Questions and answers

How much should a self-employed person pay into a pension?

Check your own obligation before copying a friend’s contribution.

Published: 12 November 2026

The short answer

The calculation is personal

The obligation depends on statutory conditions, relevant income and contributions already made. Age, the start of business activity and concurrent employment can affect the review.

Conceptual illustration: How much should a self-employed person pay into a pension? — Fictional conceptual illustration; not a real client or government office

What should you bring?

A profit estimate and contribution statements, including employer contributions. Check any mandatory top-up separately from possible tax relief. This is neither a recommendation of a particular fund nor one contribution amount for everyone.

Keep exploring

Before year-end: put your pension and study fund in order A study fund for the self-employed: what should you check first?Does a study-fund deposit replace pension contributions?You transferred money to a fund. What else should you keep?

Sources and further information

General information, not a substitute for individual advice. Earlier-year sources explain principles only; their annual amounts and deadlines have not been carried forward.