Benefits of tax-deductible super contributions

Tax-deductible super contributions offer many benefits if you’re looking to boost your retirement savings while also reducing your taxable income.

Here are some of them:

• Your personal tax-deductible super contribution is taxed at 15% which is significantly lower than what most people pay on their taxable income (the highest marginal tax rate is 47% if you include the Medicare Levy).
  
• Reduced taxable income: making tax-deductible super contributions can reduce your taxable income for the financial year. This can lower your income tax, potentially putting you in a lower tax bracket and saving you money on your tax bill.
• Increased retirement savings: making personal tax-deductible contributions can be a great way to offset capital gains you realise on assets held outside super. If you’ve sold an asset that is subject to capital gains tax, you may contribute some or all of that money and claim it as a deduction. This could reduce or even eliminate the capital gains tax owed
• Compounding growth: contributions made to your super benefit from compounding growth over time. This means that not only do you boost your retirement savings, the earnings on those contributions can also compound and grow over the long-term
• Carry forward contributions: if you have unused concessional contribution cap in the previous 5 financial years and your total super balance was less than $500,000 on 30 June of the previous financial year, you may be able to make carry forward concessional contributions. This means you can contribute more than the standard cap of $30,000 in one year by using up the unused cap amounts from earlier years.
   

Considerations for tax-deductible super contributions

There are some things to consider when claiming a tax deduction on super contributions.

• Personal tax-deductible super contributions are capped at $30,000 per financial year unless you are eligible to make carry forward concessional contributions. If you choose to contribute more than your cap, you may be required to pay more tax.

• Higher income earners (on more than $250,000) are taxed at 30% on all or part of their contributions. This still provides an opportunity to boost your super savings and save tax compared to the top marginal tax rate of 47% which is applied to income at this level

• If you’re a lower income earner on a marginal tax rate close to or less than 15%, there may be little advantage in making a tax-deductible super contribution. Speaking to a financial adviser can help you decide the best approach.
• If you’re 67 to 74, you need to meet a work test if you wish to claim a tax deduction for a personal super contribution. This means you must have been employed or self-employed during the financial year for at least 40 hours over a period of no more than 30 consecutive days.
   

Claiming your tax deduction

To claim a tax deduction, you’ll need to provide your super fund with a ‘Notice of intent to claim or vary a deduction for personal super contributions’ form. This form is available through your super fund or the Australia Taxation Office.

If your super fund considers the notice valid, it will process your request and send you an acknowledgement.
 

How do salary sacrifice contributions differ?

Salary sacrifice contributions are arranged with your employer and are made before income tax is deducted from your salary, reducing your taxable income immediately.

Personal tax-deductible contributions are made from your after-tax income. You claim a tax deduction for them when you file your tax return, which also reduces your taxable income.

Both types of contributions, as well as super contributions paid by your employer, are concessional contributions with an annual limit of $30,000 per financial year, unless you are eligible for carry forward concessional contributions.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

How much of my super contribution is tax deductible?

Personal super contributions—those made from money you’ve already paid tax on such as savings or your take-home pay—may be tax deductible. If you are eligible, these contributions can be claimed against your taxable income when you lodge your tax return.

Do super contributions reduce taxable income?

If you’ve made personal super contributions, you may be eligible to claim them as a tax deduction which may reduce your taxable income.

Salary sacrifice contributions, which are arranged with your employer and made before tax is deducted from your salary, may also reduce your taxable income. However, you cannot claim a tax deduction on the salary sacrifice contributions. 

Is it better to salary sacrifice super or claim a tax deduction?

Sacrificing some of your salary into super can reduce your taxable income, so you may end up paying less tax. The amount of tax you pay on the contributions—15% can be a lot lower than the tax rate you pay on your income, which can be up to 47% (including the Medicare Levy). Higher income earners (on more than $250,000) are taxed at 30% on contributions.
 

Tax-deductible super contributions: key takeaways

Super is harder than it probably should be—but better than you probably think. There can be a range of tax savings, structured long-term investing and regular contributions, which can make it a powerful engine for assisting with an anxiety-free retirement. Talking to a financial adviser can make it a lot easier.