Tag Archives: Superannuation

What happens to your super when you retire?

By Robert Wright /November 21,2025/

Superannuation is one of the important pillars of savings in retirement for most Australians. After years of working and contributing to your super fund, retirement is when you are finally able to access it. Whether retirement is just around the corner or still a few years away, it’s worth understanding your options.

In this article, we’ll walk you through your options on what do with your super when you retire, how is it taxed and what happens if there’s any left when you pass away.

When can you access your super?

You can usually access your super when you reach your preservation age (currently age 60) and retire. Alternatively, you can start accessing it once you turn 65, even if you’re still working.

There are other special circumstances where you might be able to access it earlier, like severe financial hardship or permanent disability but generally speaking, retirement is the key trigger.

Your options once you have access to your super

Once you retire and meet a condition of release, your super becomes accessible for you to withdraw but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to withdraw and use all of it.

You’ve got a few main options and you may prefer a combination of these:

Leave it in your super fund (Accumulation phase)

Yes, you can actually choose to leave your super where it is, in its accumulation phase even after you retire.

If you don’t need to access the money straight away, you can leave your super invested in the fund’s accumulation account. Your money can keep growing (taxed at 15% on earnings) and you can access it when you’re ready.

So, while this may suit short-term plans, it may usually not be the most tax effective option when compared to other options like starting a superannuation pension in retirement, which is often tax free and funded with money from your superannuation savings.

Take a lump sum

Where access to funds is required, you may prefer withdrawing a lump sum from super. This can help you in various ways like paying off a mortgage, clearing credit cards or personal loan debt, covering medical costs, funding travel expenses or investing elsewhere (e.g. property, shares outside of super).

However, this decision should be carefully considered as withdrawing a lump sum or lump sums can reduce how long your super lasts. It’s also worth considering how that money will be managed outside super, as it may be subject to different tax treatment or may impact any Centrelink entitlements like the Age Pension.

Start a superannuation pension (account-based income stream)

An account-based pension lets you convert your accumulated super into a regular income stream. However, once an income stream is started with a set balance, you cannot add more monies to the ongoing account-based pension unless the pension is commuted and restarted again. If you need access to your superannuation savings, starting an income stream is a popular option which can be tax effective.

Where access to the super savings is required, an income stream can be a good option because:

You can receive regular and flexible payments (monthly, quarterly, etc).
You can choose how much to set as regular income for your pension payment (subject to government set minimum limits).
Earnings are tax free once you’re in pension phase.
Payments can be adjusted as your needs change.
You keep control over your investment strategy.

You can still withdraw lump sums if needed but many people like the idea of a steady income, much like a salary. However, consider that the ongoing income payments can reduce your account balance over time.

Can a lifetime annuity help?

One of the biggest concerns for retirees is running out of money.

If you want income for life, no matter how long you live, lifetime income streams such as a lifetime annuity can help you achieve that.

Unlike an account-based pension (which relies on how long your money lasts), a lifetime annuity is more like an insurance product. You invest a lump sum from your super and in return, receive a regular income for the rest of your life.

Some retirees consider using a combination of a pension and an annuity – the pension provides flexibility and the annuity can provide peace of mind. However, lifetime annuities are designed to be held for life. Although there may be flexibility to access a lump sum if needed, there may be break cost considerations.

Can I combine these options?

Absolutely and many retirees choose to do so.

You might prefer to consider:

Leaving some of your super invested in accumulation phase.
Taking a lump sum to pay off debts.
Starting a super pension to draw regular income.
Using part of your super to start a lifetime annuity.

The right mix will depend on your lifestyle, goals, health, family situation and other sources of income, including the Age Pension. There are many more options we have not discussed.

The Age Pension and Super: How they can work together

The Age Pension is a government payment designed to help eligible Australians in retirement. As of 2025, you can apply for the Age Pension from age 67.

There are also concessions and benefits that come with it, such as reduced utility bills and medical costs, so it’s well worth checking your eligibility.

Eligibility is also based on your means – your income and assets. Centrelink includes your super in the assets and income tests. However, the assessment can differ if your super is converted into an income stream like a lifetime annuity.

Age Pension, combined with other sources of super based income like an account-based pension and/or a lifetime annuity, can help make your money last longer. It acts as a safety net if your super runs down over time. This can be a powerful way to stretch your retirement savings further.

How is my super taxed when I retire?

The earnings on your super are usually taxed at a maximum rate of 15% whilst the super remains in accumulation phase. Where an account-based pension is started, the earnings in the pension phase are tax free.

If you’re age 60 or over, any withdrawals from your super (lump sum or income) are usually tax free if you’ve permanently retired.

However, if you’re under 60 or receiving certain types of benefits (like defined benefit pensions), tax rules may be a little different. It’s worth speaking to a financial adviser to understand your situation.

How do I make my super last?

Australians are living longer than ever, and therefore it is important to strategise and ensure that your retirement savings can last for a long time.

Here are a few strategies to consider:

Budget and plan – Work out how much income you need as opposed to how much you want. Consider your spending habits and lifestyle goals to help ensure you don’t withdraw more than you need. Work out how long your super will last.
Stay invested – Your money doesn’t have to stop working for you when you retire. Draw appropriate amounts based on your retirement objectives and consider keeping the balance invested in an option that suits your risk tolerance and goals.
Mix your income sources – Layering your income can help your super last longer. One way you could consider meeting your essential expenses throughout retirement, the Age Pension can work together with a secure, lifetime income stream, such as a lifetime annuity, to provide regular income payments for life. Once your essential expenses have been met through a combination of the Age Pension and a lifetime income stream, you could meet your additional desired expenditure goals with income from an account-based pension.
Review your investments – Ensure they match your risk tolerance and income needs in different phases of your retirement.

What happens to my super when I die?

If you don’t use all your super before you pass away, the remaining balance is generally paid out to your beneficiaries, either as a lump sum or income stream (depending on your instructions and their eligibility) or your estate.

This is known as a death benefit and it can be left to your spouse or partner, your children, certain dependant or interdependents or your estate. It can either be paid as a lump sum or can be paid as an income stream. The tax treatment depends on who receives the benefit. For example, a lump sum payment to a spouse is tax free.

To make sure your wishes are followed, it’s important to nominate your beneficiaries with your super fund. You can make a binding death benefit nomination to ensure your super goes exactly where you want it to. Otherwise, your super fund will decide (within legal guidelines).

Steps toward a stronger retirement

Super can be one of the most flexible and tax effective ways to fund your retirement but simply reaching retirement age doesn’t mean your financial decisions stop. In fact, how you choose to access and manage your super can shape your lifestyle for decades to come.

Whether you choose a lump sum, a regular income or a combination, planning ahead is essential. Think about how long your money needs to last, how to make the most of your tax benefits and how to combine super with other income sources like the Age Pension. A financial adviser can help you tailor your retirement needs with the right options.

Super is more than just savings. The right strategy can help your super last longer, support your quality of life, and give you peace of mind.

Source: Challenger

Investing an inheritance from $10,000 to $100,000 whatever your life stage

By Robert Wright /November 21,2025/

Receiving an inheritance may be a once in a lifetime financial opportunity that also coincides with a very difficult, emotional time in your life. Whether you inherit $10,000 or $100,000, your age, life stage, risk appetite and financial preparedness are likely to play a key role in decisions about how and where to invest.

Many Australians are likely to be left some form of inheritance, most likely from a parent, at some point in their life, with 81% of retirees currently expecting to leave wealth behind.

The average amount Australians expect to inherit is $184,000, according to research commissioned by Colonial First State*.

And while one in two Australians consider up to $10,000 a sizeable amount with which to start investing, the research shows the average amount most Australians consider to be a sizeable investment to own is more than $600,000.

Investing an inheritance may help close that gap. Following are some general thought starters to consider by age, life stage and size of inheritance but please consult a financial adviser for advice relevant to your personal situation.

Also consider your risk appetite. Generally, the more risk you’re willing to undertake, the higher the potential reward may be. However, higher returns come with a higher risk that the value of your investment may fall.

In general, if you only have a short time frame to invest, lower risk investments could be a safer option as they’re less likely to fluctuate in value.

What to do when you first receive an inheritance

The first thing to do when you first receive an inheritance, particularly if it comes at an unexpected time, is to consider your options.

That may mean putting it in a high interest savings account or a mortgage offset account while you decide what to do.

Then consider your goals. Do you need to pay off debt? Are you looking to build long-term wealth? Pay off your home loan? Build a diversified investment portfolio? Or invest for the kids?

Most people with a six figure amount to invest will consult a financial adviser, although it can also be cost effective to obtain one off financial advice for smaller amounts.

Inheriting assets like shares or property, such as the family home, can also have different capital gains tax implications if you decide to sell, so getting tax advice may also be important.

In your 20s

In your twenties, it may be helpful to pay off any high interest debt or build an emergency fund to cover three to six months of living expenses. Otherwise, the earlier you invest, the more time your money has to grow and compound.

$10,000 to invest:

A growth oriented exchange traded fund (ETF) or managed fund may allow money to grow while offering flexibility to access it later if needed.
A voluntary contribution to super, allocated to growth or high growth, can be a tax effective investment that compounds over the long term if you’re within the super contribution caps, or limits, although you generally can’t access it until you reach age 60 and have retired.

$100,000 to invest:

Low touch investors might consider a diversified range of shares via set and forget growth ETFs and managed funds, such as a US shares themed ETF or a long-term growth managed fund.
It may be worth consulting a financial adviser to start building a diversified growth portfolio of managed investments.

In your 30s

For many, the thirties are about getting into the housing market.

$10,000 to invest:

A high interest term deposit or savings account that offers some growth may be a good option over a short time frame.
A voluntary contribution to super may allow you to save for your deposit faster using the First Home Super Saver scheme. The tax rate is generally 15% on earnings in super, while the amount of your contributions you can release to buy your first home increases in line with the shortfall interest charge rate (currently 6.78%).

$100,000 to invest:

Starting a family or looking to enjoy a little extra income?

Dividend focused ETFs may help generate a passive income stream.
If property investing is more your thing, you may have enough to invest in a growing regional market or a real estate investment trust (REIT).

In your 40s

At this point, many Australians who have a mortgage are looking to reduce it.

$10,000 to invest:

Those with a mortgage that’s more than 50% of the value of their home might consider paying it down or putting their inheritance in a mortgage offset account.
If a mortgage is less than 50% of the value of the home, it may be worth considering shares as average share market returns most years can be higher than average mortgage interest rates – again, there are many low cost ETFs and managed funds available.
Or consider making a one off voluntary concessional (pre tax) or non-concessional (after tax) contribution to your super and investing it in a long-term, high growth shares investment option, a gold or silver themed ETF or the growth focused managed fund of your choice.

$100,000 to invest:

Thinking about paying for the kids’ education? Investment bonds can be a good option to include in the mix as withdrawals are tax free after 10 years.
Some investors may consider debt recycling by paying down the mortgage and then applying for a new loan to buy an investment property. Interest on the new loan is generally tax deductible so those interest payments can be offset against your income to reduce the amount of tax you pay.
For those who can afford to invest the money outright, it may be worth building a diversified portfolio of ETFs or managed funds. Global and local shares have historically offered among the best returns. We can connect you with a financial adviser if you’d like help to invest.

In your 50s

After the age of 50, it’s often a good time to maximise pre tax and after tax super contributions to harness some of those tax advantages.

$10,000 to invest:

Have you reached your annual super contribution cap limits? You can contribute up to $30,000 a year in concessional contributions, which are generally taxed at the concessional rate of 15%. These include compulsory employer contributions and salary sacrifice, as well as voluntary personal contributions (which could include a tax free inheritance) for which you claim a tax deduction.
Alternatives might include investing in income producing shares that usually pay a dividend, income or dividend ETFs or REITs.

$100,000 to invest:

If you haven’t fully used your concessional contributions cap in any of the previous five financial years (and your total super balance was less than $500,000 at 30 June of the most recent financial year), you may be able to use those unused cap amounts to make additional catch up contributions over the standard concessional cap amount (currently $30,000).
Non-concessional super contributions (up to $120,000 a year to a maximum super balance of $2 million) are not taxed on the way in and are an effective means of growing your super quickly. While you can’t claim a deduction against these contributions, they compound relatively quickly in the super environment. Depending on how much you have contributed in prior years, you may be eligible to contribute up to $360,000.
Investors who are likely to need to draw on their investments in the next few years, might consider including some fixed income securities or managed volatility funds alongside higher risk investments, such as shares.

In your 60s

Many people approaching retirement focus on preserving capital against sudden falls in value but there are also real costs in going too conservative too early.

From age 60, you can also access super if you meet a condition of release, such as retiring from a job. You can access your super regardless from age 65.

$10,000 to invest:

It may be helpful to pay down any remaining debt or top up super.

$100,000 to invest:

After 60, be cautious with gifting, as it may affect your eligibility to receive the government’s Age Pension from age 67. Gifts over $10,000 per year or $30,000 over five years will still be counted among your assets when it comes to Centrelink means-testing.
For those who have reached their super contribution cap limits, it may be worth topping up your spouse’s super.

In your 70s and beyond

Enjoy your retirement. Most investors are focused on capital preservation and income generation and it may be worth using the bucket strategy with the goal of making your money last longer. At the same time, don’t forget to tick off the things on your bucket list.

$10,000 to invest:

Keep some money in cash or term deposits for accessibility.

$100,000 to invest:

A mix of fixed income investments, REITs and conservative managed funds may help reduce risk, alongside higher growth shares or managed funds that you don’t expect to access in the next five years.

Whether you inherit a modest sum or a substantial windfall, align your investment strategy with your life stage, goals and risk tolerance.

For smaller amounts, many Australians manage without advice but for larger inheritances, professional advice from a financial adviser and an accountant can help you navigate tax implications, diversify your investments and plan effectively for the future.

* Colonial First State research conducted with 2,250 Australians online between January and June 2025.

Source: Colonial First State

How much super do I need to retire in Australia?

By Robert Wright /August 22,2025/

The amount of super you need to support your retirement will depend on what kind of lifestyle you’re hoping to enjoy and how much income you’ll be earning in addition to your super savings. Income from the Age Pension, part-time work and other financial investments will affect the amount of super you need to retire comfortably.

The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) provides yearly total income recommendations based on the type of retirement you’re aiming for. Depending on how much income you expect to receive from other sources, you can then estimate how much super you’ll need to reach the “comfortable” or “modest” benchmarks.

The table below gives you an idea of how much retirement income you might need to enjoy a comfortable, or modest retirement, and compares these benchmarks against how much you can receive on the Age Pension.

	Comfortable lifestyle	Modest lifestyle	Maximum rate of Age Pension
Single	$52,383	$33,386	$29,874.00
Couple	$73,875	$48,184	$22,518.60 (each) a year

Budgets for various households and living standards for those aged 65-84 (March quarter 2025)
Source: ASFA Retirement Standard

The amount of super you need will also depend on what you’re earning from full or part-time work, the Age Pension and other investments.

To enjoy a comfortable retirement, AFSA suggests that single people will need $595,000 in super savings at age 67, and couples will need $690,000. But your own individual goal will depend on your other income streams and personal situation.

In addition to the total amount of super you have, the way you access it once you retire can also impact your retirement wealth. For example, your super earnings might be subject to more tax if you plan to withdraw lump sums, compared to setting up a super income stream like an account-based pension.

What’s the difference between a comfortable and modest retirement in Australia?

A comfortable retirement means you can look forward to a broad range of leisure and recreational activities, with a good standard of living. ASFA guidelines suggest you’ll be able to purchase things like private health insurance, a reasonable car, good clothes and a range of electronic equipment. You’ll enjoy domestic and occasionally international, holiday travel.

According to ASFA, you can expect a modest retirement to be better than living on the government Age Pension. However, you’ll only be able to enjoy a fairly basic lifestyle.

See the charts below to get a more detailed understanding of what sort of services and luxuries you might be able to enjoy, based on your retirement savings.

	Comfortable lifestyle	Modest lifestyle	Age Pension
Medical	Top level private health insurance, doctor/specialist visits, pharmacy needs	Basic private health insurance, limited gap payments	No private health insurance.
Technology	Fast reliable internet/telco subscription, computer/android mobile/streaming services	Basic mobile, modest internet data allowance	Very basic mobile and limited internet connectivity
Transport	Own a reasonable car, car insurance and maintenance/upkeep	Owning a cheaper, older, more basic car	Limited budget to own, maintain or repair a car
Lifestyle	Regular leisure activities including club membership, cinema visits, exhibitions, dance/yoga classes	Infrequent leisure activities, occasional trip to the cinema	Rare trips to the cinema
Home	Home repairs, updates and maintenance to kitchen and bathroom appliances over 20 years	Limited budget for home repairs, household appliances	Struggle to pay for repairs, such as leaky roofs or major plumbing problem
Haircuts	Regular professional haircuts	Budget haircuts	Less frequent haircuts, or self haircuts
Home cooling and heating	Confidence to use air conditioning in the home, afford all utilities	Need to keep a close watch on all utility costs and make sacrifices	Limited budget for home heating in winter
Eating out	Occasional restaurant meals, home delivery meals, take away coffee	Limited meals out at inexpensive restaurants, infrequent home delivery or take away	Only local club special meals or inexpensive take away
Clothing	Replace worn out clothing and footwear items, modest wardrobe updates	Limited budget to replace or update worn items	Very basic clothing and footwear budget
Travel	Annual domestic trip to visit family, one overseas trip every seven years	Annual domestic trip or a few short breaks	Occasional short break or day trip in your own city

Annual budgets for households and living standards for those aged 65-84 (March quarter 2025)
Source: ASFA Retirement Standard

Do I need a second income stream in retirement?

This will come down to your personal circumstances, and what kind of lifestyle you’re hoping to enjoy when you retire.

Planning ahead is a great idea if you want to supplement your super with additional streams of income. For example, you could:

build up your financial investments
top up your super with salary sacrifice or a personal super contribution
find part-time employment
apply for the Age Pension.

What government benefits could I receive?

When you retire, you might be eligible for government benefits like the Age Pension or a concession card. This will depend on your age, your residency status, and your financial situation.

As of 20 March 2025, the maximum Age Pension is:

$1,149 per fortnight for singles ($29,874 a year).
$866 each per fortnight for couples ($22,516 a year).

If you’re eligible for the Age Pension, you may also be able to access additional government payments, such as:

Carer allowance: If you provide daily care to an elderly person or someone with a disability or a serious illness.
Rent assistance: To help cover your rent if you’re renting privately.

If you’re receiving the Age Pension, the government will automatically send you a Pensioner Concession Card. Even if you’re not eligible for the Pensioner Concession Card, you might still be able to get a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, subject to being eligible.

Either of these cards will allow you to access:

cheaper medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
bulk billing for doctor’s appointments
reduced out of hospital expenses through Medicare.

Note that there may be additional concessions from state or territory governments, or from local councils and businesses.

How can I set myself up for the retirement I want?

Your first step will be to create a clear vision for the retirement you want. Ask yourself: What type of lifestyle do you want to enjoy in retirement? Modest, comfortable, or would you like even more freedom? Use the table above to figure out what you’d like your retirement to look like.

Secondly, are you currently on track to achieve this goal?

If you’re not quite on track to reach your goal, you can start thinking about strategies to boost your retirement wealth. This might include topping up your current super savings, working part-time, or building up your other financial investments.

If you’re unsure about the best way to set yourself up for a retirement which supports your personal goals, a financial adviser can help steer you in the right direction.

Calculating how much super is needed for retirement

A retirement calculator helps you estimate how much money you’ll need for the retirement lifestyle you want – and how much money you might have when you retire, based on your super savings and other assets.

The calculator will also show you the impact of potential investments, fees and voluntary contributions to your super and your retirement wealth.

Consider the ASFA benchmarks for a modest and comfortable retirement, other income streams like part-time work or investments and your own financial goals when determining how much super you’ll need when you retire.

How can I grow my super?

Topping up your super is a good way to boost your retirement wealth and may provide tax-concessions in the short term.

Currently, your employer must pay 12% of your ordinary time earnings into your nominated super fund. These contributions are called Superannuation Guarantee (SG) contributions. However, there are a few different ways you can contribute more of your own money towards your super.

As super compounds each year, even a small contribution can go a long way towards building up your retirement wealth so you can enjoy the type of retirement you want.

If you’re still not sure about the best way to set yourself up for retirement, consider speaking with a financial adviser. They’ll review your personal situation and help you find the solution which best suits your life stage, financial goals and risk tolerance.

Source: Colonial First State

Carry forward concessional contributions

By Robert Wright /August 22,2025/

If you’re looking for ways to potentially increase your retirement savings while reducing tax, carry forward concessional contributions could be a good option.

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.

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.

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%.

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.
You can only carry forward unused concessional contributions from 1 July 2020.
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 2025-26 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 $2.0 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.

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 2025-26). 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.

Source: MLC