In your tax return, the start date of your pension plays an important role. It determines how much of your pension is subject to tax.
📌 Quick & Easy
- The pension start date is key for tax purposes.
- The approval date, not the first payment, is what matters.
- You can find your pension start date on the pension statement.
- You can request this statement from the German Pension Insurance.
🚀 Your Guide
- Why is the pension start date important?
- What counts as the official start date?
- Where can I find the start date?
- How do I request the pension statement?
Why is the pension start date important?
The pension start date determines how much of your pension is taxable. The earlier the start date, the higher your tax-free portion – and this amount remains fixed for life.
What counts as the official start date?
The approval date of your pension is what counts – that is, the date from which your pension was officially granted. The actual payment date does not matter for tax purposes.
Where can I find the start date?
You’ll find your pension start date on the pension statement (Rentenbezugsmitteilung) This document includes all the important details for your tax return, including:
- Total pension payments
- Taxable and tax-free amounts
-
Start date of the pension
How do I request the pension statement?
If you haven't received the statement automatically, you can request it online from the German Pension Insurance.
👉 Request it online here: Request pension statement
🚀 Fill out the simple question-answer flow - we'll take care of the rest!
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