The Riester pension is a government-subsidized retirement plan. In addition to state subsidies, your contributions can be claimed as special expenses in your tax return – up to €2,100 per year.
-
Max. €2,100 per year deductible as special expenses.
-
You can enter your Riester contributions in the app under “Expenses” → “(Retirement) Pension / Life Insurance”.
-
The tax benefit is compared to the state subsidy (favorable assessment).
-
The contributions are not directly listed in the tax return – they are reported electronically by the provider.
-
If you received a refund (e.g. after cancelling your plan), you must declare it in the app.
🚀 Your Guide
When do Riester contributions affect my taxes?
Whether your Riester contributions are recognized as special expenses depends on whether the tax benefit exceeds the state subsidy. The tax office checks this automatically (known as the favorable assessment):
-
Tax benefit higher than subsidies → You receive the special expense deduction.
-
Subsidies higher than tax benefit → The subsidy remains unchanged.
You can deduct up to €2,100 per year. Any state subsidies you receive are subtracted from your tax benefit.
🔍 Example of the Favorable Assessment
Anna pays €2,100 into her Riester plan in a year.
She receives a €175 subsidy from the government.
The tax office checks whether a special expense deduction would be better.
Calculation:
Tax savings from deducting €2,100 = €250
Minus subsidy: €250 – €175 = €75 additional refund
Result: Anna receives an additional €75 tax refund on top of her subsidy.
How do I enter my Riester pension in the app?
You’ll find the option in the app under:
“Expenses” → “(Retirement) Pension / Life Insurance”
The app will then ask for:
-
Your previous year's income (e.g. gross salary, parental leave benefits, unemployment benefits, or civil service pay)
-
Child subsidy: Which parent receives it? Typically, the parent who receives child benefit. If both have a Riester plan, the claim can be transferred – check with your provider.
What happens if my Riester plan was cancelled?
If you canceled your Riester pension and received a refund, you must report it in the app. The app will guide you through this as part of the pension-related questions. Keep the letter from your provider handy.
Why don’t I see the contributions in the tax return?
Since 2019, Riester contributions have been reported electronically to the tax office – provided you gave your consent. Therefore, they do not appear directly in the tax form anymore.
However, you’ll find a reference to your contract under “Anlage AV” in the PDF preview of your tax return in the app.
💡 You can read more in our article on submission confirmations.
Entering the data in the app is still important: It ensures your taxes are calculated correctly and determines whether you benefit from the special expense deduction.
🚀 Fill out the simple question-answer flow - we'll take care of the rest!
Still have questions?
We're here to help! Contact our support team: support@taxfix.de