Geldanlage: Neues Altersvorsorgedepot: Lohnt sich das Modell für Gutverdiener?

"Deutschland macht Rente" is the slogan used by financial service providers to promote their pension savings products. Many advisors now recommend the Riester successor as a tax-saving option for high earners, with income above approximately €5,900 per month. Unlike the Riester pension, which has a maximum annual contribution of €1,800, the new pension savings account allows for much larger contributions.

According to calculations by the Handelsblatt, a high-income earner could potentially save up to €11,880 annually without receiving any state aid. However, there are alternative options to consider, as outlined by the newspaper. After 2027, the pension savings account will replace the Riester pension, providing taxpayers with a way to save for retirement.

Up to 540 euros of annual support is available per person, requiring a minimum annual contribution of €1,800 to a certified financial product. While each provider must offer a standard product with costs no higher than 1% of the amount deposited, some may offer higher-cost pension savings accounts. Beneficiaries can contribute more than the €1,800 needed for maximum support, up to a total of €11,880 over two contracts.

The combination of state aid and personal contributions could result in a pension fund exceeding €1.3 million after 30 years, with the state's €16,200 in support having more than tripled in value. The pension savings account offers tax-free reinvestment of contributions, regardless of whether the funds are invested in a supported or unsupported portion.

Upon retirement, high earners can withdraw up to 30% of the supported portion, taxed at their personal income rate. The remainder can either be rolled into an investment plan or paid out as a lifelong pension using the half-income method, where only half of the returns are taxed. If the funds were invested for less than 12 years, income tax applies to the entire return.

The tax treatment of regular withdrawals depends on when the payout plan begins: at 65, 18% of the payout rate is subject to personal income tax, while at 67, this drops to 17%. A lifelong pension guarantees payments until death but may not provide the same returns as an investment plan, with higher costs. Tax-wise, the supported and unsupported portions of the pension savings account are treated similarly to an investment plan.