Pillar 3a Buyback
Definition
A catch-up rule allowing Swiss residents to make extra tax-deductible contributions to fill prior Pillar 3a gaps.
Key Takeaways
- NEW 2026 law: allows retroactive Pillar 3a contributions for gaps from past 10 years (2025 onward only).
- Must max out current year contribution (CHF 7,258) first; then can buyback up to CHF 7,258/year for prior gaps.
- One payment per gap year; if gap not fully closed in one year, cannot continue filling it later.
- Buyback contributions fully tax-deductible in year of payment; closes previously lost contribution room.
Detailed Explanation
Pillar 3a Buyback (also called retroactive contributions or subsequent payments) is a NEW legislative change effective January 1, 2026 that allows Swiss residents to make catch-up contributions for missed or incomplete Pillar 3a contributions from previous years. Previously, any unfilled Pillar 3a contribution room was permanently lost on January 1 of the following year.
For 2026 onward, you can retroactively fill gaps from the past 10 years, but ONLY for years from 2025 forward (the law is not retroactive to pre-2025). To make a buyback, you must first maximize your current year's ordinary Pillar 3a contribution (2026 limit: CHF 7,258 for employed persons). Buybacks are limited to one payment per gap year (though you can close multiple gap years with one transaction), and the total annual buyback cannot exceed CHF 7,258. Buyback contributions are tax-deductible in the year of payment, just like ordinary contributions. If you cannot fully close a gap within one year, you cannot continue filling it in subsequent years.