3rd pillar in the canton of Vaud

Pillar 3a in the canton of Vaud

As everywhere in Switzerland, pillar 3a is deductible from taxable income in the canton of Vaud, up to CHF 7,258 for an employee with a pension fund in 2026 (up to CHF 36,288 for a self-employed person with no 2nd pillar). Every franc paid in reduces your cantonal, municipal and federal taxable income. The capital is exempt from wealth tax for the life of the contract.

No 3b deduction in the canton of Vaud

This is the main difference with Geneva: the canton of Vaud does not allow a 3b deduction. Only Geneva and Fribourg do. In the canton of Vaud, the 3b remains useful for flexibility and transfer, but offers no annual tax advantage. The Vaud tax priority is therefore clearly the 3a.

How much can you save?

The saving depends on your income, your municipality (the Vaud municipal coefficient varies from place to place) and your family situation. Paying at the 3a ceiling, the annual tax saving often runs into hundreds to over a thousand francs. Our simulator calculates your exact amount for your Vaud municipality.

Withdrawing the 3a in the canton of Vaud

3a capital can be withdrawn at the earliest 5 years before retirement age, or early in the cases provided (main home, leaving Switzerland, becoming self-employed, disability). On withdrawal, the canton of Vaud applies its own scale for capital benefits, separate from your other income and at a reduced rate. General rules on our page on withdrawing the 3rd pillar.

Cross-border workers employed in the canton of Vaud

Cross-border workers employed in the canton of Vaud can take out a 3a, but the tax advantage depends on their taxation method and quasi-resident status, as in Geneva. The logic is close to that described on our quasi-resident page; the precise terms fall under the canton of Vaud.