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Super changes and opportunities for 2026/27
- Title
- Super changes and opportunities for 2026/27
As we get ready to kick off the new financial year, there are some important changes to super that may impact you. Here’s an overview of what’s changing from 1 July 2026 and some key super opportunities for the next 12 months.
Key changes
Super contribution caps are increasing
You may be eligible to make larger super contributions in 2026/27. From 1 July 2026, the concessional (pre-tax) and non-concessional (post-tax) contribution caps will increase as follows.
| Cap | In 2025/26 | In 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard concessional contribution cap1 | $30,000 | $32,500 |
| Annual non-consessional contribution2 cap | $120,000 | $130,000 |
| Maximum non-concessional contributions2 under the three-year bring-forward rule | $360,000 | $390,000 |
Payday Super starts
You may receive super guarantee (SG) contributions more frequently in 2026/27. From 1 July 2026, as part of the Payday Super legislative changes employers must pay SG contributions at the same time as salary and wages.
Transfer balance cap is increasing
You may be able to get more super money into a tax-free retirement phase pension. From 1 July 2026, the general transfer balance cap that limits retirement phase pension transfers will increase from $2 million to $2.1 million over your lifetime. Provided you meet certain other conditions, you may benefit from:
- the full transfer balance cap increase if you have never started a retirement phase pension, or
- a portion of the increase if you have started a retirement phase pension, but never used up all of your transfer balance cap.
Higher taxes may be paid on super balances over $3 million
You may need to pay additional tax (Division 296 tax) on a portion of your taxable super earnings if your total super balance is greater than $3 million. The tax rates to apply in 2026/27 are summarised in the following table.
| Total super balance | Additional tax (Division 296 tax) payable on taxable super earnings in 2026/27 |
|---|---|
| Up to $3 million | Nil |
| Above $3 million | 15% |
| Above $10 million | Extra 10% (effective 25%) |
Key super opportunities
A new financial year presents an opportunity to make additional super contributions, subject to the contribution caps and other eligibility criteria. Some ways you may be able to boost your super are summarised in the table below.
| Strategy | How to use it | Possible benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Get more from your salary or bonus by salary sacrificing into super | Arrange to contribute pre-tax salary into super as part of a salary sacrifice agreement |
|
| Add to super and claim a tax deduction | Make an after-tax super contribution and notify the fund how much is to be claimed as a tax deduction |
|
| Split super contributions with spouse | Split certain pre-tax super contributions made in the prior financial year with your spouse |
|
| Convert non-super savings into super savings | Make an after-tax super contribution |
|
| Get a super top-up from the Government | Make an after-tax super contribution |
|
| Boost spouse’s super and reduce tax | Make an after-tax contribution into an eligible spouse’s super account (ie a spouse contribution) |
|
What to know more?
To find out more about these changes and opportunities, contact your Bridges Financial Planner.
2 Eligibility to make non-concessional super contributions depends on your age and your super balance.
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