Capital-forming benefits (vermögenswirksame Leistungen, VL)
Vermögenswirksame Leistungen (VL, capital-forming benefits) are a fixed monthly employer payment — on top of salary — into a savings contract the employee chooses, such as a Bausparvertrag (building society savings contract) or an equity-fund savings plan. A further state subsidy, the Arbeitnehmersparzulage (employee savings allowance), applies for employees under a set income threshold.
Why it matters
VL is one of the few employer benefits paid directly into a savings contract rather than as cash — an employee who never designates a contract simply forfeits it, since it is not paid out automatically as extra salary. It shows up as a standard clause in many Tarifverträge (collective bargaining agreements), so it is worth checking an employment contract or payslip explicitly rather than assuming it is included. For employees near the lower end of the income distribution, the added government subsidy turns a modest monthly employer contribution into a small but automatic extra return.
Worked examples
1. Employer contribution alone. An employer includes VL in the compensation package, contributing an illustrative €40 per month into the employee's chosen savings contract. There is no statutory maximum on the employer's contribution — the amount is set by employment contract or collective agreement, not by law. Over a year that is €40 x 12 = €480 added to the contract, independent of whether the employee also qualifies for a state subsidy.
2. Adding the state subsidy (Arbeitnehmersparzulage). The subsidy rate and annual cap depend on where the VL is invested:
| Investment type | Subsidy rate (2026) | Annual cap (2026) | Max subsidy/year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equity-fund savings plan (Aktienfonds/ETF) | 20% | €400 | €80 |
| Bausparvertrag (building society savings contract) | 9% | €470 | €42.30 |
The subsidy is paid only to employees whose taxable income (zu versteuerndes Einkommen) does not exceed €40,000 (single) or €80,000 (jointly assessed couples) (2026) [1]. An employee receiving €480/year in VL who directs it into an equity-fund plan and stays under the income limit gets a subsidy of 20% x €400 = €80 — the €80 of VL above the €400 cap earns no subsidy. Directing the same €480 into a Bausparvertrag instead caps the subsidized share at €470, for a subsidy of 9% x €470 = €42.30.
Check yourself
An employer pays €480/year in vermögenswirksame Leistungen (VL), directed into an equity-fund savings plan (subsidy rate 20%, annual cap €400, 2026). The employee's taxable income is under the €40,000 single-filer limit. How much Arbeitnehmersparzulage (employee savings allowance), in euros, does the employee receive for the year?
The same €480/year in VL is instead directed into a Bausparvertrag (building society savings contract; subsidy rate 9%, annual cap €470, 2026), and the employee still qualifies by income. How much subsidy, in euros, does the employee receive (round to the nearest euro)?
A new employee's contract makes no mention of vermögenswirksame Leistungen (VL) at all. What follows?
Which income figure determines whether an employee qualifies under the Arbeitnehmersparzulage income limit (€40,000 single / €80,000 joint, 2026)?
Sources
- Bundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de — Fünftes Vermögensbildungsgesetz (5. VermBG), § 13 Anspruch auf Arbeitnehmer-Sparzulage (income limits €40,000/€80,000; subsidy rates 20%/9%; caps €400/€470), https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/vermbg_2/__13.html (2026)