Altersvorsorgedepot (Germany's state-subsidized retirement investment account) for the self-employed

Full government subsidy for the first time – even without compulsory statutory pension insurance. Flexible with fluctuating income, without an expensive insurance wrapper.

New from 2027

Finally the government is subsidizing your retirement provision too

With Riester, most self-employed people were left out. That is changing.

From 1 January 2027, all self-employed people can use the government subsidy of the Altersvorsorgedepot – even without compulsory statutory pension insurance. Eligible are business owners (§ 15 EStG) and freelancers (§ 18 EStG), provided they file a tax return. This gives you access to the same subsidized, capital-market-based retirement provision as employees for the first time.

  • up to €540 basic allowance per year
  • eligible for the subsidy from €10 a month
  • for the self-employed for the first time
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Flexible with fluctuating income

Increase, reduce or pause contributions at any time. In a weak year, €120 (€10/month) is enough to secure the subsidy.

Subsidy without an insurance wrapper

Allowances flow straight into an ETF account – no expensive acquisition costs. A cost cap of 1% per year applies to the default standard product.

Flexible payouts & inheritable

Up to 30% in one go at the start of retirement, the rest as a drawdown plan or a pension. The capital is inheritable and is not lost.
Allowances

Altersvorsorgedepot or Rürup pension?

The most common question from self-employed people. Both have their strengths – often a combination makes sense.

Altersvorsorgedepot Rürup pension (Basisrente)
Government support Allowances up to €540 + €300/child – strong at middle incomes Special expenses deduction – strong at a high marginal tax rate
Flexibility Contributions can be paused/adjusted at any time Less flexible, ongoing contributions
payout Partial lump-sum withdrawal + drawdown plan or pension Life annuity only
Can be inherited capital can be inherited Only to a limited extent (add-on modules)
Investing Free choice of ETFs and funds Usually an insurance or fund wrapper

Rule of thumb: at lower to middle incomes the allowances of the Altersvorsorgedepot carry more weight. High earners with a high tax rate additionally benefit from the special expenses deduction of the Rürup pension – the two products can be combined.

Note: independent information, not investment, tax or legal advice.

Requirements

Are you eligible for the subsidy?

The allowances are obvious. The second advantage is quieter but weighs almost as much over the years: tax. With an ordinary securities account the taxman takes a share of your returns every year, and what goes to the tax office can no longer earn interest.

In the Altersvorsorgedepot that claim is postponed. Your returns stay in the account in full during the accumulation phase and keep working; tax is only due on payout. The longer you save, the more this matters.

  • You are self-employed as a business owner (§ 15 EStG) or as a freelancer (§ 18 EStG)
  • You file a tax return
  • You pay in at least €120 per year (€10/month)
  • You are resident in Germany
Subsidy calculator

This is how much subsidy the self-employed get

How much the government adds depends on your own contribution and on your children. As a single person you secure up to €540 of basic allowance per year, plus €300 per child. Work out your personal subsidy in a minute.

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Ihre mögliche Förderung

Familienstand iSingle bekommt 540 € Grundzulage pro Jahr. Bei verheirateten Paaren erhält jeder eigene 540 € — beide AVD-Verträge zusammen also 1.080 €.
Kinder mit Kindergeldanspruch iPro Kind mit Kindergeldanspruch (bis 25 Jahre) gibt es 300 €/Jahr Kinderzulage. Voll bereits ab 25 €/Mo Eigenbeitrag.
0
Monatlicher Sparbetrag iIhr eigener monatlicher Beitrag. Grundzulage anteilig bis 150 €/Mo (1.800 €/Jahr Höchstbeitrag), Kinderzulage voll ab 25 €/Mo. 100 €/Monat
0 €200 €
Mögliche Förderung pro Jahr
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Erweiterte Berechnung Mit Einkommen, Rendite, Kosten, Inflation, Riester-Übertrag, ETF-Vergleich Auf die Warteliste Erfahren Sie als Erste:r, welche Anbieter starten

Unverbindliche Modellrechnung, keine Anlageberatung, keine Garantie künftiger Wertentwicklung. Vergangene Wertentwicklungen sind kein verlässlicher Indikator für künftige Wertentwicklungen.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Yes. From 2027 all self-employed people – even without compulsory statutory pension insurance – can use the full government subsidy for the first time. This requires income under § 15 or § 18 EStG and a tax return.

For eligibility, €120 per year is enough, that is €10 per month. You reach the full basic allowance of €540 with an own contribution of €1,800 per year.

Yes. You can increase, reduce or suspend your contributions at any time. As long as the minimum contribution is reached by the end of the year, your eligibility for the subsidy is retained.

No. The two can be combined – the Rürup pension for the tax advantage at a high income, the Altersvorsorgedepot for flexibility and allowances. Which model carries more weight in your case can be read in our comparison Rürup pension or Altersvorsorgedepot for the self-employed.

Yes. From 2027 an existing Riester contract can be transferred into the Altersvorsorgedepot. In legal terms this does not count as a termination – allowances and tax advantages already received are retained.

At a high income the Rürup pension plays to its strength: the contributions are deductible as special expenses, and the higher your marginal tax rate, the greater the tax saving. The Altersvorsorgedepot, in return, scores with full flexibility, free ETF investment, inheritable capital and flexible payouts. The allowances (up to €540) carry proportionally less weight at a high income. Many high earners will combine the two.