the public sector and can be used for social programs such as AHV and IV or for investments in education.
Public support
Total votes: 21
Breakdown: NoChance: 9, SoundsGood: 4, FullyOnBoard: 3, NeedForDiscussion: 2, Concerns: 2, NothingAgainstIt: 1