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Active Pension Calculator 2026

Since 1 January 2026, up to €2,000 of monthly wage stays income-tax-free if you keep working past the statutory retirement age. Calculate your net benefit and tax savings.

100% Free
No Data Stored
Legal status 2026
1

Your Situation

2

Income in Retirement Age

€
hrs
€
3

Health & Long-Term Care Insurance

%

You benefit from the Active Pension!

You have reached the statutory retirement age and keep working as an employee. Up to €2,000 of wage per month remains income-tax-free for you.

Your statutory retirement age: 66 years and 2 months — reached in August 2025

Your Active Pension Benefit

+€348.50

per month

€4,182.00 per year

This is how much income tax you save thanks to the tax-free wage.

€1,500.00 of your wage stays tax-free.

Net wage: with and without Active Pension

Without Active Pension (old law)€993.25
With Active Pension 2026€1,341.75
Difference+€348.50

Breakdown of your gross wage

Effective net hourly wage

Net per hour (with Active Pension)€15.48
Extra per hour+€4.02

Detailed overview (per month)

Gross wage€1,500.00
Health + care insurance€158.25
Income tax without Active Pension€348.50
Income tax with Active Pension€0.00
Net without Active Pension€993.25
Net with Active Pension€1,341.75

Assumptions of this calculation

  • The pension itself remains normally taxable; a taxable share of 83.5% is applied.
  • After the statutory retirement age, employee contributions to pension and unemployment insurance no longer apply; health and care insurance still apply.
  • Tax is estimated using the basic tariff (§ 32a EStG 2026), including the employee lump-sum allowance. No solidarity surcharge, church tax or other income considered.
  • This is a realistic orientation, not an official tax calculation.

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Guide: Active Pension & Working Past Retirement

Everything about tax-free work from the statutory retirement age.

Active Pension 2026: How the €2,000 Tax Bonus Works
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Active Pension 2026: How the €2,000 Tax Bonus Works

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Active Pension: Who Really Benefits from the Tax Bonus?

Not every pensioner saves the same. We show who benefits most from the Active Pension — and who is left out.

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Social Contributions in the Active Pension: What Pensioners Really Pay

Social Contributions in the Active Pension: What Pensioners Really Pay

Tax-free does not mean contribution-free. Which health and care insurance contributions remain and which are dropped — clearly explained.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Active Pension (Aktivrente) is a tax incentive to keep working past the statutory retirement age. Since 1 January 2026, wages of up to €2,000 per month (€24,000 per year) remain income-tax-free if you work as an employee alongside your pension. The legal basis is the Active Pension Act (§ 3 Nr. 21 EStG).

Only dependent employees who have reached the statutory retirement age are entitled. Self-employed persons, freelancers and business owners are explicitly excluded. The statutory retirement age is 67 for those born in 1964 or later, and slightly lower for older cohorts.

Up to €2,000 gross wage per month stays tax-free, i.e. a maximum of €24,000 per year. If you earn more, only the excess is taxed normally. A wage of €1,800 is therefore fully income-tax-free; at €2,500, €2,000 stays free and €500 is taxed.

Yes, but less than before. After the statutory retirement age, your employee contributions to pension and unemployment insurance no longer apply. Contributions to health and care insurance are still due on the wage, however. The tax exemption only concerns income tax, not social insurance.

Your statutory pension remains unchanged and is taxed normally according to your individual taxable share. The Active Pension only concerns the wage, not the pension itself. Through continued work you can even earn additional pension points if you voluntarily keep paying into the pension insurance.

The tax benefit is greatest if you would otherwise have a high marginal tax rate — for example because you receive a good pension plus wage. With a very low total income below the basic allowance, hardly any tax is due anyway, so the benefit is smaller. Our calculator shows the concrete savings for your situation.

A mini-job (up to €556/month) is already taxed at a flat rate or tax-free. The Active Pension is worthwhile above all if you want to earn more than a mini-job, because it makes significantly higher wages tax-free. Those working only a few hours are often simpler off with a classic mini-job; those earning more benefit more from the Active Pension.

No. The calculator provides a realistic orientation based on simplified assumptions (basic tariff, 83.5% taxable share, no church tax). Your individual tax burden depends on further factors such as joint assessment, other income or special expenses. For a binding calculation, consult a wage tax assistance association or tax advisor.