If you add after-tax money to your super, you may be able to claim a tax deduction for it. Depending on how much you earn, it could be a great way to save on tax if you're not able to salary sacrifice.
Claiming a tax deduction lowers your taxable income – so depending on your income, you could pay less tax.
You generally pay less tax on investment earnings inside super compared to other investments.
We show you how to claim a tax deduction for personal super contributions.
It's easy to claim a tax deduction on money you add to your super. Follow these steps:
1
Make an after-tax voluntary contribution (also called a personal super contribution) in Member Online or by BPAY. If you use BPAY, remember to make your payment at least 9 days before the end of the financial year. This'll make sure your payment goes through on time.
2
Notify us of your intent to claim your tax deduction in Member Online or send us the ATO's form, leaving 7–10 business days for postage.
3
We'll contact you when we've processed your request. Around the end of the financial year, it can take up to 8 weeks for your confirmation letter or email to arrive.
4
Once we've let you know in writing that we've processed your request, you can claim the amount in your tax return after the end of the financial year.
Remember there are strict rules for claiming your super contributions as a deduction. Australian Retirement Trust is not a tax agent. We recommend you get professional advice.
Claim online
You'll need to notify us of your intent to claim a tax deduction within the required timeframes. Tell us you want to claim a deduction:
before you lodge your tax return, or
by 30 June the following year, whichever is earlier.
When you claim a tax deduction on your contributions, they'll be counted towards your before-tax contributions cap. This means you pay the 15% super tax on your contribution1.
Find out more about tax and your superAustralian Retirement Trust is not a tax agent. We recommend you talk to a registered tax adviser for professional advice.
There are limits on how much you can add to your super each year. These limits are called contribution caps. Going over your limit could mean paying extra tax.
The benefit of claiming a tax deduction on your super contributions depends on your normal tax rate and super tax rate.
| Your income | Income tax rate (ATO) | Super tax rate |
|---|---|---|
| Up to $18,200 | 0% | 15% |
| $18,201 – $45,000 | 16% on amount over $18,200 | 15% |
| $45,001 – $135,000 | $4,288 plus 30% on amount over $45,000 | 15% |
| $135,001 – $190,000 | $31,288 plus 37% on amount over $135,000 | 15% |
| $190,001 and over | $51,638 plus 45% on amount over $190,000 | 15% |
If your income plus before-tax contributions are more than $250,000 per year, the ATO may apply an extra 15% tax to some or all of your contributions.
Find answers to some common questions about claiming tax deductions on your superannuation.
If you're aged from 67 up to 75 years old, you need to meet the work test or work test exemption to claim a tax deduction. Once you're over 75, you can't make contributions that you could claim a tax deduction on.
You can claim a tax deduction for any personal/voluntary after-tax super contributions, such as adding money from your bank account to your super account.
You can't claim a tax deduction:
It depends on your personal circumstances, so it's always a good idea to get financial advice.
For example, if someone earns less than $60,400 for the year and makes a voluntary contribution, they may get the government's super co-contribution unless they claim a tax deduction. So they have to decide which of those would be more helpful.
Of course, if you can't claim a tax deduction this financial year, there are many other ways you can grow your super.
Generally, employer super contributions aren't tax-deductible.
For example, the superannuation guarantee contributions your employer has to make are not tax-deductible.
And if you salary sacrifice to your super through your employer, these aren't tax-deductible because they're before-tax payments.
However, with some employers such as the Queensland Government, you make standard member contributions through your employer. These could be tax-deductible, unless you have a Defined Benefit account. Find out more.
No, contributions to your spouse's super account aren't tax-deductible, but there is a tax offset you might be able to claim.
If you meet the criteria, you can claim a tax offset. The amount of the offset depends on your partner's income and how much you pay to their super.
Make a personal super contribution, claim your tax deduction and more in Member Online.
1. If your income plus before-tax contributions are more than $250,000 per year, the ATO may apply an extra 15% tax to some or all of your contributions.
