What does it mean concretely if the retirement age increases from 65 to 66 or 67?

If the government approves an increase in the retirement age, the frontier worker will have to continue to pay contributions to the AVH for longer. Alternatively, you can claim the pension at 65, but you will suffer a permanent reduction on the monthly benefit. Swiss pension entitlement remains governed by Swiss rules, regardless of the 1976 Italian-Swiss Convention.

When does the AVS reform referred to by Mäder come into effect?

Mäder criticizes the fact that the federal government postpones the discussion on the retirement age in the next AVS reform, without specifying a precise date of entry into force. It is advisable to monitor the official announcements of the Federal Council and the Swiss Parliament to know the timing and details of the reform when they are decided.

How do I verify my accumulated AVS contributions so far?

You can request a free AVS account statement from the Ticino Canton Compensation Fund or via the Swiss Social Security online portal. The extract shows years of contribution, amounts paid, any contribution gaps, and the estimate of the 65th annuity. It is updated every year automatically.

Is the tax at source on my salary in Switzerland linked to the AVS?

No, they're two completely separate systems. New cross-border workers also declare their income in Italy and recover the Swiss tax through the tax credit, while old cross-border workers remain taxed only in Switzerland (Art. 9 of the 2020 Agreement). The AVS is a mandatory social security contribution, different and independent from the tax system.

Does the new 2024 border agreement change my AVS pension rights?

No. The new border agreement, in force from 1 January 2024, modifies the tax exemptions and tax regimes for border workers. On the other hand, it does not affect AVS pension rights, which remain governed by Swiss regulations and the Italian-Swiss Convention of 9 March 1976.

AVS, the delay on reforms: Economiesuisse's alarm

By Laura Bianchi (editorial byline of the newsroom, AI-generated text) · Published on 9 September 2026 · Updated on 31 October 2026

Professional reviews pension documents with view of Ticino-Switzerland border region

Mäder, outgoing President Economiesuisse, criticizes the government: discussion on the postponed retirement age, risks to the sustainability of the system.

Context

In a nutshell

Mäder criticizes government: too late on crucial AVS reforms
Retirement age: political taboo, government avoids discussion
Demographic: increasingly serious imbalance between taxpayers and pensioners

Key facts

What: Outgoing President Economiesuisse criticises lack of reforms
When: Recent interview at Tages-Anzeiger
Where: Switzerland, national context
Who: Christoph Mäder (67 years old), former Sandoz and Novartis
Topic: AVS and Swiss social security sustainability

Christoph Mäder raises his voice at the end of his six-year term as President of Economiesuisse. In an interview with Tages-Anzeiger, the 67-year-old is blunt: Switzerland is losing competitiveness to international rivals, and the onus is on the Federal Council's lack of political will to tackle indispensable structural reforms. Mäder, a lawyer and former executive at Sandoz and Novartis, will soon be replaced by Silvan Wildhaber.

The main target of his criticism is the AVS, the Swiss pension system that represents the first pillar of national security. Mäder is very harsh in judging the government's decision to exclude from the next AVS reform any discussion of raising the retirement age:

“I consider it irresponsible, to use a cautious adjective, to decide not to even discuss retirement age in the upcoming AVS reform.”

The demographic problem that the government

Operational details

translated text

Useful planning tools

To estimate your pension strategy, use the pension planner and the pillar 3 simulator.

Key points

Practical Steps: What Cross-Border Workers Should Do

The alarm raised by Mäder, however critical, should not paralyze the cross-border worker: on the contrary, it is all the more reason to prepare actively. Early retirement planning, a prudent scenario that considers possible reforms of the AVS system, diversification between the first and third pillar—all of this reduces the risk of unpleasant surprises at the time of retirement. Those who start planning today have time to adapt to possible changes tomorrow.

First Step: Verify Your AVS Contribution Status

The first step is to know your contribution history. Every cross-border worker G can request a free copy of the AVS account statement from the compensation fund responsible for the Ticino canton or through the Swiss social security online portal. The statement shows years of contributions accumulated, amounts paid (both employee and employer portions), any contribution gaps, and an estimate of the monthly AVS pension at age 65 (current standard).

This verification is essential to understand your position: how many years remain until retirement, whether there is room to improve your pension, which gaps to fill to maximize future benefits. A careful analysis of your personal file enables realistic planning.

Specialized Advice for Cross-Border Workers

Given the complexity of the system—which combines Swiss regulations, the 1976 Italian-Swiss tax treaty, the new cross-border agreement in force since January 1, 2024, and possible rights accrued in the Italian system—it is advisable to seek advice from a qualified advisor in cross-border matters. A specialized professional can analyze your personal file (years of Swiss contributions, any Italian contributions, gaps), simulate scenarios with the current retirement age vs. increased age (if the reform is approved), and suggest optimization strategies for the third pillar (pillar 3a) to compensate for any future reductions in AVS.

Monitor Regulatory Developments

Mäder observes that the government is postponing the discussion on retirement age, but this does not mean that the reform is permanently blocked. It is advisable to stay informed about federal messages, public consultations on AVS reforms, statements from federations like Economiesuisse, and changes in contribution rates (the current 5.3% could increase over time). Constant vigilance on the regulatory front is a tool of protection.

Evaluate Early or Delayed Retirement

Switzerland allows you to claim AVS starting from an age below 65 (with reductions in the pension) or to defer beyond 65 (receiving increases in the monthly benefit). In the context of uncertainty described by Mäder, the cross-border worker could evaluate both scenarios:

Early Retirement: if you have accumulated a good contribution history, you could decide to retire earlier, accepting a permanent reduction in your pension. This offers greater flexibility in choosing the timing.

Delayed Retirement: if you want to maximize your pension and have the health to continue, you can work beyond age 65, receiving increases in your monthly benefit. Each additional year of work increases both the contributions paid and the duration of pension payments.

Both scenarios have pros and cons that depend on your personal situation, life expectancy, expected medical costs, and desire for retirement.

Use the Frontaliere Ticino Online Calculator

The Frontaliere Ticino website offers a specialized pension calculator for cross-border workers that allows you to simulate expected AVS pension at age 65, the effect of a possible increase in retirement age, calculation of early/delayed pension, and integration with the professional pillar if known. This tool, updated with the latest regulations, is one of the fastest ways to get a realistic estimate of your Swiss pension and to compare different scenarios.

Source: swissinfo.ch

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean concretely if the retirement age increases from 65 to 66 or 67?: If the government approves an increase in the retirement age, the frontier worker will have to continue to pay contributions to the AVH for longer. Alternatively, you can claim the pension at 65, but you will suffer a permanent reduction on the monthly benefit. Swiss pension entitlement remains governed by Swiss rules, regardless of the 1976 Italian-Swiss Convention.
When does the AVS reform referred to by Mäder come into effect?: Mäder criticizes the fact that the federal government postpones the discussion on the retirement age in the next AVS reform, without specifying a precise date of entry into force. It is advisable to monitor the official announcements of the Federal Council and the Swiss Parliament to know the timing and details of the reform when they are decided.
How do I verify my accumulated AVS contributions so far?: You can request a free AVS account statement from the Ticino Canton Compensation Fund or via the Swiss Social Security online portal. The extract shows years of contribution, amounts paid, any contribution gaps, and the estimate of the 65th annuity. It is updated every year automatically.
Is the tax at source on my salary in Switzerland linked to the AVS?: No, they're two completely separate systems. New cross-border workers also declare their income in Italy and recover the Swiss tax through the tax credit, while old cross-border workers remain taxed only in Switzerland (Art. 9 of the 2020 Agreement). The AVS is a mandatory social security contribution, different and independent from the tax system.
Does the new 2024 border agreement change my AVS pension rights?: No. The new border agreement, in force from 1 January 2024, modifies the tax exemptions and tax regimes for border workers. On the other hand, it does not affect AVS pension rights, which remain governed by Swiss regulations and the Italian-Swiss Convention of 9 March 1976.