💰 Super Over $500k? Here’s How to Still Save Tax in 2025–26

💰 Super Over $500k? Here’s How to Still Save Tax in 2025–26
🧭 The Simple Rule

There are two ways to top up super and claim a deduction:

1️⃣ Carry-Forward Concessional – Use unused caps from the past 5 years
➡️ Only if your Total Super Balance (TSB) was below $500,000 at 30 June 2025

2️⃣ Personal Deductible Contribution – Add money now and claim a tax deduction this year
➡️ Available even if your TSB ≥ $500,000 (counts only toward this year’s cap)

📊 2025–26 Super Caps

Concessional Cap: $30,000 (total = employer + salary sacrifice + your personal deductible)

Non-Concessional Cap: $120,000 (Up to $360k using bring-forward rule if eligible)

TSB Limit for Non-Concessional Eligibility: $2.0 million
(Remember: Employer SG is now 12%)

💡 Quick Examples

Case 1 – TSB $480k:
✅ Use unused caps from past 5 years to increase this year’s limit.

Case 2 – TSB $520k:
❌ No carry-forward.
✅ Still contribute up to $30,000 (including employer SG) and claim a deduction after lodging the Notice of Intent.

✅ Do This

Check your TSB (ATO myGov).

Add up all employer + salary sacrifice.

If cap space remains → make a personal contribution + lodge the Notice of Intent.

❌ Don’t Do This

Exceed the $30,000 cap.

Forget to lodge the notice before tax time.

Make large non-concessional contributions if your TSB ≥ $2.0 m.

✨ One-Line Takeaway

Over $500k? You can’t use carry-forward, but you can still get a tax deduction this year by making a personal super contribution within the $30k cap and lodging the notice.