Bitcoin pension gap calculator: how much to save today
Whatever you will be missing in retirement, net, has to be saved today. This calculator shows how much you would need to put into Bitcoin each month so that the gap is covered after tax – under current law and under the draft bill, using FIFO, LIFO or average cost.
- Under current law Bitcoin gains are tax free after more than twelve months; each purchase has its own period.
- The draft bill would tax purchases from 2027 at 25 %, with holdings up to 2026 grandfathered. It is not law.
- The more tax is due on the later sale, the more you need to save today to receive the same net amount.
- The order of disposal matters: with FIFO, the old grandfathered units are sold first.
- Tax-free Bitcoin gains are currently free of statutory health insurance contributions – over 25 years, that remains a political risk.
- Not investment advice: you estimate the price – the calculator also shows what a lower or higher price would require.
Calculator
Everything is calculated in your browser; nothing is transmitted or stored.
Net gap per month
today–
at retirement–
in the final year–
Capital
needed at retirement (0 %)–
your payments until then (0 %)–
used up at age–
Your price assumption
equals per year–
your holdings at retirement–
price from retirement per year–
0 % – current law
Section 23 EStG: tax free after more than twelve months
Required savings per month–
Capital at retirement–
Tax in retirement, total–
25 % – flat tax
as in the draft bill, purchases from 2027
Required savings per month–
Capital at retirement–
Tax in retirement, total–
Your current savings
compared with your input above
You save per month–
lasts at 0 % until age–
lasts at 25 % until age–
| Price at retirement | 0 % | 25 % |
|---|---|---|
| – | – | – |
| – | – | – |
| – | – | – |
| Disposal order | 0 % | 25 % |
|---|---|---|
| FIFO | – | – |
| LIFO | – | – |
| Average | – | – |
Constant savings until retirement. Excluding solidarity surcharge, church tax, allowances and health insurance. Amounts from retirement are nominal.
Why tax makes the difference
Privately held Bitcoin falls under private disposal transactions. If more than twelve months pass between purchase and sale, the gain is tax free with no ceiling (section 23 EStG). Each savings-plan purchase has its own period. The holding period explained
The tax authority applies FIFO for the holding period and allows FIFO or average cost for the gain (BMF circular of 6 March 2025, para. 61). It does not accept LIFO; the Nuremberg Tax Court held LIFO permissible for crypto (3 K 760/22), the Berlin-Brandenburg Tax Court granted suspension in a case we conducted (4 V 4039/26), and the Federal Fiscal Court has not ruled (is LIFO allowed?). Under the draft-bill scenario the order works both ways: FIFO sells grandfathered pre-2027 units first – tax free – leaving the taxable purchases with their large gains for later, while LIFO sells the newest, more expensive units with small gains first and so defers tax. Which lowers the required savings more depends on holdings and return; the calculator shows all three orders. The average method pools old and new holdings; since pre-2027 holdings would stay tax free, actual tax and required savings may be lower than shown.
Scenarios: 0 % current law; 25 % flat tax as in the draft bill (plus solidarity surcharge, not included here), the draft bill explained; current law is what applies.
Health insurance in retirement
Compulsorily insured pensioners (KVdR) pay contributions on pension, occupational pensions and earned income (section 237 SGB V). Voluntarily insured members are assessed on their entire economic capacity (section 240 SGB V), but Bitcoin gains that are tax free after more than one year are currently not subject to contributions; courts look at the gain assessed in the income tax notice (Baden-Württemberg Higher Social Court, L 11 KR 2257/21). Taxable gains on sales within one year are subject to contributions: the GKV-Spitzenverband lists private disposal gains under section 23 EStG as contributory in its income catalogue for section 240 SGB V. Over a 25-year horizon this is a risk; if crypto gains became capital income as in the draft bill, in our assessment they would be contributory like other capital income. Contributions on capital income are proposed from time to time; in January 2025 Robert Habeck suggested it as the Greens' chancellor candidate. Nothing has been decided.
Frequently asked questions
How much do I need to save to close my pension gap with Bitcoin?
Is a Bitcoin savings plan tax free in retirement?
What would the draft bill change?
Do I pay health insurance contributions on Bitcoin gains in retirement?
Is this investment advice?
As at: 12 November 2026. Not investment advice. Assumptions: the price moves steadily from today's price to your expected price at retirement, compared with a lower and higher price by your chosen range, and grows at your own assumption from retirement (default 0 %); the net gap rises with inflation and is withdrawn monthly from retirement, with tax paid the following year, until the capital is used up at the chosen end age (default 90); required savings are the lowest constant monthly amount that achieves this; existing holdings treated as bought before 2027; excluding solidarity surcharge, church tax, allowances and health insurance.
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