Ireland Pension Calculator
Calculate your Irish pension contribution with age-banded tax relief. Project your pot at retirement after employer match and compound growth.
Your Pension
Projection
Pension Pot at Retirement
€1,316,332
31 years of compounding
Total Contributions
€421,800
Investment Growth
€894,532
Annual Tax Saved
€3,840
Tax Saved Over Time
€119,040
Age-banded pension relief
Irish tax law lets you contribute and claim relief on a growing % of salary as you age. Under 30: 15%. 30-39: 20%. 40-49: 25%. 50-54: 30%. 55-59: 35%. 60+: 40%. Reckonable salary is capped at €115,000, so max relievable contribution ranges from €17,250 (under 30) to €46,000 (60+). This is above-the-line — reduces PAYE and USC both.
Occupational vs PRSA vs PRB
Three main vehicles: Occupational pension (DB or DC run by your employer, often with match), PRSA (personal, portable, age-banded limits), PRB (Personal Retirement Bond — receives transfers from an old employer scheme). AVCs (Additional Voluntary Contributions) let you top up an occupational scheme above the employer default.
The Standard Fund Threshold (SFT)
Total lifetime pension pot cap: €2.0m in 2025, rising to €2.8m by 2029 (Budget 2026 announced staged increases of €200k per year). Amounts above face 40% Chargeable Excess Tax. High earners should model projected pots early — topping up aggressively from age 40-50 can push high performers above SFT at retirement if not planned.
Accessing benefits at retirement
Normal Retirement Age varies by scheme (60-65 typical). You can take 25% as a tax-free lump sum up to €200,000; next €300,000 taxed at 20%; above €500,000 at your marginal rate. The rest either buys an annuity (guaranteed income for life) or moves into an ARF (Approved Retirement Fund — invested drawdown, €12,700 imputed distribution at 61+).
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know, in one place.
How much of my salary can I put into a pension?
Age-banded %: <30: 15%; 30-39: 20%; 40-49: 25%; 50-54: 30%; 55-59: 35%; 60+: 40%. Applied to reckonable earnings capped at €115,000. All contributions qualify for marginal-rate tax relief (40% for higher-rate payers).
Occupational pension vs PRSA?
Occupational schemes (DB, DC) run by employer trustees — often matched. PRSA is a personal policy you control. Both qualify for income tax + USC relief at marginal rate. PRSAs offer flexibility and portability; occupational schemes sometimes offer better employer match.
What is the Standard Fund Threshold?
SFT caps the total lifetime pension pot at €2 million (rising to €2.8 million by 2029 per Budget 2026 changes). Amounts above face 40% Chargeable Excess Tax. High earners with large pensions should plan drawdown carefully to avoid breaching.
When can I access my pension?
Occupational scheme: typically 60-65 (NRA). PRSA: age 60 minimum, 75 maximum. 25% lump sum tax-free up to €200k, 20% thereafter up to €500k cap, then marginal rate. Rest goes into an ARF (drawdown) or annuity.
ARF vs annuity at retirement?
Approved Retirement Fund (ARF): keep the residual pension invested, draw flexibly. Mandatory minimum drawdown of 4% per year from age 61 (5% from age 71). Upside if markets rise; risk of running out. Annuity: exchange lump sum for guaranteed income for life. Rates currently offer ~6.5%-7% for 65-year-olds. Lower upside, zero investment risk. Hybrid strategies popular: annuitise enough to cover fixed expenses (food, utilities), ARF the rest for growth and legacy.
Can I get employer matching contributions?
Common in Ireland — typical private-sector schemes match 3%-10% of salary. Multinationals (pharma, tech) often match 10%-12%. To maximise: always contribute at least enough to capture full employer match (it is effectively a 100% return before investment growth). Employer contributions do NOT count against your age-banded personal contribution limit — they sit in a separate bucket, enabling faster pot growth. They also avoid BIK, making them more tax-efficient than equivalent salary.
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