Carry forward concessional contributions: how it works

Carry forward (catch-up) super contributions: how it works

Title: Carry forward concessional contributions: how it works
Short description: If you’re looking for ways to potentially increase your retirement savings while reducing tax, carry forward concessional contributions could be a good option.
Topics: mlc:Topics/news-and-updates
Time to read/watch: 7 min
Effective date: 2024-08-29 00:00
Feature Image: /content/dam/mlc/insights/images/Articles/2023/carry-forward-super-contributions/carry-forward-contributions.jpg
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Carry forward concessional contributions

If you’ve had time out of work raising kids or for other lifestyle reasons, or you haven’t had the money to boost your super until now, you could take advantage of carry forward concessional contributions (also known as catch-up contributions).

If you’re eligible, the Australian government allows you to catch up on your super contributions by adding in more than the annual limit, so you can enjoy life at retirement without worrying about money.

In this article, we look at what carry forward concessional contributions are, the rules surrounding them and how you could benefit.

What are carry forward concessional contributions?

Carry forward concessional contributions, also known as catch-up contributions, fall under concessional (before-tax) contributions. Concessional contributions include:

employer contributions (such as super guarantee and salary sacrifice).
personal contributions that you claim as a tax deduction.

There is an annual cap for concessional contributions which is currently $30,000.

If eligible, you can contribute more than $30,000 this financial year by using any unused concessional contributions caps from the previous five financial years.

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Benefits of carry forward super contributions

Making additional before-tax contributions can be a tax-effective way to boost your retirement savings.

Super contributions are taxed at 15% (up to an additional 15% tax may apply to higher income earners) which is often a lot lower than most peoples’ marginal tax rate (rate of tax you pay on your personal income) which can be up to a maximum of 47% including the Medicare levy.

Any earnings you receive on your contributions once they are in your super account are also only taxed at up to 15%.

Carry forward super contributions: case study examples

Here’s a few examples of how carry forward concessional contributions could benefit you.

Example 1: Tax savings

John, a 50-year-old with a total super balance under $500,000. He receives a bonus at work and decides to use the bonus to make additional concessional contributions to super including unused amounts from the previous five financial years.
This not only helps him save more for retirement but also reduces his taxable income and tax liability for the year.

Example 2: Boosting retirement savings after a career break

Mark took a career break in his early 30s to care for his children. When he returned to work, he wanted to catch up on his super contributions. His total super balance was $400,000. The carry-forward rule allowed him to use the unused cap from up to five previous financial years when he wasn't working. He did this by making regular salary sacrifice contributions through his employer which helped him rebuild his super balance more quickly as well as providing additional personal income tax savings.

Example 3: Accelerating retirement savings close to retirement

Lisa, who is in her late 50s, is planning to retire in a few years. She realises her super balance is not as high as she'd like it to be at $300,000. Carry forward concessional contributions enable her to decrease her tax and increase her super savings in the final years before retirement, giving her a better lifestyle in retirement. She does this by making salary sacrifice contributions through her employer.

Eligibility rules for carry forward concessional contributions

To make a carry forward concessional contribution, there are specific conditions you need to meet:

You need to be under the age of 75 – your contribution must be received by your super fund on or before 28 days following the end of the month you turn 75
Your total super balance needs to be less than $500,000 on 30 June of the previous financial year (eg 30 June 2024 for the 2024/25 financial year)
You can only carry forward unused concessional contributions from 1 July 2019
Unused concessional cap amounts can only be carried forward for five financial years until they expire.

Eligibility criteria for super contributions, including carry forward concessional contributions, can change over time. It's essential to check with the Australian Taxation Office or consult a financial adviser for the most up-to-date information.

Calculating your carry forward concessional contribution amount

Check your previous 30 June total super balance with the ATO. This is available via the MyGov website. You want to ensure your total super balance is under $500,000 as at the previous 30 June.

Once you login to your account, you can also use MyGov to work out the amount of unused concessional contributions cap that is available.

Important things to consider for carry forward concessional contributions

Keep in mind that carry forward concessional contributions are part of the concessional contributions cap, which includes employer contributions (such as super guarantee and salary sacrifice contributions) and personal contributions that you claim as a tax deduction. When determining the amount of unused concessional contributions cap that is available for the current financial year, consider any future concessional contributions you intend to make.

It’s also important to remember that you can’t access your super until you meet a condition of release, such as reaching age 65 or age 60 and either retiring or ceasing work.

To use up carried forward concessional cap amounts, you may want to make salary sacrifice or personal deductible contributions to super.

How do super bring forward rules differ to carry forward concessional contributions?

Super bring forward rules

Super bring forward rules relate to after-tax contributions, allowing you to contribute more into super in a shorter period. Under these rules, you can bring forward up to two years' worth of non-concessional (after-tax) contributions.

The annual non-concessional contributions cap is $120,000 for the 2024/25 financial year. However, using the bring forward rule, you could contribute up to $360,000 if eligible.

If your total super balance is less than the general transfer balance cap of $1.9 million, you may be eligible to make non-concessional (after-tax) contributions. Depending on your total super balance you may be able to use the bring forward rule.

Carry forward concessional contributions

Carry forward concessional contributions are for before-tax contributions, enabling you to make up for past years where you may not have utilised all your concessional contribution caps. Generally, concessional contributions reduce your personal taxable income and tax payable.

Ready to make a carry forward concessional contribution?

Adding a little extra to your super can be a great way to boost your super savings for retirement. Find out how to add more to your super, or log in to make a contribution.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I determine my carry forward contributions for the current financial year?

Carry forward concessional contributions are in addition to the current financial year’s concessional contributions cap ($30,000 for 2024/25). Your carry forward concessional contributions or unused concessional contributions cap for the previous five years, can be obtained from the ATO using MyGov. Check that the information in MyGov is consistent with what you believe has occurred.

Do I need to notify my super fund to make carry forward concessional contributions?

If you intend to claim a tax deduction for personal contributions, you must lodge a valid notice of intent to claim a tax deduction with your super fund. Strict timing requirements apply. However, you don’t have to notify your super fund that you intend to use carry forward concessional contributions.

Can I make carry forward concessional contributions at any time during the financial year?

Generally, you can make carry forward concessional contributions at any time during the financial year, however:

where personal contributions are made on or after age 67, a work test or work test exemption must be satisfied in the financial year to be eligible to claim a tax deduction
if you’re turning 75, a personal tax-deductible super contribution cannot be made after 28 days following the end of the month you turn 75
there are strict timing requirements for lodging a notice of intent to claim a tax deduction with your super fund. See the ATO website for more information.

What are the tax benefits of carry forward concessional contributions?

Carry forward concessional contributions can help to reduce your taxable income for the year in which you make them. This can result in potential tax savings, especially if you're in a higher tax bracket.

How does your super stack up?

Take our 2-minute check to see how your super compares to other Australians.

Get started

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Important information and disclaimer

This article has been prepared by NULIS Nominees (Australia) Limited ABN 80 008 515 633 AFSL 236465 (NULIS) as trustee of the MLC Super Fund ABN 70 732 426 024. NULIS is part of the Insignia Financial group of companies comprising Insignia Financial Ltd ABN 49 100 103 722 and its related bodies corporate (‘Insignia Financial Group’). The information in this article is current as at June 2024 and may be subject to change. This information may constitute general advice. The information in this article is general in nature and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions based on this information. It is recommended that you consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) before you make any decisions about your superannuation. You can obtain the latest copy of the PDS (or other disclosure documents) and TMD by calling us on 132 652 or by searching for the applicable product at mlc.com.au. You should not rely on this article to determine your personal tax obligations. Please consult a registered tax agent for this purpose. Opinions constitute our judgement at the time of issue. The case study examples (if any) provided in this article have been included for illustrative purposes only and should not be relied upon for decision making. Subject to terms implied by law and which cannot be excluded, neither NULIS nor any member of the Insignia Financial Group accept responsibility for any loss or liability incurred by you in respect of any error, omission or misrepresentation in the information in this communication.

Carry forward (catch-up) super contributions: how it works