Yes, if you file your taxes in Estonia, you can open a pension account and contribute to third pillar. You can open the pension account on Tuleva website or in your internet bank – just click on the blue Apply button above.

You can claim tax benefit on third pillar contributions in two ways:

• When you transfer money to third pillar, the amounts contributed are automatically recorded in your tax return. Once you file your tax return, the government will pay back the income tax on those contributions. You have to make sure, that your contributions won’t exceed 15% of your annual gross income or 6000 euros (whichever is smaller).
• If you ask your employer to deduct your third pillar contribution directly from your salary, then the employer will not deduct income tax on this contribution. The same maximum limit on 15% of total income or 6000 euros applies.

As contributions to the third pillar are not automatically deducted from your wages or social tax as in the second pillar, you make these contributions yourself, and they will be credited to the fund as soon as you have made the payment (or set up a standing order). To make a contribution log in here.

You can save any amount in the third pillar, there is no minimum. Here are some important things to keep in mind:

1. The optimal and maximum amount you should save in the third pillar is 15% of your annual gross income, but not more than 6,000 euros. This gives the biggest tax gain. Our calculator will help you make the calculation, and you can find more detailed explanations from investor Kristi Saare here.

The state is giving a great tax incentive to savers in the third pillar – next spring, you will get a tax refund on the amount contributed this year. Before looking for other investments, it is definitely worth making the most of the tax benefits of the third pillar every year. However, there is no point in investing more money in the third pillar than the tax-free limit. Read more about how the tax incentive for pension pillars will benefit you.

2. Don’t worry if you can’t save 15% of your gross income. For the beginning, set aside an amount that does not require you to sacrifice too much today. Start with as little as 25 euros a month and see if you can increase that amount next year.

3. The third pillar is an excellent tool for saving with a longer time horizon. As with any investments, don’t invest the money you need in the near future.

Unfortunately not. If you do not declare your income in Estonia now, then it’s not the best idea to invest through the third pillar. The problem is that you will not get a tax refund on your contributions, but when you withdraw the money, the state still withholds income tax on the entire amount, as if you had initially received a tax refund.

We invest passively and keep costs very low. In this way, we achieve a fund performance that goes hand in hand with world markets. Therefore, we can ensure that Tuleva pension funds’ performance will never lag far behind the average of the world securities markets.

Yes, you can. You can find instructions here.

But keep in mind that income tax is calculated for the pension account holder.

You can withdraw your funds from the 3rd pillar whenever you like. The withdrawals are taxed as follows:

• before you turn 60 years old: 22%
• after your turn 60 years old: 10%
• when you are over 60 and draw money down as pension payments: 0%

More detailed info.