Your basic pension: Secure provision
Discover the Rürup pension (basic pension) – your tax-advantaged retirement plan, ideal for the self-employed and high earners. Plan your future with nextsure.
High tax benefits
Lifetime pension
Flexible for Freelancers
What is the Rürup pension (basic pension) and who is it suitable for?
For Self-employed & Freelancers
For employees with a high tax burden
As a basic old-age provision
To address gaps in supply
The tax benefits of the Rürup pension explained in detail
One of the main advantages of the Rürup pension lies in its attractive tax incentives during the savings phase. You can claim your contributions to the basic pension as special expenses in your income tax return. In 2024, this amounts to up to 100% of the maximum amount of €27,565 for singles and €55,130 for married couples or registered civil partners. For employees who are already paying into the statutory pension insurance, the employer's contribution is deducted from this maximum amount, and the remaining amount can then be used for the Rürup pension. This deductibility reduces your taxable income, resulting in direct tax savings. In return, future pension payments are taxable (deferred taxation), with the taxable portion gradually increasing to 100% by 2040. For pensions commencing in 2024, the taxable portion is 84%. This mechanism is especially advantageous if your tax rate in retirement is expected to be lower than during your working life.
Your Benefits
Rürup pension with nextsure
Tax saving
Maximize your tax benefits through deductible contributions.
Pension Guarantee
Secure guaranteed lifetime pension payments in retirement.
Flexibility
Flexibly adjust posts to suit your life situation.
Insolvency protection
Your Rürup capital is secure against Hartz IV and protected from seizure.
BU protection
Can be combined with valuable disability insurance for comprehensive security.
Digital Completion
Easily and conveniently complete online with nextsure.
Excellent advice
Expert professionals support you in your important decision.
Niche focus
Specialised solutions that perfectly match your individual needs.
Investment opportunity
Take advantage of attractive investment opportunities through various forms of investment.
Tailored pension solutions for securing your future.
Act now:
Calculate your Rürup pension!
Rürup pension: Payout phase and retirement – What you need to know
The payout phase of the Rürup pension begins at the earliest upon reaching the age of 62 (for contracts concluded from 2012) and is exclusively paid as a lifelong monthly annuity. A one-off capital disbursement of the accrued assets is not legally permitted. This highlights the nature of the Rürup pension as a pure retirement provision, which is intended to ensure sustained financial security during retirement. The amount of your monthly pension depends on various factors, including the level of contributions paid, the chosen form of investment, the returns achieved, and life expectancy at the start of the pension. When the pension is annuitised, the accumulated capital is converted into a guaranteed pension. It is important to carefully examine the contractual conditions regarding pension guarantee periods or potential pension adjustments. nextsure provides comprehensive advice on the options and modalities of the payout phase of your Rürup pension.
Flexibility of the Rürup Pension: Contribution Design and Additional Payments
The Rürup pension offers a certain flexibility in contribution design despite its strict legal framework. You can usually choose between ongoing monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual contributions. Additionally, many providers allow top-up payments, enabling you to adapt to changing financial circumstances or to further increase your retirement savings, always considering the tax ceilings. Some plans also permit payment breaks, for example, in case of temporary financial difficulties, or an adjustment of the contribution amount. It is advisable to thoroughly inform yourself about the flexibility options of the respective plan before signing a contract. This way, you can ensure that your Rürup pension fits your financial planning even in the face of changed life circumstances. nextsure supports you in finding a contract with the contribution flexibility that suits you.
Rürup pension and occupational disability insurance (BUZ): A sensible combination?
The combination of a Rürup pension with an occupational disability insurance policy (BUZ) can be a very sensible strategy for comprehensive protection. In the event of an occupational disability, the BUZ secures your income through a monthly pension. If this is coupled with a Rürup contract, the contributions for the BU part can also be tax-deductible under certain conditions. The prerequisite is that more than 50% of the total contribution is allocated to the retirement provision portion (Rürup). This combination offers the advantage that you can provide for your retirement while safeguarding against the risk of occupational disability and benefiting from tax advantages. However, it should be noted that the BU pension from such a combined contract is fully taxable in the event of a claim. A thorough examination of the individual situation and a comparison with separate BU contracts are essential. nextsure helps you weigh up the pros and cons and find the optimal solution for your protection needs.
Capital choice in the Rürup pension: Are there alternatives to the annuity?
A central feature of the Rürup pension is that it does not provide for a capital option. This means that the accumulated assets must be converted into a lifelong monthly pension at the beginning of retirement. A one-time payout of the entire capital, as is possible with some private pension insurance or the Riester pension (partially), is excluded with the Rürup pension. This regulation serves to ensure a lasting provision in old age and to cover the longevity risk. For savers who wish to have a larger sum freely available in old age, the Rürup pension may not be the first choice. However, there are no direct alternatives within the Rürup concept that allow for a capital payout. The decision for a Rürup pension always means opting for a pure annuity solution. So, consider carefully whether this form of payout aligns with your personal goals and wishes for retirement.
Occupational disability
Secure income
Riester pension
Government support
Private Pension
Flexible Saving
Rürup pension compared: Riester pension, private pension insurance, and more.
When choosing the right pension plan, the question of comparing different products often arises. The Rürup pension is primarily aimed at the self-employed and high earners who want to benefit from significant tax advantages and are looking for a basic provision. In contrast, the Riester pension is specially designed for employees, civil servants, and those eligible for child benefits, supported by state allowances and tax relief. Private pension insurance often offers more flexibility in terms of saving and payout phases, including capital options, but usually without the specific tax advantages of the Rürup pension during the contribution phase. Occupational pension schemes (bAV) are an option for employees where contributions are directly converted from gross salary. Each form of provision has specific advantages, disadvantages, and target groups. A careful analysis of your personal situation, financial goals, and tax framework is crucial to developing the optimal pension strategy. Nextsure offers you a comprehensive comparison and individual advice.
Death protection and provision for surviving dependents in the Rürup pension
Protecting the dependents is an important aspect of the Rürup pension, although it is not included as standard in every contract. In the event of the policyholder's death during the accumulation phase, the accumulated capital would usually fall to the insurance community without a corresponding additional agreement. To avoid this, optional survivor protection can be agreed upon. This usually provides that in the event of death, a pension is paid to the spouse, registered civil partner, or children eligible for child benefit. The exact conditions, such as the amount of the pension or the duration of the payment, vary depending on the provider and tariff. A refund of contributions in the event of death before the commencement of the pension can also be agreed upon. If the insured person dies during the pension payment phase, a pension guarantee period can be stipulated, ensuring that the pension continues to be paid to the dependents for a certain minimum period. These additional benefits are generally associated with higher contributions or a reduced retirement pension for the insured person themselves.
The most common mistakes with the Rürup pension and how to avoid them
With the complex Rürup pension, it's easy to make mistakes that can reduce returns or fail to achieve the desired provision effect. A common mistake is choosing an unsuitable tariff with too high costs or an inappropriate investment strategy. Many also underestimate the importance of survivor protection or fail to choose it according to needs. Another pitfall is the inadequate use of tax advantages due to incorrect information in the tax return or not fully utilizing the maximum deductible contributions. The lack of flexibility in some contracts can also become problematic later if life circumstances change. Additionally, the deferred taxation of pensions is often not fully taken into account. To avoid these mistakes, careful planning and independent, expert advice are essential. Carefully analyze your needs, critically compare offers, and pay attention to transparent contract conditions. nextsure helps you to avoid pitfalls and optimize your Rürup pension.
What is the current tax-deductible contribution to the Rürup pension?
Terminating a Rürup pension plan in terms of an early payout of the capital is not legally possible. This is to protect the retirement provision character. However, if you are no longer able or willing to make contributions, you have the option to suspend your contract. In the event of a suspension of contributions, no further payments are made, although the capital accumulated so far remains in the contract, continues to accrue interest or is invested, and is available to you as a (then correspondingly lower) monthly pension at the agreed start of your pension. You should discuss the exact conditions and possible implications of a contribution suspension, such as adjusted guarantees or costs, directly with your provider. Changing providers with Rürup contracts is often difficult and involves costs, as the accumulated capital usually cannot simply be transferred to a new contract. Therefore, it is particularly important to carefully review the contract conditions before concluding.
