For the 2012/2013 year, only one concessional (before-tax) contributions cap exists for all ages, and that cap is $25,000. Before July 2012, we had a concessional cap for under-50s and a concessional cap for those 50 years and over. From the 2013/2014 year, we will have a special concessional cap … [Read more...]
The excess contributions tax regime has been, and continues to be a total disaster. The federal government has cared very little about the fact that conscientious super savers, who made every attempt to the follow the rules, were being hit with outrageous tax bills, savaging hard-earned retirement … [Read more...]
Note: STOP PRESS – see related SuperGuide article 2013 Federal Election: new super changes summary (April 2013) for additional federal government superannuation announcements. SuperGuide will keep you regularly updated on the superannuation policies announced by the major political parties, … [Read more...]
Next month’s federal budget will hit the generous superannuation tax breaks received by the very richest Australians. The target will be the highest one to two per cent of earners, with the government arguing that the cutback is necessary to keep superannuation concessions sustainable over the … [Read more...]
I receive a lot of questions from readers seeking information about how the non-concessional (after-tax) super contributions rules work; in particular, how the bring-forward rule works. More recently I have received several emails from readers who have fallen foul of the bring-forward rules and … [Read more...]
Q: Under the 2-year bring-forward of non-concessional contributions, if a person makes an after-tax contribution of $150,001 when age 64, can he continue to contribute the balance of the $450,000 anytime during the next 2 years without having to satisfying the work test? Answer: In this … [Read more...]
Four years ago, in January 2009, we launched the SuperGuide website, and since that time we have received thousands of questions, from our millions of visitors, on different aspects of superannuation. We try to represent as many questions as possible in the articles we publish, while also ensuring … [Read more...]
The Inspector-General of Taxation (IGT) is investigating the ATO’s administration of the excess contributions tax (ECT) regime and its compliance approach when dealing with taxpayers who exceed their contributions caps. The IGT is taking submissions but those submissions must be lodged by 18 … [Read more...]
This updated article is a must-read if you make contributions to a super fund, in addition to your employer’s compulsory Superannuation Guarantee contributions. If you have a salary sacrifice arrangement in place then you will need to check how much, and when, these additional concessional … [Read more...]
Salary sacrificing, by making before-tax superannuation contributions, is a popular strategy for employees on middle-to-high incomes. The deal is that you increase your superannuation balance (and pay 15% contributions tax) while reducing the amount of income tax payable (up to 46.5%) on your salary … [Read more...]
Q: For a taxpayer aged over 50, can a total contribution of $175,000 this year (150K non concessional and 25k concessional) and a total contribution of $475,000 next financial year (450k non concessional and 25K concessional) be made without attracting penalty tax? A: The short answer is … [Read more...]
Under the superannuation rules, the annual superannuation contributions caps were designed to be indexed in line with movements in average wages. Wages have obviously increased since July 2007 (when the new contribution rules were introduced), but since July 2007, the concessional (before-tax) and … [Read more...]
Q: Are the caps relating to ‘concessional’ and ‘non-concessional’ contributions regarded as separate? Put simply, can I contribute $25,000 concessional and $450,000 non-concessional sums (a total contribution of $475,000) to my super fund for the 2012/2013 year? A: ‘Yes’ is the answer … [Read more...]
Q: My wife and I purchased a licensed post office and freehold from Australia Post in the 1990s. In addition to the licence, we acquired one title with one building (part is leased to a commercial tenant and part we use to run the post office. A freestanding shop was added in 2000. The value of … [Read more...]
Q: Does a co-contribution received after using up the total bring forward cap of $450,000 mean that an excess contribution has been made, or is the Government co-contribution excluded from the after-tax contribution cap? A: A superannuation co-contribution is a tax-free super contribution paid by … [Read more...]
