21.03.2025

Rürup Pension: Tax Advantages for Self-Employed Individuals and Freelancers

The Rürup Pension, also known as the basic pension, has established itself as a true guide for the pension provision of self-employed individuals and freelancers. Thanks to its significant tax advantages and flexibility concerning individual financial situations, it offers a tailored solution for those who do not have access to state pension schemes. This article highlights the tax benefits and explains why the Rürup Pension is especially suitable for the self-employed who lack legal protection. Dive in to understand how this type of pension can ensure your financial future.

Strategic Tax Benefits of the Basic Pension for the Self-Employed

A financial consultant explains the tax advantages of the Rürup Pension.

The Basic Pension, known as the Rürup Pension, is a central tool for self-employed individuals and freelancers to optimize their pension planning with attractive tax benefits. A deeper look into the tax advantages of this form of provision shows how strategically sensible decisions can lead to a significant reduction in tax burden.

One of the main attractions is the deduction for special expenses. Contributions paid into the basic pension can be declared as special expenses in the income tax return. This significantly reduces taxable income and, consequently, proportional tax obligations. Particularly in the year 2025, singles can benefit from a maximum amount of up to 29,344 euros, while married couples can deduct up to 58,688 euros. These generous limits offer welcome relief, especially for self-employed individuals who often report high total incomes.

The flexibility in determining contributions is another compelling advantage. Self-employed individuals often have irregular income, making it beneficial for the amount of contributions to be variable and adaptable. This way, taxpayers can navigate difficult years with lower amounts and redirect savings from better years into pension provision.

In the subsequent payment phase, self-employed individuals also enjoy specific advantages. With the premise of deferred taxation, pension payments only become taxable at retirement. The taxable portion of the pension increases annually by 0.5% until full taxation in 2058. This coincides with a period when many can benefit from a potentially lower tax rate, as taxable income in retirement is often lower.

Another notable feature of the basic pension is its asset protection. This ensures that the pension is secure in the long term, regardless of state redistribution processes. Additionally, the basic pension offers a lifetime payment guarantee, ensuring financial security in old age. The protection from bankruptcy is also advantageous, as rights during the accumulation phase are protected from creditors.

In summary, the basic pension is not just a way to reduce taxes during the working phase, but it also guarantees stability in retirement. Especially for self-employed individuals, it represents a strategically valuable combination of tax benefits and long-term financial security.

Foundation of Provision: Why the Rürup Pension Opens New Doors for the Self-Employed

A financial consultant explains the tax advantages of the Rürup Pension.

The basic pension, better known as the Rürup Pension, has established itself as a particularly attractive component of pension provision for self-employed individuals who do not contribute to state pension schemes. This group of professionals, who rely solely on their private pension provision, benefits from a series of unique advantages offered by the Rürup Pension.

The tax benefits of the Rürup Pension constitute a fundamental factor. The ability to deduct contributions as special expenses has a positive effect on taxable income. Particularly for self-employed individuals with high incomes, this leads to a significant reduction in tax liability during the accumulation phase. This savings allows taxpayers to make their pension provision more flexible and financially efficient.

Another exceptional feature of the Rürup Pension is the flexibility in contribution payments. Unlike state pension provision, there are no fixed minimum contributions, which means that self-employed individuals can adjust their payments at any time to their current financial situation. This creates an adaptability that can be invaluable, especially in a volatile business environment.

Adding to this is the protection from bankruptcy of the accumulated capital. In case of financial turmoil, the assets in the Rürup Pension remain untouched, as they are usually protected from garnishments and bankruptcies. This security provides a reassuring cushion, allowing self-employed individuals both a forward-looking and currently reassuring perspective on their pension provision.

Furthermore, the Rürup Pension offers peace of mind and stability by guaranteeing a lifelong pension. This continuous source of income ensures long-term support in old age and serves as a reliable pillar to count on.

Finally, for many self-employed individuals, the Rürup Pension replaces state pension provision, offering an appealing, effective, and secure option for accumulating retirement funds. Although the pension will be taxed at a later time, this generally proves advantageous, as the personal tax rate in retirement is often lower than during the working phase.

The Rürup Pension is therefore an ideal solution for self-employed individuals, especially those with high incomes, for effective and tax-advantageous pension provision. It offers tailored flexibility and security that goes far beyond traditional models, thus representing a smart alternative for self-provision.

Frequently asked questions

The Rürup Pension, also known as the basic pension, is a retirement provision tool primarily tailored for self-employed individuals and freelancers who do not have access to state pension schemes. Its primary advantages are significant tax benefits and flexibility suited to individual financial situations.

One of the main tax benefits of the Rürup Pension is the allowance for special expenses deduction. Contributions to the pension can be declared as special expenses in the income tax return, reducing taxable income and hence, proportional tax obligations. In the subsequent payment phase, the pension payments become taxable only at retirement, potentially benefiting from a lower tax rate of that period.

Given the irregular income of many self-employed individuals, the flexibility in determining contributions to the Rürup Pension is a significant advantage. They can contribute variable amounts, allowing them to pay less during difficult years and more from savings during better years, thereby efficiently planning their pension provision.

The basic pension provides asset protection, thus safeguarding the pension from state redistribution processes. This ensures long-term security of the pension. Also, it offers protection from bankruptcy since the accumulation phase rights are protected from creditors. Lastly, it provides a lifetime payment guarantee, ensuring financial security during retirement.

The Rürup Pension provides a series of unique benefits for such individuals. They can enjoy tax advantages, flexible contributions based on their financial situations, bankruptcy protection of accumulated capital, and a guaranteed lifelong pension. This makes the Rürup Pension an appealing, effective, and secure option for retirement funds accumulation, replacing state pension schemes.