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Pension Calculator

See what your pension could grow to by retirement, with tax relief on a workplace or personal pension, or with auto-enrolment (My Future Fund).

€
€
%

Share of your pay

%
More options· 5% growth, 3% pay rises
%

A year, after fees

%

A year

%

A year

At 66 you could have

€797,734

You putting in 5% and your employer 5%

In today’s money
€327,944
Tax-free lump sum
€199,434
Where it comes from
  • What you have now€10,000
  • You put in€158,190
  • Your employer adds€158,190
  • Investment growth€471,354

What this means

About 59% of it is investment growth, not money you put in. The earlier you start, the longer each contribution has to grow.

Your employer adds €158,190 over the years: extra pay you only get by saving yourself.

Prices will rise, so €797,734 in 36 years buys about what €327,944 buys today.

Year by year

AgeYouEmployerBalance
35€2,814€2,814€42,679
40€3,262€3,262€89,152
45€3,781€3,781€153,988
50€4,384€4,384€243,141
55€5,082€5,082€364,348
60€5,891€5,891€527,649
65€6,830€6,830€746,043
66€7,035€7,035€797,734

This year (2026)

You put in€2,500
Tax relief on it€1,000
Your employer adds€2,500

Tax relief is at 20% or 40%, on up to a share of your pay that rises with age: 15% under 30, up to 40% from 60.

Assumptions in this estimate
  • Tax relief is on contributions up to an age-related share of pay up to €115,000. USC and PRSI are still charged on them.
  • Growth is after fees. Your pay rises by 3% a year, and “in today’s money” takes off 2.5% inflation a year.
  • You can usually take 25% of your pension as a lump sum: the first €200,000 is tax-free over your lifetime.
  • The State Pension (Contributory) starts at 66 and isn’t included here.
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How the calculator works

  1. Workplace or personal pension: a share of your pay from you and your employer, with income tax relief on your part.
  2. Auto-enrolment: you, your employer and the State each pay in, at rates that rise every 3 years.
  3. Growth: your pot grows at the rate you choose, after fees, and your pay rises each year.

Auto-enrolment rates

Years You Employer The State
2026 – 2028 1.5% 1.5% 0.5%
2029 – 2031 3% 3% 1%
2032 – 2034 4.5% 4.5% 1.5%
From 2035 6% 6% 2%

Examples

Starting at 30 on €50,000 with €10,000 saved, 5% growth after fees and 3% pay rises, retiring at 66:

Pension At 66 In today’s money
Workplace: 5% from you, 5% employer €798,000 €328,000
Auto-enrolment €818,000 €336,000

Last updated

Frequently asked questions

How does auto-enrolment work?

Since 1 January 2026, employees aged 23 to 60 who earn at least €20,000 and aren’t in a workplace pension are enrolled in My Future Fund. You, your employer and the State pay in 1.5%, 1.5% and 0.5% of your pay (up to €80,000) at first, rising every 3 years to 6%, 6% and 2% from 2035.

How much tax relief do I get on pension contributions?

Relief at your highest rate of income tax, 20% or 40%, on contributions up to a share of your pay that rises with age: 15% under 30, up to 40% from 60, on pay up to €115,000.

How much can I take tax-free when I retire?

Usually 25% of your pension as a lump sum. The first €200,000 is tax-free over your lifetime, and the next €300,000 is taxed at 20%.

Is auto-enrolment or a workplace pension better?

It depends on what your employer pays in. A workplace pension gets tax relief on your contributions. Auto-enrolment gets a State top-up instead. If you’re in a workplace pension, you aren’t enrolled automatically.