Archive for month: May, 2026

1. It’s all about timing

If you are making contributions and have a retail or industry super fund, please check the fund website for cut off dates or call our office.

If you have a Self-Managed Super Fund, ensure pension payments leave the bank account by close of business on 30 June.

Action: Aim to process payments by 22 June or earlier to reduce end-of-year timing risk.

2. Review your Concessional Contributions (CC) options

The 2025–26 concessional cap is $30,000, including employer contributions, salary sacrifice and personal deductible contributions.

Action: to determine if you have any capacity, check your year-to-date total in ATO online services.

This strategy may also suit retirees or those with a large capital gains, provided they meet the contribution rules and stay within available limits, including any carried-forward concessional amounts.

3. Consider using the ‘Unused Carry Forward Concessional Contribution’ limits

If your total super balance was under $500,000 at the previous 1 July, you may be able to use unused concessional cap amounts from up to five earlier years to make extra concessional contributions.

Action: Review your unused carried-forward amounts now, especially if you still have 2020–21 amounts available before they expire after 30 June 2026.

4. Review plans for Non-Concessional Contributions (NCC) options

The 2025–26 non-concessional cap is $120,000 a year, or up to $360,000 under the bring-forward rule.

Action: consider whether contributing to the lower-balance spouse could improve tax efficiency and increase pension-phase assets.

5. Recontribution strategies

Recontribution strategies can help increase the tax-free component of super and may reduce tax on death benefits paid to non-tax dependants.

Action: Consider whether a withdrawal and recontribution before 30 June fits your cap and balance position.

6. Downsizer contributions

If you are over 55 and selling your home, you may be eligible to make a downsizer contribution of up to $300,000 per person from the sale proceeds.

Action: make the contribution within 90 days of settlement.

Used with the bring-forward non-concessional cap, this can allow a large one-year contribution, subject to eligibility and contribution limits.

7. Calculate co-contributions

If eligible, a co-contribution can be a simple way to boost your super. If your total income is equal to or less than the lower threshold and you make a non-concessional contribution of $1,000 to your super account, you will receive the maximum co-contribution of $500.

Action: Check the thresholds and eligibility criteria here: Government contributions | Australian Taxation Office

8. Examine spouse contributions and spouse contribution splitting

If your spouse’s income is below the relevant threshold, a spouse contribution may deliver a tax offset.

Action: check eligibility before contributing.

Spouse contributions can generally be used up to age 75 and count toward the receiving spouse’s non-concessional cap.

Contribution splitting may also help if one spouse has a much higher balance, if there is an age gap, or if it improves access to concessions or Age Pension outcomes.

9. Give notice of intent to claim a deduction for contributions.

If you plan to claim a tax deduction for personal concessional contributions, you must lodge a valid notice of intent to claim or vary a deduction.

Action: Submit the notice before starting a pension or taking a lump sum from the fund.

10. Review options on pension payments

Make sure the minimum pension for the year has been paid.

Age at 1 July	Standard Minimum % withdrawal
Under 65	4%
65-74	5%
75-79	6%
80-84	7%
85-89	9%
90-94	11%
95 or older	14%

Warning

Before taking any action, you should seek advice to confirm if any of the above applies to your circumstance – failure to do so may have unintended consequences.