At what age can you withdraw your 3rd pillar?
The withdrawal age for pillar 3a is strictly regulated by Swiss law. As a general rule, the capital is accessible at the earliest 5 years before the AHV reference age, but exceptions exist. Here is everything you need to know to plan the optimal timing of your withdrawal in 2026.
The ordinary withdrawal age: 60 to 65
Pillar 3a is a tied pension whose primary purpose is to supplement your retirement. The AHV reference age is set at 65 years since the AHV 21 reform. Ordinary withdrawal of the 3rd pillar is possible within the following window:
- At the earliest: 60 years (5 years before the reference age)
- At the latest: 65 years if you cease gainful employment, or 70 years if you continue working
Important: You are not required to retire in order to withdraw your 3rd pillar at age 60. Simply reaching the minimum age is sufficient as a withdrawal reason.
Transitional measures for women (AHV 21)
The AHV 21 reform progressively raised the reference age for women from 64 to 65. In 2026, the transitional measures apply as follows:
| Year of birth | Reference age | Withdrawal possible from |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 and before | 64 years | 59 years |
| 1961 | 64 years 3 months | 59 years 3 months |
| 1962 | 64 years 6 months | 59 years 6 months |
| 1963 | 64 years 9 months | 59 years 9 months |
| 1964 and after | 65 years | 60 years |
Early withdrawal before age 60
Even though the ordinary minimum age is 60, the law provides situations in which withdrawal is possible at any age:
- Property purchase: To finance the acquisition of your primary residence, you can withdraw your 3rd pillar regardless of your age. See our guide on using the 3rd pillar for real estate.
- Permanent departure from Switzerland: If you permanently leave the country, no age condition applies.
- Self-employment: Transition to self-employed status allows a withdrawal within one year, without age condition.
- Total disability: In the event of a full DI pension, withdrawal is possible immediately.
For details on each condition, see our page on 3rd pillar withdrawal conditions.
Deferring withdrawal after age 65: the advantages
If you continue gainful employment after age 65, you can postpone your pillar 3a withdrawal up to 70 years. This option offers several advantages:
- Additional contributions: You can continue to contribute up to CHF 7,258 per year (2026 amount for employees with 2nd pillar) and deduct these contributions from your taxable income.
- Additional returns: Your capital continues to earn interest or returns for 5 additional years.
- Staggering: This gives you more time to stagger your withdrawals and optimize taxation.
Tip: If you have multiple 3a accounts, you can start withdrawing some from age 60 while continuing to fund others until age 70. This is the optimal strategy for maximizing tax savings.
Optimal strategy by age
You are between 50 and 55
There is still time to open additional 3a accounts to prepare for staggering. Aim for 3 to 5 accounts in total to optimize your future withdrawals.
You are between 55 and 60
Start planning the order of your withdrawals. Use our withdrawal tax calculator to simulate different scenarios and determine the best calendar.
You are 60 or older
You can already begin your withdrawals. If you have multiple accounts, withdraw one per year to benefit from tax progressivity. Coordinate your withdrawals with those from the 2nd pillar to avoid fiscal accumulation.
Calculate the tax on your withdrawal
The withdrawal tax depends on your canton of residence and the amount withdrawn. For a precise estimate, use our 3rd pillar withdrawal tax calculator. You can also see our page on withdrawal taxation by canton.
Detailed transitional measures for women born between 1961 and 1969 (AHV 21 reform)
The AHV 21 reform, which came into effect on January 1, 2024, harmonized the reference age at 65 for men and women. However, women of the transitional generation (born between 1961 and 1969) benefit from specific compensations to mitigate the impact of this increase.
AHV pension supplement
Women born between 1961 and 1969 who retire at or after the reference age receive a lifelong AHV pension supplement. This supplement varies between CHF 12.50 and CHF 160 per month depending on the year of birth and the number of contribution years. This supplement is not subject to the couple's pension cap and is not taken into account for supplementary benefits.
Favorable early retirement conditions
Women of the transitional generation who choose to take early retirement benefit from a lower reduction rate on their AHV pension. While the standard reduction rate is 6.8% per year of anticipation, women of the transitional generation receive a reduced rate, making early retirement less financially penalizing.
Impact on 3rd pillar withdrawal
For pillar 3a, the women concerned can withdraw their capital at the earliest 5 years before their personal reference age (see the table above). This means women born in 1961 can withdraw from age 59 years and 3 months, while those born in 1964 and after follow the general rule of age 60. It is important to check your exact reference age to properly plan the staggering of your withdrawals.
Concrete examples by year of birth
To help you plan your withdrawal, here are concrete examples based on different birth years.
Example 1: Woman born in 1963
Marie, born March 15, 1963, has a reference age of 64 years and 9 months. She could withdraw her first 3a account at the earliest at 59 years and 9 months, i.e. from December 2022. If she continues working, she can defer her withdrawals until 69 years and 9 months. Marie has 4 pillar 3a accounts and plans to withdraw one per year between ages 60 and 64 to optimize her taxation.
Example 2: Man born in 1965
Pierre, born June 8, 1965, follows the standard rule with a reference age of 65. He can withdraw his 3rd pillar at the earliest at age 60, i.e. from June 2025. Pierre has 3 pillar 3a accounts totaling CHF 180,000. He plans to withdraw one account at age 61, one at 63, and the last at 65. By not withdrawing his 3a in the same year as his 2nd pillar (planned at age 65), he avoids fiscal accumulation and saves approximately CHF 4,000 to CHF 6,000 in taxes depending on his canton.
Example 3: Man born in 1970
Laurent, born January 22, 1970, will be able to withdraw his 3rd pillar from January 2030 (at age 60). If he continues to work after 65, he can defer until age 70 (2040) and continue contributing. Laurent started contributing at 30 and has only one 3a account. He still has time to open 2 to 3 additional accounts to prepare for staggering. By distributing his future contributions across multiple accounts, he can withdraw one account per year between ages 60 and 65.
Example 4: Woman born in 1975, self-employed
Sofia, born in 1975, is self-employed without a pension fund. She contributes the maximum amount of CHF 36,288 per year (2026 ceiling for self-employed without 2nd pillar, i.e. 20% of net income up to the legal maximum). With projected 3a capital of over CHF 500,000 at age 60, staggering is all the more crucial. Sofia plans 5 pillar 3a accounts and will stagger her withdrawals between ages 60 and 65, avoiding accumulation with any vested benefits withdrawal.
Plan your withdrawal now
Regardless of your age or situation, it is never too early to prepare for your 3rd pillar withdrawal. The decisions made today — number of accounts, savings distribution, choice of provider — will have a direct impact on the amount you actually receive at retirement.
Use our withdrawal tax calculator to estimate the tax burden by canton, or our 3rd pillar capital calculator to project your future savings. If you want to open new 3a accounts or compare available offers, our free comparison service lets you receive multiple quotes in just a few clicks, with no obligation.