Now might be a good time to top up your super and help give your balance a welcome boost. Here’s a guide to help you make the most out of your super before 30 June.

Super is real money, and it’s your money. By the time you retire it will likely be one of your biggest assets, so putting some thought into making contributions today may help you achieve the lifestyle you want in retirement.


Benefits

Making additional contributions could help give your super balance a boost. Take Alex for example. She’s 40 years old and decides to contribute an extra $100 each month to her super, as a before-tax contribution. If she keeps it up, by the time Alex retires at age 67, it could mean an extra $38,496 in her super^.

And there are potential tax benefits as well:

• Reduce your taxable income– if you make before-tax contributions from your salary or claim a tax deduction in your tax return for your personal super contributions, you'll lower your taxable income, which could mean less tax.

• Pay less tax on investment earnings– earnings on your super are taxed at a maximum of 15%, whereas earnings on personal investments outside of super are taxed at your personal (marginal) income tax rate. This can be as high as 45%.

^ Example is for illustrative purposes only and has not taken your individual circumstances into account. It assumes a 5.0% pa investment return until retirement at age 67. The example includes a super account administration fee of 0.8% pa, employer contribution rate of 9.5% pa (which increases over time in line with the law), a wage inflation rate of 3.5% pa and a discount for price inflation of 2.5% pa. See below for full assumptions and important information relating to this example.


Contribution caps

Before-tax contributions cap - $25,000

There is a cap per financial year ($25,000 for 2017-2018) on the amount of before-tax contributions you can make. This includes salary sacrifice and compulsory employer contributions, as well as personal contributions which you claim as a tax deduction in your tax return.

After-tax contributions cap - $100,000

There’s a cap per financial year ($100,000 for 2017-2018) on the amount of after-tax contributions you can make. If you’re under age 65, you can also ‘bring-forward’ up to 3 years’ worth of after-tax contributions, which means you could contribute up to $300,000 in a financial year. However, if your total superannuation balance at 30 June of the previous year was $1.6 million or more, your after-tax contribution limit will be reduced to zero.


Things to consider

• Any contributions into super are generally only accessible when you reach preservation age and retire. There are exceptions, such as under the First Home Super Saver Scheme.    

• If you exceed the contribution cap limits, additional tax and penalties may apply.

• Before-tax super contributions will typically be taxed at 15% upon entry to your super fund*.

• The value of your investment in super can go up and down. Before making extra contributions, make sure you understand and are comfortable with any risks tied to your investment option. Find more information about super investment options.

• There are different ways to add to super. Find more information on the ways you can add to super

• You should consider your own circumstances and decide what’s right for you.

New legislative changes

Increased eligibility to claim a tax deduction on personal contributions

On 1 July 2017, the government removed the 10% maximum earnings condition on claiming a tax deduction for personal super contributions. Previously, this meant that if someone had been employed during a financial year, only those who earned less than 10% of their income as an employee could claim a tax deduction.

Now most people under age 75, can claim a tax deduction on personal super contributions. If you’re aged 65 -75, you’ll need to satisfy a work test before you’re able to make a personal super contribution. Other conditions still apply, so be sure to check with the ATO.

If you’re eligible and planning to claim a tax deduction on person super contributions, you’ll need to send a notice of intent to claim form to your super fund within strict timeframes.  Find out more about claiming a tax deduction on super contributions.

While there can be a tax benefit to claiming a personal tax-deduction for your contributions to super, it’s worth remembering that the amount of contribution you claim as a tax deduction will generally be subject to 15% tax on entry to the fund. You’re then generally not able to acess the money you put intpo your super until your retirement, and the contribution caps apply.

The First Home Super Saver Scheme

Did you know that you could now use your super account as a tax-effective way to help save a deposit for your first home?

Under the First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS), from 1 July 2017, you could make voluntary contributions up to $15,000 per financial year into your super account, up to $30,000 in total. You can apply to withdraw these amounts, plus the earnings, from 1 July 2018 to help you with a deposit on your first home#.

Due to the favourable tax treatment generally available through super, FHSSS is designed to help you save towards your deposit faster˅. Remember, any contributions made under the FHSSS will count towards the contributions caps for that financial year 

The tax offset on spouse contributions has been made available to more people

On 1 July 2017 the government increased the income threshold for the tax benefits available when making a spouse contribution.

If your spouse has total income of $37,000 or less, and you make after-tax contributions to their super, you could receive a tax offset on spouse contributions of up to $540. The tax offset amount decreases as your spouse’s income increases and completely phases out when your spouse’s income reaches $40,000.

It’s important to remember that the amount you contribute to your spouse’s super account, will count towards their after-tax contributions cap. If they exceed the contributions cap, you won’t be eligible for the tax offset when your spouse receives a contribution. Eligibility criteria and rules apply.

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