
How much you get later depends on two factors. Firstly, how the Swiss pension system works in 2020 (AHV and occupational benefits) and secondly, how much you make in your own third-pillar pension. As every year, there will be some changes on January 1, 2020. What impact will this have on your finances? Read on and keep an eye on things.
The AHV pension will not change in 2020
Every two years, the Federal Council reviews whether AHV and IV pensions need to be adjusted due to inflation. Pensions were last reviewed in 2018. There will therefore be no pension adjustment on January 1, 2020. The minimum old-age pension of CHF 1,185 per month and the maximum individual pension of CHF 2,370 will therefore remain unchanged. As before, married couples together will receive a maximum pension of CHF 3,555 (1.5 × CHF 2,370). Because many parameters in the 2020 Swiss pension system are derived from the maximum individual pension, p not much happens in the 2nd and 3rd pillars either . Denn wie das alles zusammenhängt, siehst du in der Abbildung. Diese stellt abgeleitete Jahreswerte als Vielfache der maximalen einfachen AHV-Rente von 28’440 Franken (12 × 2’370) dar.
But there will be a change to the AHV on January 1, 2020 that will affect us all. The Federal Act on Tax Reform and AHV Financing (TRAF) has been in force since January 1. Alongside AHV 21 and the BVG reform, it is one of the three measures to stabilize the Swiss pension system in 2020. For you, this directly means that less of your salary will be paid out. It will be 0.15 %, because that’s how much the AHV contribution will increase. Let’s assume you have an income of CHF 85,000 per year. Then the STAF will result in additional costs of around CHF 130 for you.
The minimum interest rate in the second pillar remains at 1%
The minimum interest rate for mandatory occupational benefits insurance (BVG) will remain unchanged at 1% in 2020. This was decided by the Federal Council. This means that your pension fund must pay at least 1% interest on your assets in the mandatory 2nd pillar. However, it may also pay a higher rate of interest. And in the extra-mandatory area, it is completely free to decide how much interest it pays on your retirement assets. The low minimum interest rate means that your retirement assets will practically not grow. You can read about the dramatic consequences of the low interest rate on your pension here.
The maximum amount for 2020 in pillar 3a remains at CHF 6,826
Other benefits and contribution rates in the 2020 Swiss pension system are derived from the basic AHV pension. These include the maximum amount that you can pay into pillar 3a tax-free. As the basic AHV pension will remain unchanged in 2020, the maximum amount in pillar 3a will not change for 2020. This remains unchanged:
3a for the year 2020. This remains unchanged:
- For employees with a pension fund: CHF 6,826
- For self-employed persons without a pension fund: 20 % of net earned income, maximum CHF 34,128
If you are self-employed and do not have a pension fund, you can use a higher maximum amount. This is so that you can reduce your pension gap yourself. Make the most of these opportunities and avoid common mistakes in pillar 3a.
Conclusion: Much remains (still) as it is
At first glance, much remains the same as in 2019. At second glance, however, with the TRAF and the BVG and AHV21 reforms, there are significant changes to the Swiss pension system in 2020, which are being driven forward this year. In this article, we show you what the overall package of STAF, AHV21 and BVG reform will mean for your finances.

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Last update: 05.01.2025 11:54