05-020 · EVIDENCE A · SOURCE-SENSITIVE
Individuals who pay income tax can open a personal pension account and deduct up to 12,000 yuan per year before tax; it is not worthwhile for non-taxpayers to do so.
交个税且税率到 10% 及以上的人开个人养老金账户，每年最多 12000 元能在税前扣掉；不交个税或税率只有 3% 的人开了不划算
There is no fee to open the account. The real cost is that the funds remain locked until retirement — you cannot withdraw them during that time.
For every yuan you deposit, the tax you save equals your marginal tax rate minus 3%. If you contribute the full 12,000 yuan in a year, a taxpayer at a 10% rate saves 840 yuan, at 20% saves 2,040 yuan, and at 30% saves 3,240 yuan. Those who do not pay income tax gain nothing; they must also pay an additional 3% tax when withdrawing funds, resulting in a net loss. The money stays locked until retirement.
A
Move “Individuals who pay income tax can open a personal pension account and deduct up to 12,000 yuan per year before tax; it is not worthwhile for non-taxpayers to do so.” to Future Me's calendar
The excuse
I can spend longer deciding whether to start than the small action would take.
What feels good now
Today I keep a few minutes and avoid interrupting my default routine.
What the source says
The source summarizes the return this way: “For every yuan you deposit, the tax you save equals your marginal tax rate minus 3%. If you contribute the full 12,000 yuan in a year, a taxpayer at a 10% rate saves 840 yuan, at 20% saves 2,040 yuan, and at 30% saves 3,240 yuan. Those who do not pay income tax gain nothing; they must also pay an additional 3% tax when withdrawing funds, resulting in a net loss. The money stays locked until retirement.” Evidence grade A. The original states the population, caveats, and sources; this is not a personal forecast.
Use the original facts and limits. For an urgent medical, safety, financial, or legal issue, contact a qualified local professional or service.
THE ENGLISH EDITION
Original recommendation and evidence
20. Individuals who pay income tax can open a personal pension account and deduct up to 12,000 yuan per year before tax; it is not worthwhile for non-taxpayers to do so.
Cost: There is no fee to open the account. The real cost is that the funds remain locked until retirement — you cannot withdraw them during that time.
In plain terms: For every yuan you deposit, the tax you save equals your marginal tax rate minus 3%. If you contribute the full 12,000 yuan in a year, a taxpayer at a 10% rate saves 840 yuan, at 20% saves 2,040 yuan, and at 30% saves 3,240 yuan. Those who do not pay income tax gain nothing; they must also pay an additional 3% tax when withdrawing funds, resulting in a net loss. The money stays locked until retirement.
Benefit: The maximum annual contribution of 12,000 yuan can be fully deducted from your total taxable income — whether from wages or business earnings. Any investment returns generated within the account are exempt from personal income tax for now. When withdrawals occur, they are taxed separately at a flat rate of 3%. Thus, the total tax saving equals your marginal tax rate minus 3% multiplied by the actual amount contributed. For example, at a 10% marginal rate you save up to 840 yuan per year; at 20% the saving is 2,040 yuan, and at 30% it reaches 3,240 yuan. Non‑taxpayers receive no benefit now and must pay 3% tax later, making it a net loss. The annual contribution limit resets each calendar year; any unused portion cannot be carried over. This policy has been in effect nationwide since 15 December 2024.
Evidence grade: A
Sources: Ministry of Finance, State Administration of Taxation (2024). Announcement on the nationwide implementation of preferential personal income tax policies for personal pensions (Ministry of Finance and State Administration of Taxation Announcement 2024 No. 21, December 12, 2024). (2022). Implementation Measures for Personal Pensions (Articles 7, 8, 9, 12, and 13). <https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2022-11/05/content_5724783.htm>
Notes: This account operates on a closed‑loop basis — once funds are deposited they cannot be withdrawn except under four specific circumstances: reaching the statutory retirement age, becoming completely unable to work, emigrating, or as otherwise stipulated by law. It is therefore not a typical investment vehicle but a long‑term tax‑saving arrangement. Before contributing, calculate how much extra tax you would pay per additional yuan earned to determine an appropriate amount. Avoid using emergency savings for this purpose (see Section 27). You must also select your own investment products; losses are possible. Selection criteria mirror those outlined in Sections 17 and 18 of this chapter — broad‑based index funds with low fees are preferred. Proof of deductions is issued by the Personal Pension Information Management Service Platform. You may elect to claim the deduction either at the time of payroll withholding or during the annual tax reconciliation process (see Section 2).
Read the complete Chinese source and notes
20. 交个税且税率到 10% 及以上的人开个人养老金账户，每年最多 12000 元能在税前扣掉；不交个税或税率只有 3% 的人开了不划算
成本: 开户不花钱。真正的代价是这笔钱会锁到你退休，中途取不出来。
说人话: 你每存进去一元，省下的税是「你那一档税率减 3%」。一年存满 12000 元，税率 10% 的人省 840 元，20% 的省 2040 元，30% 的省 3240 元。税率只有 3% 的人，省下的税领钱时又交回去，白锁到退休。不交个税的人领钱时还要交 3%，是净亏。
收益: 交进去的钱，每年最多 12000 元，可以从综合所得或者经营所得里如实扣掉：你存进去多少，就能从要交税的收入里减掉多少。这笔钱在账户里投资赚到的收益，暂时不收个人所得税。将来领出来的时候不并进综合所得，单独按 3% 计税。所以你省下的是「你的边际税率减去 3%」乘以你实际交进去的钱。边际税率就是你每多赚一元要按的那一档税率。算下来：边际税率 10% 的人每年最多省 840 元，20% 的省 2040 元，30% 的省 3240 元。本来就不用交个税的人（年综合所得扣完各项后没到起征点），交钱的时候一分没省，领的时候反而要按 3% 交，是净亏。边际税率只有 3% 的人也不划算。全年综合所得扣完各项后不超过 36000 元，就落在这一档。这些人交钱时省 3%，领钱时再交 3%，正好抵消，钱却白白锁到退休。每月工资被扣了个税，不等于你就在 10% 那一档，要看全年扣完各项后的数。每年的缴费额度按自然年度累计，第二年重新算，当年没交满的不能结转到下一年。这项政策从 2024 年 12 月 15 日起在全国实施（全国）
证据等级: A
来源: 财政部、税务总局 (2024). 关于在全国范围实施个人养老金个人所得税优惠政策的公告（财政部 税务总局公告 2024 年第 21 号，2024 年 12 月 12 日）. <https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202412/content_6992498.htm>；人力资源社会保障部等五部门 (2022). 个人养老金实施办法（第七、八、九、十二、十三条）. <https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2022-11/05/content_5724783.htm>；全国人民代表大会常务委员会 (2018). 中华人民共和国个人所得税法（2018 年第七次修正，个人所得税税率表一）. <http://www.npc.gov.cn/zgrdw/npc/xinwen/2018-09/05/content_2060671.htm>
备注: 这个账户是「封闭运行」的，钱交进去就取不出来。只有四种情况能领：达到领取基本养老金的年龄、完全丧失劳动能力、出国（境）定居、国家规定的其他情形。所以它不是理财，是一笔要锁很多年的税务安排。省下的税只拿一次，钱却要锁到退休，离退休越远，摊到每年的好处越小。粗算一下：税率 10% 的人每存一元省 7 分钱，离退休还有 30 年，摊到每年才 0.2% 多一点。税率 20% 的人每存一元省 1 角 7 分，离退休还有 10 年，摊到每年约 1.7%。先算清楚自己每多赚一元要交多少税，再决定交多少。别为了「薅羊毛」把应急金锁进去（应急金见第 27 条）。账户里的钱还要你自己选产品去投资，是会亏的。选产品的规则和本节第 17、18 条（宽基指数基金、优先选费率低的）一样。扣除凭证由个人养老金信息管理服务平台出具。抵扣的时机你可以选：一种是当年发工资代扣税的时候就扣，另一种是第二年汇算的时候再扣（汇算见第 2 条）。
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