What is the Best PER for Your Profile?

Why the “best PER” depends first on your situation

The individual PER allows you to save for retirement and to deduct your payments from taxable income, within the limit of a ceiling. The amounts remain blocked until retirement, except in cases of early release, such as the purchase of the main residence.

Four parameters guide the choice: the marginal tax bracket (TMI), professional status, age and investment horizon. The same contract can be very interesting for a highly taxed framework and not very suitable for a non-taxable retiree.

Employee taxed at 30% or more: take full advantage of the deduction

For an employee, the main interest of the PER lies in the tax deduction. In 2026, the ceiling is equal to 10% of 2025 income, net of professional expenses, up to €37,680. A floor of €4,710 applies if this amount is higher. Unused ceilings from previous years can be added to this.

The tax saving depends directly on the TMI. A payment of €4,000 reduces the tax by €1,200 for a saver taxed at 30%, and by €1,640 at 41%. The personalized ceiling for each household appears on its tax notice.

Independent or TNS: a higher ceiling and flexible payments

Self-employed workers (TNS: artisans, traders, liberal professions, majority managers) have a specific ceiling, calculated on their taxable profit. It reaches 10% of the profit within the limit of eight annual Social Security ceilings (PASS), plus 15% of the fraction between one and eight PASS. With a PASS of €48,060 in 2026, the deduction can reach €88,911.

Payments remain free. A self-employed person can pay more in good years, then reduce or suspend their payments when activity slows down. The PER can also be released in the event of judicial liquidation of the company.

At 25 or 30, retirement is more than 30 years away. This horizon makes it possible to invest a significant part of savings in units of account (UC), vehicles backed by shares, bonds or real estate. CUs present a risk of capital loss: their value fluctuates up and down.

Horizon-driven management, the PER's default management mode, is well suited to this profile. Savings are first placed in riskier assets, then gradually secured as retirement approaches. Another advantage: the PER can be released to buy your main residence. If your TMI remains low, refer to the “low tax” profile below.

Close to retirement: secure and prepare for exit

A few years before departure, the priority becomes the protection of the capital built up. A growing share of savings can be transferred to the euro fund, the capital of which is guaranteed by the insurer, sometimes net of management fees. Since January 1, 2026, payments made from the age of 70 are no longer deductible.

Machine-translated from French