Following the surprise coalition victory, refresh yourself on what the Liberals and Nationals pledged on super, tax and other retirement measures. This article summarises the Coalition's main election announcements related to superannuation, tax, investing and matters that may affecting your retirement planning. Many ... Read more
Making superannuation contributions
A Super Guide
There are two basic types of super contributions you can make: concessional and non-concessional. Concessional contributions are made from before-tax income and are taxed at 15% in your super fund. Non-concessional contributions are made from after-tax income and are not taxed in your super fund.
Common examples of concessional contributions include:
- compulsory employer superannuation guarantee contributions,
- salary sacrifice arrangements, and
- any personal super contributions that you claim as a tax deduction.
Common examples of non-concessional contributions include:
- voluntary additional payments made from your take-home pay,
- any made on behalf of your spouse (married or de facto),
- a government co-contribution, and
- the Low Income Super Tax Offset (LISTO).
There are annual caps (limits) on the amount of concessional and non-concessional contributions you can make. If you exceed these limits, you’ll be liable to pay extra tax.
The concessional contributions cap is currently $25,000 per year (unless you are eligible to use the carry-forward rule), and the non-concessional cap is $100,000 (unless you are eligible to use the bring-forward rule).
Click on the links directly below to access the following topics about making superannuation contributions:
- Superannuation contributions strategies
- 2018/2019 Contributions Guides
- Super contributions caps
- Superannuation Guarantee (SG)
- Salary sacrifice and super
- Tax-deductible super contributions
- Spouse contributions
- Total superannuation balance
- Contributions tax
- Excess contributions
Learn more about making super contributions in the following key SuperGuide articles:
Set out below are all SuperGuide articles that relate to Making superannuation contributions.
Super housekeeping: 10 tips for the end of financial year
With only a few weeks remaining before the end of the 2018/2019 financial year, it’s time to ensure you have your super affairs in order and all your paperwork is ready for the big day when you lodge your income tax return. To help ensure you have maximised the tax benefits available within the super system, here’s ... Read more
What are the super and Age Pension rules for same-sex couples?
Australia has seen some momentous changes when it comes to the recognition of same-sex relationships in recent years, with the passage of the same-sex marriage legislation in December 2017 marking one of the most significant milestones. The new legislation has had less impact when it comes to super than in many other ... Read more
The rules of superannuation: Your guide for 2018/2019
When you mention super, most people shake their head and mutter about the constant rule changes. Looking back over the past few years it’s a fair comment, with many significant changes occurring – and many more proposed but never legislated. If you are wondering how those changes have affected your super and ... Read more
What is included in my Total Superannuation Balance, and when does it apply?
The concept of total superannuation balance, or TSB, was introduced on 1 July 2017 as part of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Fair and Sustainable Superannuation) Act 2016 as a means to measure your total superannuation interests at any point in time. It is used to determine eligibility for a number of new superannuation ... Read more
Super’s rulebook: What rules apply to you at different ages?
Australia’s super system has lots of rules – many of which have significant penalties if you breach them – but not every rule applies to everybody at every age. There are different rules at different ages on how much and when you can contribute to super, when you can get your hands on your savings, and how much tax ... Read more
Super tips and strategies for all ages
Whatever your age, putting some time and effort into your super now can result in significant benefits down the track. To help get you headed in the right direction, SuperGuide has put together a list of useful tips and strategies to consider implementing in each decade. And don’t wait until just before retirement. If ... Read more
Quiz: Boosting your super with super contributions
Take the following 10 question quiz to test your knowledge on boosting your super with superannuation contributions. Don't worry if you don’t know the answer to a question. Have a go anyway and we’ll let you know the correct answer, as well as providing you with a link to a relevant article. Note: When you pick an ... Read more
What super contributions are best for me?
Working out how best to grow your super nest egg can be confusing and selecting the right mix of concessional (before-tax) and non-concessional (after-tax) contributions makes it even tougher. Whether you make small contributions over time, add a large lump sum, or use the potential tax advantages of contributing ... Read more
Guide to tax-deductible superannuation contributions
Tax-deductible super contributions are an option that more Australians can now consider due to recent legislative changes. However, it can be a complex area, so with tax-time looming, it’s a topic worth reviewing. Firstly, it’s important to understand that you cannot claim a tax deduction for any super contributions ... Read more
Your simple guide to Superannuation Guarantee (SG) contributions
As employees, most of us see the regular note on our payment summary listing the amount for our employer’s Superannuation Guarantee (SG) contribution into our super account and rarely give it much thought. To help you understand it a little better, here’s SuperGuide’s simple explanation of the SG and what it means for ... Read more
2018/2019 guide to concessional contributions (before-tax super contributions)
Although it can be hard getting your head around all the different types of super contributions that go into your super account, concessional contributions are the ones you are mostly likely to have and are pretty straightforward to understand. Concessional contributions – what’s that mean? Concessional contributions ... Read more
Which Australian super funds accept transfers from Kiwisaver accounts?
If you have KiwiSaver savings, you can voluntarily transfer them to an Australian super fund under the provisions of a Trans-Tasman Retirement Savings Portability scheme that was introduced on July 1, 2013. Consolidating your funds in this way can help you to avoid paying multiple fees on your retirement savings. ... Read more
What to do if your employer doesn’t pay your super
The Superannuation Guarantee (SG) is the name for the contribution your employer makes to your super fund on your behalf. You can learn more about whether you are eligible for the Superannuation Guarantee, and how it is calculated in the SuperGuide article Your simple guide to Superannuation Guarantee (SG) ... Read more
What is the maximum super contribution base for 2018/2019?
The Superannuation Guarantee (SG) is the name for the contribution your employer makes to your super fund on your behalf. The current SG contribution rate is 9.5% of your earnings up to a limit called the maximum super contribution base (MSCB). If you earn above that limit in a particular quarter, your employer is not ... Read more