Nearly half of all Australians won’t make extra contributions to top up their superannuation accounts this financial year, despite significant tax advantages.
About a quarter hadn’t made a contribution by early May, but intended to do so before the end of the financial year, a survey of 1,000 working Australians has found.
Of the 49 per cent who didn’t intend to make an extra contribution, most said they couldn’t afford it, but about one in five said they simply didn’t know enough to act.
“That is a gap we can close,” said Robert Francis, managing director of Australian investing app Spaceship, which commissioned the survey.
Experts say that for those with the means, making a tax-deductible superannuation contribution this financial year makes sense.
For Australians earning less than $62,488, the government will even partially match contributions of up to $1,000, adding a co-contribution of up to $500.
“We see a lot of people who qualify for this, they ask us questions, and they don’t particularly understand how it actually works,” said Josh Parisotto, chief engagement and growth officer at superannuation fund HESTA.
The Australian Taxation Office automatically deposits the top-up into the superannuation accounts of eligible members.
Calculations from HESTA show how that relatively small deposit could grow into something significant by retirement age.
A 25-year-old member’s one-off $1,000 contribution plus the $500 government co-contribution would equate to an extra $40,000 if they retired at age 65, assuming investment returns at historical averages.
While Australians with higher incomes aren’t eligible for a government co-contribution, there are other reasons for them to make additional contributions.
That’s because their income is subject to taxation of at least 32 per cent (including the Medicare levy), while a tax-deductible superannuation contribution is taxed at 15 per cent.
For example, a $1,000 superannuation top-up for a median-income worker would generally result in their super account growing by $850 and their tax refund increasing by $320, leaving them $170 better off than if they hadn’t made that contribution.
That equates to a $5,100 benefit for those making the maximum $30,000 annual before-tax contribution.
Those who hadn’t completely used their $30,000 limit in prior years could also take advantage of it with what was known as “carry-forward contributions,” said Craig Day, head of technical services at superannuation provider Colonial First State.
“That’s a very popular strategy, so you could potentially claim much more than $30,000,” he said.
But only people with superannuation balances of less than $500,000 as of last June 30 are eligible to make carry-forward contributions, Mr Day noted.
Workers can check their personalised carry forward contribution limits on the ATO’s website after they’ve logged on via myGov, Mr Day advised.
While the financial year ends on Tuesday, Mr Day said superannuation funds had cut-offs several days before that for contributions to be applied for the 2025/26 financial year.
“Sometimes people get a bit confused, and they think that they can send the money to the fund as long as they do that before 30 June, then they claim a tax deduction,” he said.
Members who intend to claim a tax deduction will also need to submit a notice form with their superannuation fund before lodging their tax return, Mr Day advised.