In summary…
A manager of a very small business (TPE) or small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) can have their company contribute up to €11,534.40 per year to their employee savings and retirement plan by 2026: €7,689.60 to the PERECO (employee savings plan) and €3,844.80 to the PEE (employee savings plan). For the company, this is a tax-deductible expense without employer contributions. For the manager, it involves 9.7% of the CSG (general social contribution) and CRDS (social debt repayment contribution). This matching contribution is a particularly effective way for a manager to access cash.
1. The 2026 contribution ceilings
The employer contribution is calculated based on the annual social security ceiling (PASS), set at €48,060 in 2026. For the PEE (Employee Savings Plan), it is limited to 8 times the PASS, or €3,844.80. For the PERECO (Collective Retirement Savings Plan), it is limited to 16 times the PASS, or €7,689.60. In both cases, it cannot exceed three times the beneficiary's contribution.
To obtain the maximum employer contribution, the manager therefore contributes €1,281.60 to the PEE and €2,563.20 to the PERECO. The company can also make a unilateral contribution to the PERECO, without prior contribution from the beneficiary, up to a limit of 2 x % of the PASS (annual social security ceiling), i.e., €961.20.
2. A system open to the manager
In companies with 1 to 250 employees, the company director can join the company's employee savings plan (PEE) and retirement savings plan (PERECO) and receive employer contributions under the same conditions as their employees. Whether they are the president of a simplified joint-stock company (SAS) or the manager of a limited liability company (SARL), the director's legal status makes no difference.
An essential condition: the company must employ at least one employee in addition to the manager and their spouse. A company without employees is not eligible.
3. Concrete example
Situation. A 52-year-old executive, president of a Lyon-based SAS with 12 employees. Surplus cash flow, remuneration already calculated.
Issue. Withdrawing cash as salary increases social security contributions. As dividends, it is subject to corporation tax and then the flat tax rate of 31.4%.
Strategy. Implementation of a company savings plan (PEE) and a retirement savings plan (PERECO) open to all employees, with employer matching contributions equal to three times the amount contributed. The manager contributes €2,563.20 to the PERECO and €1,281.60 to the PEE.
Result. €11,534.40 paid by the company each year, tax-deductible and without employer contributions. After 9.7% CSG/CRDS, €10,415.56 net on the manager's savings, for €3,844.80 paid from her own pocket.
4. The real cost to society and to the manager
For the company, the employer contribution is a deductible expense from taxable income. It is exempt from employer social security contributions. Only a flat-rate social security contribution may apply, depending on the size of the company.
For the manager, the employer contribution is subject to 9.7% of CSG and CRDS social security contributions, with no income tax on the contribution itself. This can be compared to a dividend, which is subject to corporate tax and then the flat tax rate of 31.4%, or to a fully loaded salary supplement.
5. Points to lock in
The matching contribution rule is set out in the plan's regulations and applies to all beneficiaries. What the manager receives, their employees can receive according to the same rule. The cost is therefore calculated across the entire workforce, and the matching contribution rate is adjusted accordingly.
The PERECO is locked until retirement, except in cases of early withdrawal. The allocation between PEE and PERECO is determined based on the executive's time horizon and projects.
Frequently asked questions
Can a manager without employees benefit from the employer contribution?
No. The company must employ at least one employee in addition to the manager and their spouse.
What is the maximum contribution in 2026?
€7,689.60 on the PERECO (16 % of the PASS) and €3,844.80 on the PEE (8 % of the PASS), i.e. €11,534.40 per year, within the limit of 3 times the beneficiary's payments.
Is the employer contribution subject to social security contributions?
Not employer contributions. It covers 9.7 % of CSG and CRDS for the beneficiary, and a social security contribution depending on the size of the company.
Do you run a company with at least one employee? Book a wealth management consultation: we will calculate the employer contribution and the allocation between PEE and PERECO.
