How super is taxed guide Tax on contributions
Tax on contributions
The tax paid on super contributions depends on your age,
the amount and type of contributions and whether you
have provided ESSSuper with your TFN. There are caps on
the amount of concessional (before-tax) contributions you
and your employer can make to your super. If you exceed
these caps, you may pay extra tax. Also, if we don’t have
your TFN, all contributions will be taxed at 47%1
. The table below shows the tax that applies if we have your TFN.
Type of
contribution |
Tax rate |
Concessional
(e.g. employer
superannuation
guarantee and
salary sacrifice) |
- 15% on amounts up to $25,0002
a year
- Where your combined income
including concessional contributions
exceeds $250,000 p.a., an additional
15% tax will apply to concessional
contributions relating to the income
exceeding $250,000
|
Non-concessional |
- 0% on amounts up to $100,0002, 3, 4
a year
- 47%1,3 on amounts above $100,0002, 3, 4
a year
|
- Rates shown include the Medicare levy of 2%.
- Contribution caps are for the 2018/19 year and may change in the future.
- If you’re under age 65 at 1 July, you can depending on your
balance bring forward two years and contribute up to $300,000
tax free for a three year period. Any contributions above the cap
(or above $300,000 over three years if applicable) are taxed at
47%, including the Medicare Levy unless withdrawn.
- If you have a total super balance of $1.6 million or more at
30 June of the previous financial year, your non-concessional
contributions cap is zero and any non-concessional contributions
you make will be subject to excess non-concessional
contributions tax and taxed at the highest marginal tax rate.
You may be able to elect to release up to 85% of your
excess concessional contributions from the fund. Excess
concessional contributions over the above caps will be
taxed at your marginal rate (plus the excess concessional
contributions charge). You should monitor all contributions
(made by you and on your behalf ) into your account to
ensure they don’t exceed the caps.
Contributions tax is deducted from your account as at
30 June each year and on closure of your account (after
insurance premiums and administration fees have been
deducted from your account).