Occupational pension schemes in Germany
Changes in the German landscape of old-age plans, cta model
©2007
Masterarbeit
86 Seiten
Zusammenfassung
Inhaltsangabe:Abstract:
Based on national legislation and past business practices in Germany, this master thesis / management report illustrates a specific German issue of occupational pension schemes by comparing the example of the Cologne-based German subsidiary of INFICON, the company with which I am employed, against INFICONs other subsidiaries in Liechtenstein and in the US.
In the past, it was customary for both national and international companies to provide different kinds of occupational pension schemes for employees as an additional incentive. Unlike US and Swiss companies, German corporations retained the money collected from occupational pension schemes in their companies in order to benefit from these low-cost internal funds instead of investing them in external funds.
Rating aspects, the increasing internationalisation of the capital markets and Basel II are forcing INFICON GmbH to reduce its balance sheet by outsourcing pension reserves. Anglo-Saxon dominated rating agencies, in particular, are still extremely critical about pension reserves and treat them as "real" debt capital. In addition, the EU Regulation 1606/2002 stipulates that as of 2005 all capital market-orientated corporations with registered offices in EU Member States will have to draw up their group statements in accordance with International Accounting Standards.
Furthermore, these long-term contracts (occupational pension schemes based on book reserves, Direktzusage) are increasingly imposing a burden on German companies as human life expectancy has constantly been rising, and business growth rates have been decreasing. Moreover, companies were forced to change their policy because of the pressure resulting from the globalisation of fiscal laws for multinational corporations.
Approach: It is the objective of this master thesis / management report to identify INFICONs business issues with regard to its pension book reserves in view of the common German business practices of the past and their changes in light of the internationalisation of the capital markets and of current legal requirements in Germany and the EU and to draw up appropriate recommendations.
By explaining INFICONs diverse approaches in its subsidiaries in the USA, Liechtenstein and Germany, the unequal treatment of national occupational pension schemes in Germany and in other countries will be demonstrated. For that reason the national retirement systems in Switzerland (which is very similar […]
Based on national legislation and past business practices in Germany, this master thesis / management report illustrates a specific German issue of occupational pension schemes by comparing the example of the Cologne-based German subsidiary of INFICON, the company with which I am employed, against INFICONs other subsidiaries in Liechtenstein and in the US.
In the past, it was customary for both national and international companies to provide different kinds of occupational pension schemes for employees as an additional incentive. Unlike US and Swiss companies, German corporations retained the money collected from occupational pension schemes in their companies in order to benefit from these low-cost internal funds instead of investing them in external funds.
Rating aspects, the increasing internationalisation of the capital markets and Basel II are forcing INFICON GmbH to reduce its balance sheet by outsourcing pension reserves. Anglo-Saxon dominated rating agencies, in particular, are still extremely critical about pension reserves and treat them as "real" debt capital. In addition, the EU Regulation 1606/2002 stipulates that as of 2005 all capital market-orientated corporations with registered offices in EU Member States will have to draw up their group statements in accordance with International Accounting Standards.
Furthermore, these long-term contracts (occupational pension schemes based on book reserves, Direktzusage) are increasingly imposing a burden on German companies as human life expectancy has constantly been rising, and business growth rates have been decreasing. Moreover, companies were forced to change their policy because of the pressure resulting from the globalisation of fiscal laws for multinational corporations.
Approach: It is the objective of this master thesis / management report to identify INFICONs business issues with regard to its pension book reserves in view of the common German business practices of the past and their changes in light of the internationalisation of the capital markets and of current legal requirements in Germany and the EU and to draw up appropriate recommendations.
By explaining INFICONs diverse approaches in its subsidiaries in the USA, Liechtenstein and Germany, the unequal treatment of national occupational pension schemes in Germany and in other countries will be demonstrated. For that reason the national retirement systems in Switzerland (which is very similar […]
Leseprobe
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Peter Schulz
Occupational pension schemes in Germany
Changes in the German landscape of old-age plans, cta model
ISBN: 978-3-8366-0523-6
Druck Diplomica® Verlag GmbH, Hamburg, 2007
Zugl. University of East London, London, Großbritannien, MA-Thesis / Master, 2007
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i
Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I
LIST OF FIGURES
III
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS V
1
INTRODUCTION 1
1.1
Rationale
1
1.2
Approach
2
2
NATIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL RETIREMENT SYSTEMS
4
2.1
National Retirement Systems based on the Example of Switzerland, USA and Germany
4
2.1.1
Switzerland
6
2.1.2
USA
8
2.1.3
Germany
11
2.2
The Treatment of Occupational Pension Schemes in Germany: Five Investment Vehicles 13
2.2.1
Direct Pension Promise/Book Reserve (Direktzusage)
15
2.2.2
Benefit/Support Fund (Unterstützungskasse)
17
2.2.3
Direct Insurance (Direktversicherung)
18
2.2.4
Staff Pension Insurance (Pensionskasse)
19
2.2.5
Pension Fund (Pensionsfond)
20
2.3
The Impact of Pension Liabilities on the Financial Statement of a Company
21
2.3.1
FAS 87 vs. IAS 19 vs. HGB
22
2.3.2
Basel II
27
3
SUMMARY: NATIONAL/OCCUPATIONAL RETIREMENT SYSTEMS
29
4
INFICON AND ITS PENSION SYSTEMS
34
4.1
Introducing INFICON
34
4.2
INFICON GmbH's Business Issues
36
4.3
Impact On Financial Performance/Balance Sheet
37
4.4
Occupational Pension Schemes for INFICON's German Subsidary:
Overview of the Advantages and Disadvantages
43
4.4.1
Direct Pension Promise / Book Reserve (Direktzusage)
44
4.4.2
Benefit/Support Fund (Unterstützungskasse)
45
4.4.3
Direct Insurance (Direktversicherung)
46
4.4.4
Staff Pension Insurance (Pensionskasse)
47
4.4.5
Pension Fund (Pensionsfond)
48
ii
4.5
Occupational Pension Schemes and the Impact on INFICON/Matrix
49
5
ASSUMPTION/MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION
50
5.1
Outsourcing of Pension Liabilities
52
5.1.1
Compensation of Pension Obligations
52
5.1.2
Transfer to a Staff Pension Insurance or to a Direct Insurance
53
5.1.3
Transfer to a Pension Fund
53
5.1.4
Transfer to a Contractual Trust Arrangement (CTA)
54
5.2
Assumption
56
6
ANNEX
58
6.1
Introduction - Survey: best practice in German companies
58
6.2
Realisation - Survey: best practice in German companies
59
6.3
Outcome - Survey: best practice in German companies
64
6.4
Summary - Survey: best practice in German companies
72
BIBLIOGRAPHY
73
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
77
iii
List of Figures
Figure 2-1: The three pillar system
5
Figure 2-2: Comparing DB and DC Plans
9
Figure 2-3: Fragmentation of the five German investment vehicles, status 2004
14
Figure 4-1: Balance Sheet Impacts, INFICON GmbH, Köln
40
Figure 6-1: Questionnaire Occupational Pension Schemes English
60
Figure 6-2: Questionnaire Occupational Pension Schemes German
61
Figure 6-3 Survey Sample, DAX 30 Companies
62
Figure 6-4 Survey Sample, "Others" Companies
63
Figure 6-5: Number of companies that provide an occupational pension scheme
65
Figure 6-6: Number of companies that outsourced their pension liabilities to an external legal
entity or have dealt with that issue
66
Figure 6-7: Number of companies that do not see the necessity to deal with the issue of
outsourcing
67
Figure 6-8: Expected advantages of outsourcing
68
Figure 6-9: Confirmed benefits of outsourcing
68
Figure 6-10: Preferred financial vehicles for outsourcing
70
Figure 6-11: Expected advantages of outsourcing; companies with a CTA solution
71
Figure 6-12: Confirmed benefits of outsourcing; companies with a CTA solution
71
v
Acknowledgements
First and foremost, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my mentor, Prof. Klaus Wirges,
for giving me an opportunity to pursue my MBA-degree under his supervision as a part-time stu-
dent. His valuable advices helped me to structure this report in an early stage. His prompt re-
sponses helped me to determine and plan my tasks. His guidance, insight and knowledge during
the planning, developing and writing phase of this study added considerably to my research ex-
perience.
I would also like to thank INFICON's CEO Dr Ulrich Doebler who recommended to write my
master thesis on this interesting subject. Dr Doebler took time to discuss and exchange opinions
with me; he made it possible for me to work on this project. He encouraged me to move beyond
the theoretical stage and to formulate a final solution implementing a new procedure for the
company.
I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. Aribert Schneider (INFICON's Head of Finance and
Controlling) who offered insight into significant financial figures and provided important sources
of literature.
I would also like to express my sincere thanks to my family, who stood behind me, for their con-
sistent support and patience.
Finally, I would like to give special thanks to those who I have not mentioned here. I am grateful
for all the support and encouragement.
1
1 Introduction
1.1 Rationale
The following subject reveals a real problematic business issue affecting the Cologne-based
German subsidiary of INFICON, hereinafter called INFICON GmbH, the company with which I
am employed. Based on national legislation and past business practices relating to occupational
pension schemes in Germany, this management report illustrates a specific German issue by
comparing it against INFICON's other subsidiaries in Liechtenstein and in the US.
In the past, it was customary for both national and international companies to provide different
kinds of occupational pension schemes for employees as an additional incentive.Unlike US and
Swiss companies, German corporations retained the money collected from occupational pension
schemes in their companies in order to benefit from these low-cost internal funds instead of in-
vesting them in external funds, ABA (2005).
Rating aspects, the increasing internationalisation of the capital markets and Basel II are forcing
INFICON GmbH to reduce its balance sheet by outsourcing pension reserves. According to
Gerke and Pellens (2003), Anglo-Saxon dominated rating agencies, in particular, are still ex-
tremely critical about pension reserves and treat them as "real" debt capital. In addition, the EU
Regulation 1606/2002 stipulates that as of 2005 all capital market-orientated corporations with
registered offices in EU Member States will have to draw up their group statements in accor-
dance with International Accounting Standards, (European Parliament, 2002).
Furthermore, these long-term contracts (occupational pension schemes based on book reserves)
are increasingly imposing a burden on German companies as human life expectancy has con-
stantly been rising, and business growth rates have been decreasing. Moreover, companies were
forced to change their policy because of the pressure resulting from the globalisation of fiscal
laws for multinational corporations, (ADPC, 2006). Applied to INFICON, this would mean that
the company would become less attractive for potential investors.
2
1.2 Approach
It is the objective of this management report to identify INFICON's business issues with regard
to its pension book reserves in view of the common German business practices of the past and
their changes in light of the internationalisation of the capital markets and of current legal re-
quirements in Germany and the EU and to draw up appropriate recommendations.
By explaining INFICON's diverse approaches in its subsidiaries in the USA, Liechtenstein and
Germany, the unequal treatment of national occupational pension schemes in Germany and in
other countries will be demonstrated. For that reason the national retirement systems in Switzer-
land (which is very similar to Liechtenstein's system), the US and Germany will be outlined in
chapter 2. Moreover, the five most common German occupational pension scheme vehicles with
regard to the new German Income Tax Act (EStG; Einkommenssteuergesetz) in force since
January 1, 2005 as well as the financial impact of the pension liabilities concerning international
accounting standards (e.g. US-GAAP and IAS) in comparison to the German Commercial Law
HGB (Handelsgesetzbuch) will also be presented. Further effects on financial borrowings (Basel
II) will be discussed. The idea is to point out prevalent national approaches and concepts regard-
ing retirement systems in Germany, Liechtenstein and the USA and to show how these relate to
the issue of occupational pension schemes of INFICON GmbH in order to reveal the differences
and to endorse suitable recommendations that can be applied internationally. A detailed discus-
sion of impact on the German tax regulation has been missed out deliberately. Further actuarial
evaluations and assumptions of pension benefits will not be discussed.
In chapter 3 the main factors of the bibliography research presented in chapter 2 will briefly be
summarized.
The problematic business issues (occupational pension schemes based on book reserves) of
INFICON GmbH will be evaluated and its impact on the financial performance will be demon-
strated in chapter 4. Moreover, alternative vehicles for occupational pension schemes for Ger-
man companies will be analysed in more detail by highlighting the benefits and downsides and
comparing them in a matrix.
3
A management recommendation will be given in chapter 5, which will be based on different
means of outsourcing pension liabilities. Furthermore, the possibilities of concluding a contrac-
tual trust arrangement (CTA) will be discussed in depth. The realisation process of outsourcing
pension liabilities under German legislation e.g. the German Income Tax Act (EStG), the Com-
mercial Law (HGB) or the Works Council Constitution Act (BetrVG; Betriebsverfassungsgesetz)
will not be subject of this management report.
4
2 National and Occupational Retirement Systems
This chapter is aimed at pointing out prevalent national approaches and concepts regarding the
retirement systems in Germany, Liechtenstein (similar to Switzerland) and the USA and to out-
line how these relate to the issue of occupational pension schemes of INFICON GmbH in order
to reveal the differences and to develop ideas for solving the problem. Therefore, the major em-
phasis is on national retirement systems in Switzerland, the US and Germany and on the five tra-
ditional occupational pension vehicles in Germany with regard to the new German Income Tax
Act (EStG; Einkommenssteuergesetz) and on the financial impact of pension liabilities with re-
gard to international accounting standards, like US-GAAP and IAS; in comparison to the Ger-
man Commercial Law HGB (Handelsgesetzbuch). Other effects on financial borrowings (Basel
II) will also be discussed.
In order to understand the different approaches to the occupational pension systems in Switzer-
land, the US and Germany, it is at first necessary to explain the history and background of the
individual national retirement systems and to illustrate their significance.
2.1 National Retirement Systems based on the Example of Switzerland, USA and
Germany
Spencer (2005) describes the term "three pillar system" as a concept of shared responsibility for
retirement income. This term is globally used in reference to pensions and has become part of
pension jargon. The three pillars are defined as social security (state benefit), employer-
sponsored pensions (occupational pension) and individual savings for retirement (personal pen-
sion). See Figure 2-1.
5
Figure 2-1: The three pillar system, source Credit Suisse; 2005
The term was coined in the 70s resulting from a Swiss and a Dutch study on mandatory em-
ployer-sponsored pensions. Switzerland decided in favour of such a system, while the Nether-
lands was not interested. In most of the countries, the first pillar is financed on a pay-as-you-go
(PAYG) basis. The pensions of current retirees are financed by the contributions of active work-
ers.
Given the trend towards early retirement and the worldwide demographic changes (longer life
expectancy and a lower birth rate) the PAYG system has increasingly been facing problems.
According to Harris and Painter (2002) there are many countries around the world, which are
confronted with similar problems. They state that the PAYG system will not be able to cope with
the consequences of aging populaces by 2030. Although this represents a serious issue for all the
countries, each country has its own way to deal with the problem.
6
2.1.1 Switzerland
Switzerland was the first country to introduce the triple pillar theory, by which supplemental re-
sponsibilities and welfare were spread among the state, the companies and the private individual
to build up retirement income, (Garcia, 2004).
The first pillar: The basic state insurance scheme
According to Switzerland, Just landed (2005), it is mandatory for the Swiss working population
over the age of twenty to contribute to the federal retirement fund for the elderly and for the sur-
vivors (AHV/AVS Alters- und Hinterlassenenversicherung/Altervorsorge). Employers and
employees equally split the contributions, which are directly deducted from the salary. Both par-
ties have to contribute the total of 10.1% to the AHV/AVS social insurance programme.
Com-
pared to Germany, the contributions made to AHV/AVS are comparatively low.
The second pillar: Company pension funds
The occupational benefit plan BVG (Berufliche Vorsorgegesetz) constitutes the second pillar,
which mainly consists of company pension funds, (Switzerland, Just landed, 2005).
According to Harris (2000), in addition to the regulations in two other countries in the world,
Swiss employees have made contributions into this pension fund, which was set up on
1 January 1985 by the compulsory pension legislation BVG. The concept of compulsory occupa-
tional pension plans was adopted in Switzerland following a referendum in 1972. This insurance
is mandatory for all employees with an annual income of between CHF25,320 and CHF75,960,
(Switzerland, Just landed, 2005).
Harris (2000) added another important aspect regarding the BVG in Switzerland. Although the
BVG system is based on a defined contribution (DC) schema, most of the currently paid benefits
exceed these minimum requirements and are created on a defined benefit (DB) basis. Please, re-
fer to the explanations regarding DC and DB in this management report. The BVG system re-
quires that all the pension funds in Switzerland are set up as a separate legal entity, a so called
foundation (similar to a trust company).
7
The third pillar: Private pension insurance
The third pillar consists of additional individual and non-mandatory retirement plans offering tax
relief. Contributions to these retirement plans are tax deductible and only taxed on payouts, while
the interest on the contributions are not taxed at all, (Switzerland, Just landed, 2005).
Harris (2000) emphasises that the increasing market in this sector reflects a new lifestyle pattern
in Switzerland as a consequence of a changed saving behaviour.
Life insurance companies, for
example, offer these individual private saving and retirement plans, which constitute a small but
sophisticated pillar.
8
2.1.2 USA
DIW (2005) states that as a matter of course the American pension system also rests on the
above-mentioned three-pillar system: state social security, private pensions and individual sav-
ings. Unlike in Germany, private pension schemes, which comprise "Defined Benefit (DB)
Plans" and "Defined Contribution (DC) 401(k) plans" play a very important role in the US.
These private pension plans, which have been developed over the past 20 years, disburden the
US state budget highly as they already account for one fourth of the total pension income. The
individual private pension plans, the so-called "401(k) plans" enjoy the highest popularity among
employers and employees. According to Drinkwater (2002) retirement plans account for one
fifth of the total retirement income (of the retirees in the US) while social security makes up 38%
of the aggregate income. Retirement plans include payments of 401(k) plans, IRAs and Keoghy
plans.
Private Pensions/Retirement plans:
401(k):
Wikipedia (2005a) explains the 401(k) retirement plan as follows.
The 401(k) is an employer-sponsored qualified retirement saving plan, named after a section of
the 1978 Internal Revenue Code IRC.
"The 401(k) allows individuals to save for their retirement while deferring any immediate in-
come taxes on the money they save or their respective earnings until withdrawn".
The employers, who act as plan trustees, are responsible for the implementation and management
of these plans, including the selection of the adequate investment. Many companies also offer
their employees the possibility of buying company stocks as part of 401(k) plans as an invest-
ment. Ultimately, employees are entitled to split the money among various investment offers.
Some companies use the 401(k) plans as an additional incentive for the employee and pay extra
money into the employee's plan in order to increase the pension benefit.
In the past, defined benefit plans predominated. Nowadays, they are increasingly being replaced
by defined contribution plans. The main differences between defined benefit and defined contri-
bution plans are summarised in Figure 2-2.
9
Comparing Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution Plans
Defined Benefit
Defined Contribution
Benefits are fixed.
The benefit formula is stated in the plan.
Benefits are not fixed
.
The contribution formula is stated in the plan.
Benefits are depending on performance of the plan
assets.
Investment risk assumed by plan sponsor.
Investment risk assumed by participant.
Employer's contribution is determined by expected
earnings, mortality, turnover, etc.
Employer's contribution is fixed.
The plan is fully funded and features are reflected
in the account balance.
Payout: annuity at retirement
Payout: Annuity at retirement or lump sum
Death or disability is separated
Figure 2-2: Comparing DB and DC Plans, source Drinkwater, 2002
The main difference between these two concepts is that in defined contribution plans the invest-
ment risk is assumed by the employee by having to determine the required amount of contribu-
tion and to decide on the investment type. In defined benefit plans, it is the plan sponsor (typi-
cally the employer) who has to ensure that the employee will receive the promised benefits when
retiring, Drinkwater (2002).
10
IRA:
According to Investopedia (2005), the IRA is basically an investment form, either an Individual
Retirement Annuity or an Individual Retirement Account. There are various types if IRAs, like
Roth IRAs, Traditional IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, etc.
The Answerbag (2005) explains the differences between IRA and 401(k) as follows: The 401(k)
plan is sponsored by the employer, whereas the IRA is almost not linked to the job. The nature of
a 401(k) plan is that the employer contributes to the plan for the employee's benefit. The em-
ployee can elect to contribute a proportion of his/her salary to the plan. These contributions are
not regarded as the employee's taxable income. The IRA is a financial arrangement for individu-
als who prefer to make their own investment decision. One characteristic of this investment
form, which makes it similar to a 401(k) plan, is that the contributions respectively the future fi-
nancial performance benefit from a favourable tax treatment.
Keogh account:
This investment form is designed for self-employed individuals or for owners of incorporated
businesses. This person subgroup can benefit from tax-deferred savings for their retirement,
(TeachMeFinance, 2005).
Individual Savings/Income:
Asset Income:
In 2002, Drinkwater argued that asset income in the US consisted of royalties and income from
estates or trusts, interest, dividends, rents, etc. Moreover, Drinkwater mentioned that although
nearly 60% of the population aged 65 or older received asset income, it only accounted for one
fifth of their total income. Without individual savings in addition to Social Security benefits and
employment-based retirement plans, it is nearly impossible to reach a replacement ratio of
70 to 80% in the US.
11
2.1.3 Germany
As Natali (2004) points out, the pension system was introduced in 1957 in Germany and has ever
since kept up to the key features. The first pillar is mandatory and consists of the Social Pension
Insurance. The coverage is for employees in the public and private sector and for some self-
employed groups.
It is a wage-related PAYG system.
Spencer's (2005) argument that the current social security pension (1
st
pillar) of 40 to 45% of the
final gross salary cannot be maintained shows that the German pension system has to be modi-
fied. According to Spencer, the active worker's contribution rate of 19.1% in 2001 will have to
increase to 27% in 2020 without changing benefits. In order to maintain a contribution rate of
below 20% until 2020, the German government was forced to upgrade its outdated pension sys-
tem by reducing the PAYG old-age social security pension.
The government accumulated a small decline from 70% of net (post-tax) wages to a minimum of
67% for the average pensioner for such a 20% fixing of contributions. The Economist (2002)
states that on a like-for-like basis, pension benefits will decline to 64% of net wages, without
adapting a new formula to calculate pension claims.
A new approach was introduced in 2001, the so-called "Riester-Pension" named after Walter Ri-
ester, who at that time was the Secretary of State for Employment and who masterminded the
pension reform. The Riester-Pension was intended as a supplementary and (usually) voluntary
funded pension representing the second pillar of the German pension system. The Riester plan
guarantees that every individual who takes out a certified private pension policy will benefit
from a tax deduction or, if more advantageous, will receive a 100% saving subsidy from the
government in addition to the individual saving amount, irrespective whether it is a private or an
employment-based plan, (Börsch-Supan and Wilke, 2003).
Spencer (2005) explains the Riester plan contributions as follows: Similar to the 401(k) plan in
the US, the Riester plan requires salary sacrifices from all contributing employees. Employees
can elect to defer salary, which is paid as a contribution to a certified funded pension plan. In
2006, contributions of up to 2,520 (4 percent of the income limit for chargeable contributions in
former West Germany, "BMG, Beitragsbemessungsgrenze") were tax-free and no social security
contributions have to be paid for them until 2008.
12
Critics, like The Economist (2002) dismiss the German reform as too half-heartedly. However,
the transition to the second pillar is increasingly being regarded as a breakthrough. While earlier
reforms were aimed at cutting down the costs of the PAYG system, the Riester reform changed
the entire German pension system to strengthen private funding.
As Schmandt (2004) points out, the new German Income Tax Law (EStG, Einkommenssteuerge-
setz), which has been in force since 1 January 2005, will change the regulations of the Riester
plan. Firstly, the new options for the payment of benefits, for example, enable the beneficiary to
choose between a lifetime annuity and a lump-sum payment of a maximum of 30% of the ac-
crued funds. Secondly, in future unisex tariffs will have to be offered for individual contracts. As
the German insurance industry traditionally uses sex-based mortality tables, this approach is un-
usual and as a consequence, there might be more benefits for women. Thirdly, the new law re-
duces the paperwork for the beneficiary by authorising the pension plan provider to receive the
subsidies in the beneficiary's name.
Natali (2004) explains the third German pillar. The third pillar in Germany, which is privately
funded, is not very widespread, yet. It is voluntary and consists of insurance policies and old-age
pension funds. Tax incentives are only available for certified plans but to a lower extend than
occupational programmes.
13
2.2 The Treatment of Occupational Pension Schemes in Germany:
Five Investment Vehicles
According to Börsch-Supan and Wilke (2003), the Riester reform failed to support the tradition-
ally weak position of occupational pension schemes in Germany and remained largely pendant
about their role and the role of individual savings.
In contrast, Gohdes and Schmandt (2001) point out that the Riester reform and other legislation
modifications (e.g. Eichel-Reform) have led to broad changes in the German pension landscape.
Below only a few examples of regulations that were adopted between 2001 and 2004 have been
listed.
Riester subsidy/tax relief pursuant to section 10a EStG.
Flat tax rate pursuant to section 40b EStG
Eichel tax relief pursuant to section 3.63 EStG
According to these two authors, the Riester reform will not only strengthen occupational pension
schemes as new vehicles for deferred compensation but it will also entail three crucial new
pieces of legislation that will alter the foundations of employer-financed old age savings. The
first change represents the launch of defined contribution plans (DC) by adapting the tax and la-
bour legislation. As mentioned above, DC plans offer controllable pension costs and are there-
fore very attractive for all companies which cannot or do not want to bear the risk of defined
benefit (DB) plans. The second modification includes changes to the legal vesting requirements,
which improve the transferability of pension benefits. The third change introduces a new invest-
ment vehicle in form of pension funds.
The Income Tax Law (EStG = Einkommenssteuergesetz), which has been in force since
1 January 2005, changed the treatment of contributions paid to externally funded company plans,
as Schmandt (2004) reveals.
The reform (section 3.63 EStG) harmonised the tax conditions of
contributions made to qualified externally funded arrangements, such as staff pension insurances,
pension funds or direct insurances. In conclusion, every employee is entitled to contribute up to
four percent of the income limit for chargeable contributions (Beitragsbemessungsgrenze) plus
1,800 p.a. from its individual salary to contribute to a certified external pension plan. The latter
amount (1,800) will not be indexed and will only be available outside the special provision of
Details
- Seiten
- Erscheinungsform
- Originalausgabe
- Erscheinungsjahr
- 2007
- ISBN (eBook)
- 9783836605236
- DOI
- 10.3239/9783836605236
- Dateigröße
- 2 MB
- Sprache
- Englisch
- Institution / Hochschule
- University of East London – East London Business School (ELBS)
- Erscheinungsdatum
- 2007 (September)
- Note
- 1
- Schlagworte
- unternehmen pensionskasse occupational contractual trust arrangement outsourcing balance pensionsverpflichtung
- Produktsicherheit
- Diplom.de