MyFutureFund auto-enrolment calculator
MyFutureFund started on 1 January 2026. On a €45,000 salary you pay €675 a year (€56.25 a month), your employer adds €675 and the State €225, so €1,575 goes into your account.
How MyFutureFund works
MyFutureFund is Ireland's automatic enrolment retirement savings scheme, set up under the Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Act 2024. Contributions are a percentage of gross pay and are taken through payroll from the first pay date on or after 1 January 2026. Reported eligibility is employees aged 23 to 60 earning over €20,000 a year across all their jobs who are not already in a workplace pension through payroll.
Contribution rates
| Years | You | Employer | State | Total on €45,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026–2028 | 1.5% (€675) | 1.5% (€675) | 0.5% (€225) | €1,575 |
| 2029–2031 | 3% (€1,350) | 3% (€1,350) | 1% (€450) | €3,150 |
| 2032–2034 | 4.5% (€2,025) | 4.5% (€2,025) | 1.5% (€675) | €4,725 |
| 2035 onwards | 6% (€2,700) | 6% (€2,700) | 2% (€900) | €6,300 |
Rates step up every three years until 2035. For the first three years the total going in is 3.5% of gross pay.
No tax relief, but a State top-up
Your contributions come out of pay after income tax, USC and PRSI, so they cost you the full amount. Instead of tax relief the State adds €0.33 for every €1 you put in. Compare that with a workplace pension: a 20% taxpayer gets €0.25 of relief per €1 of net cost, and a 40% taxpayer €0.67. So MyFutureFund beats ordinary tax relief for standard-rate taxpayers, while higher-rate taxpayers usually get more from an occupational or personal pension, depending on what the employer pays in.
The €80,000 cap
Contributions stop for the rest of the calendar year once your pay for the year passes €80,000, but the pay period in which you cross the line is charged in full. Paid monthly on €100,000, you pass €80,000 in month 10, so contributions are based on €83,333: €1,250.00 from you rather than €1,200.00. There are no refunds of the difference.
Effect on take-home pay
| Salary | You pay a month | Take-home a month without | With MyFutureFund |
|---|---|---|---|
| €25,000 | €31.25 | €1,885.07 | €1,853.82 |
| €35,000 | €43.75 | €2,494.50 | €2,450.75 |
| €45,000 | €56.25 | €3,084.19 | €3,027.94 |
| €60,000 | €75.00 | €3,743.72 | €3,668.72 |
| €80,000 | €100.00 | €4,581.62 | €4,481.62 |
FAQ
Is MyFutureFund deducted before or after tax?
After. Employee contributions come from net pay and get no income tax relief; the State top-up takes its place.
How much will I pay into MyFutureFund in 2026?
1.5% of your gross pay. On €45,000 that is €675 a year, or €12.98 a week.
Does my employer have to match it?
Yes. Your employer pays the same percentage as you, 1.5% until the end of 2028, on the same pay up to the €80,000 cap.
Do I still pay if I earn over €80,000?
Yes, until your pay for the year passes €80,000. On €100,000 paid monthly, that means €1,250.00 for the year.