Age-related contribution limits
Revenue allows tax relief on personal pension contributions up to a percentage of your earnings, set by your age at the start of the tax year. The percentage is applied to net relevant earnings capped at 115,000 euro.
| Age band | Percentage limit | Max relievable contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Under 30 | 15% | 17,250 euro |
| 30 to 39 | 20% | 23,000 euro |
| 40 to 49 | 25% | 28,750 euro |
| 50 to 54 | 30% | 34,500 euro |
| 55 to 59 | 35% | 40,250 euro |
| 60 and over | 40% | 46,000 euro |
The 115,000 euro earnings cap
Tax relief stops at 115,000 euro of relevant earnings. If you earn 200,000 euro and you are 45, your relievable contribution is 25% of 115,000, not 25% of 200,000. The figure is 28,750 euro, not 50,000 euro.
Worked example for a 35 year old
Sinead is 35 and earns 60,000 euro a year. Her relievable contribution percentage is 20%, giving a maximum of 12,000 euro per year. If her marginal tax rate is 40%, every 1,000 euro contributed costs her only 600 euro in take-home pay, because Revenue refunds 400 euro of PAYE.
If she contributes 6% through her occupational scheme (3,600 euro), she still has headroom of 8,400 euro for AVCs or a PRSA in the same year.
AVCs versus PRSAs versus occupational schemes
- Occupational scheme: set up by your employer. Contributions are usually deducted at source and tax relief is given through net pay arrangement, so you pay tax on the lower figure.
- AVCs (Additional Voluntary Contributions): top-ups within an existing occupational scheme. Useful when the employer scheme is below your age-related limit.
- PRSA (Personal Retirement Savings Account): portable, individual product. Available to employees, self-employed people, and contractors. Tax relief at marginal rate, claimed via payroll or directly through Revenue.
USC and PRSI on pension contributions
Note that pension tax relief covers PAYE only. USC and PRSI continue to apply to the gross figure. So a 1,000 euro contribution still attracts roughly 41 euro of USC and 41 euro of PRSI for a Class A1 employee in 2026.
My Future Fund (auto-enrolment)
From 30 September 2026, the new My Future Fund auto-enrolment scheme begins for workers aged 23 to 60 earning over 20,000 euro who are not already in a qualifying scheme. Contributions start at 1.5% from the employee, 1.5% from the employer, and a 0.5% top-up from the State, ramping up over a decade. Auto-enrolment is in addition to your normal age-related limits.
How to use the calculator on this page
Enter your age, gross annual salary, current scheme percentage, and any AVCs already in flight. The tool computes:
- Maximum relievable contribution.
- Headroom remaining for the year.
- Net cost after PAYE relief at your marginal rate.
- Estimated impact on take-home pay per month.
Pair this with our payslip check to confirm the deduction is being applied correctly each pay period.
This calculator is for educational guidance only and is not financial, tax, or pension advice. Speak to a Central Bank authorised financial adviser before making contribution decisions.