Switzerland Financial Glossary
Learn the definitions of key financial terms, tax acronyms, and mortgage jargon commonly used in Switzerland. Updated for 2026.
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Pillar 3a Retroactive Buy-In
RetirementA 2026 Swiss rule allowing taxpayers to make catch-up contributions for up to 10 years of missed Pillar 3a payments, generating immediate tax deductions.
View full definition →Pillar 3a Buyback
RetirementThe act of making a retroactive Pillar 3a contribution for a specific missed year, converting a past gap into a current-year tax deduction.
View full definition →Pensionskassen-Einkauf
RetirementA voluntary lump-sum purchase into your Pillar 2 occupational pension fund, fully tax-deductible and used to close contribution gaps or maximize retirement benefits.
View full definition →Swiss financial terms for the Pillar 3a retroactive buy-in and AHV 21 era
Switzerland first permits eligible Pillar 3a buybacks in 2026 for 2025 gaps, with the 2026 annual catch-up capped at CHF 7,258 even if several years later have gaps. AHV 21 allows flexible retirement generally from 63–70, with transitional women able to start at 62, and the separate 13th AHV old-age pension is first paid in December 2026. Voters approved abolition of Eigenmietwert in September 2025 and individual taxation in March 2026; each awaits implementation.
Pillar 3a retroactive buy-in and Pensionskassen-Einkauf
First Pillar 3a buyback is possible in 2026 for an eligible 2025 gap. Later, several gaps since 2025 may be combined, but total **annual** catch-up is capped at the small Pillar 3a contribution (CHF 7,258 in 2026) and the full ordinary annual contribution must first be made. A Pillar 2 buy-in is separate and depends on individual purchase room; no standard CHF 30,000–50,000 one-year deduction follows. [BSV's FAQ](https://faq.bsv.admin.ch/index.php/de/berufliche-vorsorge-und-3-saeule/einkaeufe-saeule-3a/wie-hoch-ist-der-maximale-einkaufsbetrag-die) gives the ceiling.
AHV 21, 13th pension, and Swiss tax traps
Flexible AHV claiming generally runs from 63–70 (62 for transitional women); early reductions depend on birth cohort and income, and deferral can add up to 31.5%. The December 2026 13th old-age payment equals **one-twelfth of old-age pension actually paid during 2026** for a recipient entitled in December, so a partial-year retiree does not automatically get a full regular month. [AHV/IV](https://www.ahv-iv.ch/p/3.01.e) explains the amount. Eigenmietwert still applies in 2026, but voters approved its abolition in September 2025 with implementation planned for early 2029. Marriage can raise or lower joint tax depending on the household; no universal CHF 3,000–8,000 penalty follows. Swiss voters approved individual taxation in March 2026, though it is not yet in force. [ESTV](https://www.estv.admin.ch/de/ehepaar-und-familienbesteuerung) explains the transition.