SuperGuide

Simple superannuation and retirement planning information

Spouse contributions

You can make superannuation contributions on behalf of your spouse. In certain circumstances you can make a non-concessional (after-tax) super contribution to your spouse’s account, and you claim a tax offset for the super contribution you make. You can also split concessional (before-tax) superannuation contributions with your spouse, subject to meeting specific rules (see SuperGuide articles Boost your spouse’s retirement kitty: 10 things you need to know and Contributing to your spouse’s super account (4 Q&As) and Total Superannuation Balance: 7 reasons why your TSB matters).

Note: Splitting concessional contributions is different from splitting a pre-existing super benefit. Couples can only split superannuation benefits in the event of a relationship breakdown (see SuperGuide articles Super for beginners, part 7: Can I split my super benefits with my spouse? and Divorce and superannuation: Who gets what?).

Important: Under superannuation law, the term spouse has a similar meaning to the broader legal meaning of spouse. Spouse is defined as another person (whether the same sex or different sex) with whom the person is in a relationship that is registered under law, Or, another person who, although not legally married to the person, lives with the person on a genuine domestic basis in a relationship as a couple. For information on super and same-sex couples, see SuperGuide article Same-sex couples: your super rights explained.

Set out below are all SuperGuide articles referring to Spouse contributions.

Spouse contributions tax offset: 10 facts you need to know

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These days it’s rare for a government to be more generous about handing out benefits, but when it comes to helping boost your spouse’s super, that infrequent event is set to happen. Since 1 July 2017, the maximum income threshold for the spouse contributions tax offset jumped from the previous meagre upper limit of ... Read more

Contributing to your spouse’s super account (4 Q&As)

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Q: I’m fully employed while my wife has not been working, and she is unlikely to return to work before the end of this financial year (end of 2017/2018 year), and most likely some time during the 2018/2019 year. My question concerns maximising tax strategies for this year (2017/2018 year) and next year (2018/2019). Can ... Read more

Same-sex couples: your super rights explained

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Same-sex couples are now able to marry in Australia. The nation participated in a non-compulsory and non-binding survey run by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, rather than the Australian Electoral Commission, to determine if gay and lesbian Australians should be given the right to marry, a right already held by all ... Read more