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What is the maximum super contribution base?

Under the super rules, your employer must make regular Superannuation Guarantee (SG) contributions to your super fund as part of your agreed remuneration package.

But for high-income earners, it’s important to know that each year the government sets a quarterly cap on the amount of an employee’s income on which their employer must make SG contributions.

This quarterly cap amount is called the maximum super contribution base (MSCB). As it’s indexed to average weekly ordinary time earnings (AWOTE), it changes every financial year.

What is the MSCB for 2024–25?

The SG contribution rate is 11.5% of your earnings up to the maximum super contribution base for the 2024–25 financial year. If you earn above this limit in a particular quarter, your employer is not required to make SG contributions for the part of your earnings over this limit.

The quarterly MSCB does not apply to other mandated contributions, such as super contributions you are paid under an industrial award or enterprise agreement. Your employer may also choose to pay additional super contributions for you above what is required under the superannuation guarantee and any other mandated amounts.

The MSCB for 2024–25 is $65,070 per quarter ($260,280 per year if you are paid the same amount every quarter), which equals a maximum SG contribution by your employer of $7,483.05 per quarter ($65,070 x 11.5%).

The MSCB amounts for previous years are listed in the table below:

Maximum super contributions base (MSCB) for 2024–25 and previous years

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Responses

  1. Question: If an employee earns more than $60,220K per quarter in 2022-2023, their super is capped at earnings of $60,220K per quarter.
    If however yearly earnings are less than the average of $60,220K per quarter, is there a catch up?

    1. SuperGuide Avatar
      SuperGuide

      Hi Maggie – Thank you for your question, and sorry for the delay in responding.

      The article refers to the fact that the maximum super contribution base applies quarterly to align with the requirements for your employer to make super guarantee contributions into your super account on a quarterly basis. As per the example in that article, the income earned in a particular quarter matters which could be different to another quarter. However, we suggest you consult your employer or a financial adviser to understand your specific situation.

      Best wishes
      The SuperGuide team

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