Free Additional Pension Employee
Does your employer offer only a limited group pension — or none at all? Since March 1, 2019, employees have been able to take matters into their own hands with a Free Additional Pension for Employees (VAPW). It’s a simple way to boost your retirement savings with attractive tax benefits.
As an employee, you can ask your employer to withhold part of your net salary and pay it directly into a VAPW contract. You choose the pension institution where your contract is managed, not your employer.
Key features at a glance
| VAPW | |
|---|---|
Maximum annual premium (2025) | 3% of your gross salary from two years ago (max €1,970) |
Premium tax | 4.40% |
Tax reduction on contributions* | 30% |
Social contributions at payout | 3.55% + solidarity contribution (0–2%) |
Final tax at payout | 10% |
Net fiscal return | ~10% |
*Plus local surcharges.
💡 The maximum amount you can save is calculated automatically by the government and available at mypension.be.
Example (2025)
- Max annual premium: €1,970
- Net amount saved: €1,827
- Tax reduction: €632
- Real benefit: €192 (10%)
Investment choices
Unlike a group pension, the VAPW does not come with an employer guarantee. You choose your own investment mix:
- Tak 21 (guaranteed return, low risk)
- Tak 23 (fund investments, higher potential return)
- Or a combination of both
Why consider a VAPW?
- Take control if your employer doesn’t provide a strong pension plan
- Benefit from annual tax reductions
- Choose your own savings strategy, tailored to your goals and risk appetite
- A flexible, accessible way to strengthen your retirement
Requesting a quote?
We will provide you with a tailor-made quote, with absolutely no strings attached!