Current information on pensions and taxation
The amount of the net pension is affected by how the earnings-related and national pension benefits and the taxation of pensions are determined. Earnings-related pensions rose by 6.8 per cent by the earnings-related pension index at the beginning of 2023. The monthly amount of the national pension and the guarantee pension was increased by the national pension index, that is, by 4.2 per cent.
In 2023, the tax burden on pensioners is slightly reduced by the increases in the basic deduction and the pension income deduction. The deductions mean that low-income pensioners pay no municipal tax on annual pension earnings of less than 12,882 euros (€1,074/month). The right to the pension income allowance extends to annual earnings of 49,887 euros (€4,157/month).
Full amount of pension income deduction and annual income limit as of which the pension recipient starts to pay tax, as well as annual income limit as of which no deduction is granted (in 2023)
| Full deduction, €/year | Pension amount as of which tax becomes payable, €/year | Pension amount for which no deductions are granted, €/year |
|---|---|---|
| 10,320 | 12,882 | 49,887 |
In 2023, the average municipal tax rate is 7.38 per cent. The public broadcasting tax is 2.5 per cent for an annual income that exceeds 14,000 euros (but 163 euros at most). The health insurance contribution payable on pension and benefit income is 1.57 per cent.
The net pension of a person who is paid a pension only from Kela will rise in 2023 by 6.3 per cent compared to 2022 because of increases in the national and guarantee pension indexes. The net pension in higher income brackets rose by 5.3–8.5 per cent.
The number of pensioners is highest in income brackets with low or zero tax rates. One third of pensioners have a monthly pension of less than 1,250 euros and therefore pay less than eight per cent in tax. Around 15 per cent have a pension of over 2,500 euros, which attracts a tax rate of over 23 per cent. 3.1 per cent of pensioners have a pension of over 4,000 euros, on which they pay more than 30 per cent in tax.
Taxes and contributions on wage and pension
In the figure below, the tax and contribution burdens of wage earners and pension recipients in 2023 are compared at different income levels (monthly income is the annual income divided by 12). The total contribution rate of a wage earner is different for wage earners of different ages since the contributions change based on age. A person aged 68 or more no longer pays contributions for wage-earners.
With a monthly income of 1,500–2,400 euros, the contribution burden of a pension recipient is a couple of percentage points higher than the wage-earner’s (whose contribution burden also includes the unemployment contribution and a higher earnings-related pension contribution). With monthly earnings of 2,500 euros or more, the contribution burden is slightly lower than that of wage-earners.
Both pension and wage
Pensioners’ wage income is taxed on the same basis as any other wage income. The tax and contribution rate for a combination of pension and wage income is generally lower than for the same amount of income consisting of only a pension or a wage.
There are no restrictions on working while drawing an old-age pension; for pensioners on a disability pension, working is restricted by certain earnings limits. It is also possible for a person to receive pension income and wage income simultaneously if they continue working while withdrawing a partial old-age pension. The progressive tax scale eases the decline in total income if the income from work is reduced. Correspondingly, taxes will rise if a partial old-age pension is taken early on top of existing earnings.
The tables below show the tax and contribution rates calculated for various combinations of pensions and wages.
Table shows the tax and contribution rates for pensioners who in addition have a wage income. It also shows how large a share of the income from employment is lost to taxes and contributions.
For example, the tax rate for a monthly pension of 1,500 euros is 13.4 per cent. If the pensioner additionally earns 6,000 euros a year in wages, the tax and contribution rate for this additional income is 26.7 per cent. The tax and contribution rate for total income is 16.7 per cent.
The taxes and contributions are calculated for pensioners aged 63 who have a reduced earnings related pension contribution (7.15%) and who also pay an unemployment insurance contribution and health insurance daily allowance contribution.
In the table the accrued amount of monthly pension is 1,500, 2,000 or 3,000 euros, and early payment of the pension is taken at a 50 per cent rate. The earliest full retirement age for the 1961 birth cohort is 64 years and 9 months, and the pension is taken out 45 months early, bringing the total reduction for early retirement to 18 per cent. The partial old-age pension is also multiplied by the life expectancy coefficient confirmed for the first year of the pension.
The tabel describes different scenarios in which the individual does not work while on a partial old-age pension; does 50 per cent reduced working hours; or continues to work at the same wage level as before. As the partial old-age pension in the example starts at age 61, the individual will pay an increased earnings-related pension contribution at 8.65 per cent of wages.