Contributions and tax benefits



For most people, the majority of their super will come from their employment in the form of the 'Super Guarantee' (SG), a payment equivalent to 11.5% of pre-tax Ordinary Time Earnings. The SG will increase to 12% on 1 July 2025.
Most super contributions are usually taxed at 15%*. This is known as the 'concessional contributions tax' rate.
Make sure you don’t pay too much tax on your super by providing us with your Tax File Number (TFN).
However, the Super Guarantee isn't the only way to build up your super.
- Salary sacrifice
- Personal tax-deductible
- Personal after tax
- Government co-contribution
- Boost your spouse's super
- Downsizing contributions
- First Home Super Saver
- Super contributions from age 67
- Contribution limits
*People earning over $250,000 may pay more tax. The definition of income here includes concessional contributions. If your adjusted taxable income excluding your concessional contributions is less than $250,000, but the inclusion of your concessional contributions pushes your income above $250,000, the additional 15% tax will only apply to the portion of the contributions that are above $250,000. This additional tax may be paid directly by you or released from the Fund. Adjusted taxable income includes taxable income, reportable employer superannuation contributions, deductible personal superannuation contributions, reportable fringe benefits amounts and other sources of income.
Salary Sacrifice - Employees
If you're an employee, you may be able to put pre-tax income into super, to build more for retirement and pay less tax. You can do this by asking your employer to put some of your pay into your super instead of putting it all into your bank account.
Personal tax-deductible - Employees and Self Employed
You can make personal tax-deductible contributions to super – it doesn’t matter if you are self-employed or working for an employer.
This is money you contribute to super from your bank account where you have notified TWUSUPER that you intend to claim a tax deduction for those contributions.
Personal after-tax
This is the money you put into your super from your bank account and for which you do not claim a tax deduction. Because the payment is made after tax, you won't pay any contributions tax when this money enters your fund.
You can make payments to your TWUSUPER account using BPAY®. Get your BPAY® information by calling us on 1800 222 071 between 8am and 8pm (AEST/AEDT) weekdays or logging in to Member Online.
® Registered to BPAY Pty Ltd ABN 69 079 137 518.
Government Co-contribution
If you earn under $60,400 in the financial year ending 30 June 2025, the Government can chip in up to $500 to help boost your super when you make a voluntary non-concessional (after-tax) contribution to your TWUSUPER account. This is known as the Super Co-contribution Scheme.
How much could you get?
If you meet the criteria, how much the Government co-contributes depends on two things:
- How much you earn
- How much you contribute
Use this calculator to see how much you could get.
How to contribute
You can make a contribution to your TWUSUPER account with BPAY®. Get your unique BPAY® Code by logging into Member Online or calling 1800 222 071 between 8am and 8pm (AEST/AEDT) weekdays.
® Registered to BPAY Pty Ltd ABN 69 079 137 518.
Eligibility
To be eligible for a co-contribution for 2024/25, you must make at least one after-tax contribution to your super during the financial year and:
- earn under $60,400 in 2024/25
- have provided us with your Tax File Number (you can log in to Member Online to see if we have your TFN)
- be under 71 years at 30 June 2025
- received 10% or more of your income from employment and/or running a business
- not have held a temporary visa at any time during the financial year (unless you're a New Zealand citizen or on a prescribed visa)
- have had less than $1.9 million in all your super accounts at 30 June 2025
- have not contributed more than your after-tax cap for 2024/25
- lodge a tax return for 2024/25.
The ATO website goes into these requirements in more detail.
Important note
If you receive a government co-contribution, you cannot also claim a tax deduction on your voluntary after-tax contribution.
Boost your spouse's super
You can help build your spouse’s* super by contributing to their super.
Spouse contributions
If your spouse's total assessable income (including reportable super contributions and reportable fringe benefits) is $40,000 or less, you may be able to claim a tax rebate (or offset) for making an after-tax contribution to their super. To receive the rebate, you'll need to meet the ATO's eligibility rules. To make an after-tax contribution to your spouse's super, complete a Spouse contribution form.
Contributions splitting
To split your before-tax contributions with your spouse, complete a Contributions splitting application form.
*To receive your contributions, your spouse must meet the age and work-hour requirements (contact us for more information). The law defines a spouse as another person (whether of the same or different sex) who is legally married to you, or a person who, although not legally married to you, lives with you on a genuine domestic basis in a relationship as a couple. Income, for the purposes of eligibility for the rebate, includes your spouse's assessable income, total reportable fringe benefits, and reportable employer contributions.
Downsizing contributions for the over 55s
If you're age 55 years or older and meet the eligibility requirements, you may be able to choose to make a downsizer contribution into your superannuation of up to $300,000 from the proceeds of selling your home.
Your downsizer contribution does not count towards your contribution caps.
First Home Super Saver Scheme
The First Home Super Saver (FHSS) scheme allows first home buyers to save money for your first home inside your super fund.
Super contributions from Age 67
Personal super contributions can be made up to age 74* without needing to meet a work test.
However, to be eligible to claim a tax deduction on your personal super contribution, a work test (or work test exemption) must be met if you are aged 67 to 74*.
*The contribution must be received by the fund within 28 days after the end of the month you turn 75 years old. So, if your birthday is in October (any day), the contribution must be received by the 28th of November.
Contribution limits
There are limits – or caps – on the amount you can contribute to your super at favourable tax rates. If you go above these caps, additional tax may apply. The caps apply to any super accounts in your name – not just your TWUSUPER account.
Below is a summary of some of the rules around the caps – the ATO website provides further detailed information.
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More information on contribution limits
Before-tax limits
Before-tax contributions (also known as concessional contributions) include:
- employer contributions (including contributions made under a salary sacrifice arrangement), and
- personal contributions claimed as a tax deduction.
For most people, the concessional contributions cap is $30,000.
However, if your total super balance is less than $500,000, you can carry forward any unused portion of the concessional contributions cap up to five previous financial years – this may allow you to contribute more than the $30,000 limit without paying additional tax.
After-tax limits
After-tax contributions (also known as non-concessional contributions) include spouse contributions, after-tax employee contributions and personal contributions for which you do not claim an income tax deduction.
The non-concessional contributions cap is $120,000. If you make contributions above the cap, you may be eligible to bring forward future year caps – this may allow you to contribute more than the $120,000 limit without paying additional tax.
If the balance in all super accounts in your name reaches $1.9 million, no more after-tax contributions can be made.
General advice on this website has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on the advice, consider its appropriateness. Refer to our Product Disclosure Statements (PDS). The PDS is relevant when deciding whether to acquire or hold a product. A Target Market Determination (TMD) is a document that outlines the target market a product has been designed for. Find the TMDs at twusuper.com.au/tmd