With the Epargne 3 account, you can build up capital for your future plans: retirement, buying real estate, becoming self-employed... and all while benefiting from tax deductions.
With only a few steps
Frequent questions
The account is for employed and self-employed individuals between the age of 18 and ordinary retirement age who are liable to pay income tax.
- When you reach the normal federal pension retirement age or, at the earliest, five years before that
- When you become self-employed or when there is a change in your self-employment activity (but only in the first year)
- When you leave Switzerland permanently (for non-residents, when you cease all gainful activity in Switzerland)
- When you receive a full pension from the federal disability insurance programme
- When you want to finance your main residence – by amortising a mortgage debt on it
In the event of death, your capital is protected and paid to your beneficiaries in accordance with regulations; it does not form part of your estate. Epargne 3 assets cannot be seized as long as they remain deposited in a pillar 3a account.
The pillar 3a account is a type of pension plan. Funds paid into a pillar 3a account cannot be withdrawn before retirement except in a few special cases defined restrictively by law. The investment horizon is generally fairly long, which is ideal for investment savings. Normally, the investment horizon should be between five and ten years. Investments in securities offer a higher potential return than a pure savings account. Investments in real assets, i.e. shares and real estate, also offer a degree of protection against inflation. On the other hand, if you opt for pure savings, you are fully exposed to the risk of inflation. Currently, inflation is expected to be around 2.0%, which is higher than the interest normally paid.
To benefit from higher potential income, you must accept a certain amount of price volatility. In addition to the interest-bearing savings account, we offer various strategies with an equity component ranging from 25% (LOB 25 with low volatility) to 80% (LOB 80 with high volatility).
Yes, you can open up to five accounts (pure or invested savings). This means you can withdraw your pension assets in instalments when you reach retirement age. By withdrawing your 3rd pillar savings in small amounts over several years, you can save a lot of tax (by avoiding the rise in the tax rate).
You can find the calculator on the Canton of Geneva website: Calculation of tax on capital benefits | ge.ch (in french only)
You can contribute:
- When you want and how much you want (in accordance with legal requirements)
- In the form of a standing order
