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Professional Irish Financial Analysis • 2026
Generated On
22 July 2026
Note: This report is an estimate based on current Irish Revenue tax bands and provided inputs. For official tax advice, please consult a qualified professional or visit Revenue.ie.
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Estimate your AE pension pot, contributions, and growth projections.
Estimate your Irish Auto-Enrolment pension contributions, employer match, State top-up, and projected retirement pot with phase-in rates from 2026 to 2034+.
Enter your salary and select your AE phase to calculate employee/employer/State contributions on eligible earnings (€20k–€80k). Compare opted-in vs opted-out scenarios, add AVCs, and see the long-term impact on your retirement pot.
The calculator models all four AE phases, shows whether your existing pension scheme affects eligibility, and illustrates the true cost of opting out with waterfall charts and growth projections over your chosen time horizon.
Projected Pot
€48,833
at retirement
Your Net Cost
€240/yr
After 1.5% contribution with tax relief
Projected Income (4%)
€1,953/yr
Sustainable withdrawal rate
Current Phase Contribution Breakdown
Employee
€300/yr
1.5% rate
Employer
€300/yr
Match at 1.5%
State Top-Up
€100/yr
€1 per €3 saved
Total
€700/yr
Short answers to common questions. Figures are estimates and depend on scheme parameters.
Eligibility depends on published scheme parameters. A common simplified summary is: age 23–60, earnings over €20,000, and not already in an occupational pension scheme.
This page assumes eligible earnings are the portion of salary between €20,000 and €80,000, subject to scheme rules and caps.
Not exactly. Auto-Enrolment uses a top-up structure (often described as €1 for every €3 you contribute), which is broadly similar to 25% income tax relief on the employee contribution.
Opt-out means choosing not to participate in AE. In the first 6 months you can get a full refund of contributions. After 6 months, contributions are preserved in your pension account until retirement age.
AE contribution rates phase in over four stages: 1.5% from 2026, 3% from 2028, 4.5% from 2031, and 6% from 2034 onwards. Both employee and employer rates increase together.
No. AE is designed for employees only. Self-employed individuals are not covered and should consider a PRSA or other personal pension arrangement.
Your AE contribution reduces take-home pay by the employee rate (1.5%–6% of eligible earnings between €20k–€80k). This is partially offset by tax relief at your marginal rate (20% or 40%). Use the Your Net Cost card on this page to see your after-relief cost.
Opting out means losing employer match and state top-up — worth thousands per year in free money. Only consider opting out if you have a better pension arrangement(e.g. an occupational pension) or genuine short-term hardship. Toggle the Opted Outswitch on this calculator to see the direct impact.
AE provides a guaranteed state top-up (~25% relief) regardless of your tax rate, plus employer matching. A PRSA offers tax relief at your marginal rate(20% or 40%) and more fund choices, but typically no employer contribution. Higher-rate taxpayers may find PRSA more tax-efficient. You can use both — AE plus an AVC or PRSA on top.
Your employer matches your contribution at the same rate: 1.5% from 2026, rising to 3%, 4.5%, and finally 6% from 2034 onwards, calculated on eligible earnings (€20k–€80k). This is one of the most valuable parts of AE — it is free money added to your pension.
AE pension access age matches the State Pension age (currently 66, rising to 67 and potentially 68). Early access is generally not permitted, except for opt-out refunds within the first 6 months. After that, your contributions are locked in until retirement.
Your AE pension pot moves with you. Contributions stop at your old employer and restart at your new one (if they also participate in AE). You can consolidate multiple pots over time. Unlike some occupational pensions, AE is designed to be portableacross jobs.