SuperGuide

Simple superannuation and retirement planning information

Contributions caps

You can make two types of superannuation contributions to your super fund. You, or your employer, can make concessional (before-tax) contributions to your super fund. You, or your spouse, or the federal government, can make non-concessional (after-tax) contributions to your super fund.

For each type of super contribution there is an annual limit on how much of that type of super contribution can be contributed to your super account/s. If you exceed a certain amount of contributions each year however, any contributions above that cap must be withdrawn from the super account, or penalty tax must be paid.

You have two caps – a concessional contributions cap ($25,000 for the 2017/2018 year, and for the 2018/2019 year), and a non-concessional contributions cap ($100,000 for the 2017/2018 year, or for the 2018/2019 year).

For more information about the annual contributions caps, including how the caps are applied see the following SuperGuide links:

Set out below are all SuperGuide articles referring to Contributions caps.

Making super contributions: Aged 65 years or older

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Q: From reading SuperGuide articles, I can see that since July 2017, there is no longer a special contributions cap for people between 50 and 74 years, but a general concessional contribution cap of $25,000 a year for all age groups. I can also see that for non-concessional contributions, the cap is now $100,000. Is ... Read more

Excess contributions rules: A quick summary

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If you plan to make superannuation contributions to a super fund, you need to be mindful of the contributions caps for both concessional (before tax) contributions and for non-concessional (after-tax) contributions. You also need to understand the financial (or other) consequences of exceeding those contributions ... Read more

Super for beginners: Top 10 must-know facts

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Ten years ago, in January 2009, we launched the SuperGuide website, and in March 2009 we published the first monthly SuperGuide newsletter. 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 ... Read more

Boost your super: 10 planning tips for 2018/2019 year

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Although many people are still grappling with the superannuation changes that took effect from July 2017, and several more that took effect from July 2018, it’s important to note that many of the underlying super rules remain unchanged. For example, the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) rates remain the same, contributions ... Read more

Capital gains: Reducing income tax via super contributions

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Q: I have a self-managed super fund (SMSF), and I also have two investment properties in my personal name. When I sell the properties, I will be required to pay capital gains tax. Can this capital gains tax be offset by a contribution to the SMSF which would be tax-deductible? Would there be a 15% contributions tax? I ... Read more

Non-cash contributions, CGT and contributions caps

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Q: My husband and I, both near 60, plan to spend around $700,000 of our cash to buy shares soon. We don’t have a trust structure or company (both PAYG) and wondered how/if we could buy them in the name of our self-managed super fund? How do we get the cash from our names to the super fund? I’ve read about in-specie ... Read more