Altersvorsorgedepot as a joint account for married couples?

Tilman Freyenhagen

Published on 24 July 2026 · Updated on 7 August 2026 · Managing Director & Partner, Alsterspree Verlag GmbH

The legal reality: no joint account for the Altersvorsorgedepot

By law, the Altersvorsorgedepot cannot be held as a joint account. Under German tax law, the state subsidy and the Sonderausgabenabzug (deduction as a special expense) are strictly tied to the individual and linked to your personal tax identification number. Spouses or registered civil partners therefore each have to open a separate account in their own name to claim their personal allowances and tax advantages. Our knowledge portal offers comprehensive, neutral explanations of this legal basis and of the Federal Ministry of Finance's reforms^[1].

Why the state subsidy is tied to the individual account

This link to the individual has technical and tax-law reasons. Every subsidised Altersvorsorgedepot is matched in the background against the Zentrale Zulagenstelle für Altersvermögen (the central authority that administers state pension allowances), which checks your individual employment history and pension insurance number. With married couples, each partner often has a different subsidy status. While one partner is directly eligible, the other may, for example, be indirectly subsidised. These differentiated entitlements and the individual calculation of the minimum own contribution make separate contracts strictly necessary.

Although you cannot hold a joint account, your pension provision as a couple can be coordinated excellently with one another. You can align your savings rates, define shared savings goals and add together the subsidies from both accounts. If you are unsure how best to structure the split, you can choose between two routes: you can independently choose a digitally led route, as described in the comparison of app or advice, or use our independent advice service for tailored planning, letting qualified experts guide you free of charge. Not investment advice within the meaning of § 1 Abs. 1a Nr. 1a KWG. The explanations and comparisons serve as general, neutral information.

The legal basis: subsidies tied to the individual under the Einkommensteuergesetz (Income Tax Act)

No, an Altersvorsorgedepot cannot legally be held as a joint account. Under German income tax law (EStG), both the state subsidy and the tax deductibility are strictly tied to the individual^[2]. Spouses and registered civil partners must therefore always open two separate individual accounts, each in their own name, to claim their own allowances and tax advantages. A joint account, for example in the form of an Oder-Depot, is legally excluded for this state-subsidised pension product.

The tax logic behind the separation

The individual-based structure has deep administrative reasons: the Bundeszentralamt für Steuern (Federal Central Tax Office, BZSt) assigns every contract, payment and individual subsidy claim directly to each saver's personal tax identification number (Steuer-ID). Only through this assignment process can it be checked, without gaps, who is personally entitled to the new Altersvorsorgedepot. If contributions were paid into a classic joint account, it would remain unclear to the tax authorities which partner had contributed which share of the savings. A clear allocation of the allowances, as well as the automatic favourability check as part of the income tax return, would therefore be technically and legally impossible for tax subsidies.

Although the accounts are legally required to be strictly separate, you can plan and optimise your private pension provision jointly as a couple. By coordinating your contributions cleverly, you can maximise the state subsidy, especially if one partner has a lower income or is entitled to additional Kinderzulagen (child allowances). In our knowledge portal we explain in detail how these entitlements are calculated. In addition, our digital subsidy calculator helps you run through different contribution scenarios and see the tax effect transparently. Important note: all mathematical model calculations serve purely for your orientation and do not constitute investment advice within the meaning of § 1 Abs. 1a Nr. 1a KWG.

Direct versus indirect eligibility for spouses

For married couples and registered civil partners, the question often arises of how best to split the state subsidy when only one partner is subject to mandatory insurance or earns their own income. Under the new law reforming private pension provision, the established principle of indirect eligibility for the Altersvorsorgedepot is retained^[1]. This means: if one spouse meets the requirements for direct eligibility, the other, not directly eligible partner can also receive state allowances for their own, separately held Altersvorsorgedepot^[1]. Holding a joint account is indeed excluded, but coordinating finances and jointly using subsidy funds within the family is expressly provided for in law.

• The directly eligible person saves into their own Altersvorsorgedepot and can claim the full state Sonderausgabenabzug for it.
• The indirectly eligible person has to open their own Altersvorsorgedepot in their own name to receive the allowances.
• The minimum own contribution for the indirectly eligible partner is 120 euros a year to trigger the allowance. You can find further details on this in our guide on changing your contribution in the Altersvorsorgedepot.
• Indirectly eligible partners do not get their own Sonderausgabenabzug, but they do benefit directly from the state allowance of up to 540 euros a year.

Because the tax and legal situations for married couples can be very individual — for example where one partner is self-employed, or the question of how to sensibly transfer an existing Riester-Rente contract — careful analysis is advisable. For a precise split and to clarify unclear situations, our independent advice service offers a direct route to professional experts. These licensed specialists help you structure your joint provision strategy in a way that is legally compliant and optimised for returns. Alternatively, you can use our knowledge portal to read more deeply into the legal basis yourself.

Splitting and optimising allowances and tax bonuses correctly

Although the Altersvorsorgedepot's legal structure rules out opening a joint account, using two separate individual accounts offers spouses substantial financial advantages. Because of the individual-based structure, each partner can claim the state Grundzulage of up to 540 euros a year separately^[3]. Together, couples can thereby secure a state contribution of up to 1,080 euros a year, provided both meet the criteria and make the required minimum payments. A joint account would not legally allow this doubling of the state subsidy at all, since allowances are always tied to one specific taxable individual.

The allocation of the Kinderzulage of up to 300 euros per child a year is especially flexible. By law, this subsidy initially belongs to the mother, but spouses can jointly decide to transfer the allowance to the father's account instead. This is particularly useful if one partner wants to achieve a different tax benefit. To minimise the annual admin, setting up a standing allowance application is recommended. In our guide you can find out how to go about applying for the allowance, to fully automate the process.

The tax component, too, can be optimised deliberately through separate accounts. Under joint tax assessment, your income tax return automatically checks whether the tax saving is more favourable than the allowances. Exactly how the new system is tax-subsidised depends on your individual income tax rate. To simulate the optimal split of your contributions precisely in advance, our free subsidy calculator is available to you. This tool works out the likely subsidy rate based on your income. Please note: not investment advice within the meaning of Paragraph 1 Absatz 1a Nummer 1a KWG. All calculations serve purely for illustration.

Financial independence and protection in the event of divorce

The individual-based structure of the Altersvorsorgedepot offers married couples and registered civil partners essential legal protection. Because joint accounts are legally excluded for this state-subsidised investment product, each spouse necessarily holds their own individual account. This clear separation proves to be a decisive advantage in the event of divorce or separation, since the retirement assets saved can be divided fairly and transparently under the statutory Versorgungsausgleich (Germany's pension-rights equalisation scheme on divorce)^[4]. The increases in value and subsidised portions acquired during the marriage are split equally, without leading to complicated disputes over assets. This way, both partners' financial independence is preserved throughout the marriage, while a shared pension provision is built up on a legally sound basis at the same time.

• Loss of tax clarity: because allowances and the Sonderausgabenabzug are tied to the individual, the tax advantages could not be cleanly attributed under tax law with a joint account. This would jeopardise the state subsidy entitlement.
• Risk of gift tax: payments into a joint account that come mainly from one partner can be treated by the tax office, above certain allowances, as a taxable gift to the other partner.
• A more difficult Versorgungsausgleich (pension equalisation): without separate accounts, spouses would have to prove in court, in the event of separation, who paid in which contributions and how the respective return shares should be split.

Despite the legally required individual accounts, you and your partner can coordinate your pension provision jointly without any trouble. With our subsidy calculator tool, you can precisely simulate the optimal contribution structure for both partners, to make full use of the maximum state allowances and tax advantages. If you are unsure which of you is fully eligible, or how to distribute your investment strategy optimally across the separate accounts, our knowledge portal supports you with in-depth guides. Our independent advice service also offers the option of a free advisory conversation with a licensed expert. This way, you each secure your own provision individually, while benefiting as a family from a coordinated, rewarding overall strategy.

Inheritance tax and gift tax: avoiding the risks of a joint account

Classic joint accounts, which spouses often hold as so-called Oder-Depots, carry a tax risk that is often underestimated. As soon as one partner pays larger amounts into the joint account or transfers assets, the relevant tax office will, in case of doubt, presume a fifty-fifty gift to the other spouse^[5]. The gift-tax-free allowance for spouses is 500,000 euros within ten years, but with larger asset transfers or amounts accumulating unnoticed, this threshold can be exceeded. In addition, an unclear split often leads to tax ambiguities and lengthy reviews by the tax authorities in the event of inheritance.

Because the Altersvorsorgedepot is legally required to be structured as an individual, person-tied account, this gift-tax trap is avoided entirely from the outset^[1]. Because each spouse has to open their own account in their own name, ownership and the respective contributions remain cleanly separated in law and for tax purposes. Married couples can nonetheless coordinate their pension provision strategically. Each partner makes optimal use of their individual ceilings and the tax subsidy, instead of stretching the allowances of a single account. This applies especially to the state allowances and the tax relief within the annual tax return.

A neutral provider comparison helps you choose the right providers for your two separate accounts. For couples who want a tailored split of their contributions, the independent advice service offers valuable guidance for building your shared provision concept on a legally sound basis and without tax risks.

Planning together: how married couples coordinate their Altersvorsorgedepots

Although the new Altersvorsorgedepot must legally be held as an individual, person-tied account, spouses can and should closely coordinate their private pension provision with one another. The legal design provides that the state subsidy and the tax advantages are tied exclusively to the taxable individual^[6]. A shared Oder-Depot is therefore excluded for subsidised pension provision. This by no means implies, however, that you have to plan separately. By cleverly combining two individual accounts, you can set up your family's provision optimally. With our tool, the subsidy calculator, you can simulate the respective savings rates and state allowances for both spouses in detail and calculate the overall effect for your household.

• Aligning your ETF choices: since each partner holds their own account, you can mirror your investment strategies or diversify deliberately, to avoid concentration risk in the family's overall assets.
• Making the most of the allowances: make sure both spouses meet the requirements to receive the maximum state subsidy. You can work out who should pay in how much using the subsidy calculator.
• Tax optimisation: thanks to the Sonderausgabenabzug and the automatic favourability check, it can be especially attractive from a tax perspective for the higher-earning spouse to make full use of the maximum contribution.

Coordinating also offers protection against differing employment histories, for example when one partner pays in less for a while due to raising children. In our knowledge portal you can find out in detail how tax subsidies work for spouses with different income situations. If you are unsure how best to split the accounts, our independent advice service helps you find a tailored, professional solution for your shared life planning. That way, two separate accounts become one strong, shared foundation for your retirement.

Conclusion: separate accounts for a strong shared future

Although the classic joint account is legally excluded for the new Altersvorsorgedepot, this is no obstacle for married couples and registered civil partners. Because the state allowances and tax benefits under German income tax law are strictly tied to the individual, the individual account is the only permitted route^[1]. In practice, though, this legal requirement turns out to be a strategic advantage. By setting up two separate individual accounts, you secure the full subsidy options for both spouses. This way, you can double the state allowances and make optimal use of the Sonderausgabenabzug in your joint tax return. This ensures your shared pension provision is tax-subsidised as effectively as possible.

Choosing the right providers is decisive for successfully implementing this joint two-account strategy. Because account terms, services and ETF ranges can differ considerably between neobrokers and traditional branch banks, a systematic comparison is essential. The Vorsorgedepot-Lotse portal provides you with the provider comparison service for this purpose. With this tool, you can analyse fee structures and investment options in detail and select the individually best-suited Altersvorsorgedepot for each partner. Whether you are a decisive self-directed saver who wants to open your account directly online, or would like guided, personal advice: we always point you to the right route to a well-founded decision.

• Strictly tied to the individual: every Altersvorsorgedepot necessarily runs in the name of one individual partner, since the state ties the subsidy directly to that person's tax identity.
• Optimised use of the allowances: both spouses benefit independently from the state contributions, when each is individually eligible for the Altersvorsorgedepot.
• Tailored risk profiles: separate accounts let you adapt each investment strategy flexibly to your different employment histories, ages and personal risk profiles.
• Easy to switch provider: should your requirements change over time, each contract can be transferred to a different provider individually and without complication.