Superannuation

Significant Changes have been made to superannuation contributions from 1 July 2007. There are no limits on the amount of the deduction that can be claimed but there are limits on the amount of superannuation contributions that will be taxed at concessional rates. Personal superannuation contributions for which an income tax deduction is claimed are concessional contributions.

Concessional Contributions Cap
Concessional contributions include employer contributions (including contributions made under a salary sacrifice arrangement) and personal contributions claimed as a tax deduction by a self-employed person.

Income Year

Amount of Cap

2007-2008

$50,000.00

2008-2009

$50,000.00

2009-2010

$25,000.00

Transitional arrangement for the concessional contributions cap
A transitional concessional contributions cap applies until 30 June 2012 for people aged 50 or over. Aged 50 or over the annual cap will be $100,000. If the taxpayer has more than one fund, all concessional contributions made to all funds are added together and count towards the cap.

Non-concessional Contributions Cap
Non-concessional contributions include personal contributions for which you do not claim an income tax deduction.

From 1 July 2009, this will change to six times the concessional contributions cap.
People under 65 years of age may be able to make non-concessional contributions of up to three times their non-concessional contributions cap over a three-year period. This is known as the ‘bring-forward’ option.
The bring-forward cap is three times the non-concessional contributions cap of the first year. If you brought forward your contributions in 2007-08, it would be 3 x $150,000 = $450,000.

Income Year

Amount of Cap

2007-2008

$150,000.00

2008-2009

$150,000.00

2009-2010

$150,000.00

There is a ‘bring-forward’ option available, meaning that people under 65 years of age can make non-concessional contributions of up to $450,000 over a three-year period.

CGT Cap Amount
Under the CGT cap, you can only exclude up to the CGT cap amount in non-concessional super contributions from the non-concessional contributions cap during your lifetime. The CGT cap applies to all excluded CGT contributions, whether they were made between 10 May 2006 and 30 June 2007 or after 30 June 2007.

Income Year

Amount

2007-2008

$1 million

2008-2009

$1.045 million

2009-2010

$1.1 million

Low Rate Cap Amount
The application of the low rate threshold for superannuation lump sum payments is capped. The low rate cap amount is reduced by any amount previously applied to the low rate threshold.

Income Year

Amount

2007-2008

$140,000.00

2008-2009

$145,000.00

2009-2010

$150,000.00

Untaxed Plan Cap Amount
The untaxed plan cap amount limits the concessional tax treatment of benefits that have not been subject to contributions tax in a superannuation fund. The untaxed plan cap amount applies to each superannuation plan from which a person receives superannuation lump sum member benefits.

Income Year

Amount

2007-2008

$1 million

2008-2009

$1.045 million

2009-2010

$1.1 million

Minimum Annual Payments for Superannuation Income Streams
A pension or annuity started on or after 1 July 2007, a minimum amount is required to be paid each year. There is no maximum amount other than the balance of the super account. The following table shows the minimum percentage factor for each age group:

Age

Minimum % Withdrawal

Under 65

4.00%

65-74

5.00%

75-79

6.00%

80-84

7.00%

85-89

9.00%

90-94

11.00%

95 or more

14.00%

Preservation Age
Generally, the preservation age must be reached before superannuation can be accessed . Use the following table to work out the preservation age.

Date of Birth

Preservation Age

Before 1 July 1960

55

1 July 1960 - 30 June 1961

56

1 July 1961 - 30 June 1962

57

1 July 1962 - 30 June 1963

58

1 July 1963 - 30 June 1964

59

From 1 July 1964

60

Superannuation Lump Sum Tax Table

Income Component Derived in the Income Year Age at Date Payment Received Amount Subject to Tax Maximum Rate of Tax (Including Medicare Levy)
Member benefit – taxable component – taxed element Under Preservation Age Whole amount 21.50%
At or above preservation age and under 60 Amount up to the low rate cap amount Nil
Amount above the low rate cap amount 16.50%
Aged 60 and above Whole amount Nil
Member benefit - taxable component - untaxed element Under Preservation Age Amount up to untaxed plan cap amount 31.50%
Amount above untaxed plan cap amount 46.50%
At or above preservation age and under 60 Amount up to the low rate cap amount 16.50%
Amount above the low rate cap amount and up to the untaxed plan cap amount 31.50%
Amount above untaxed plan cap amount 46.50%
Aged 60 and above Amount up to the untaxed plan cap amount 16.50%
Amount above the untaxed plan cap amount 46.50%
Death benefit lump sum benefit paid to non-dependants - taxable component - taxed element Any Whole amount 16.50%
Death benefit lump sum benefit paid to non-dependants - taxable component - untaxed element Any Whole amount 31.50%
Death benefit lump sum benefit paid to dependants - taxable component - taxed and untaxed elements Any None Nil
Rollover superannuation benefits - taxable component - taxed element Any Whole amount Nil
Rollover superannuation benefits - taxable component - untaxed element Any Amount up to the untaxed plan cap amount Nil
Amount above the untaxed plan cap amount 46.50%
Superannuation lump sum benefits less than $200 Any None Nil

Superannuation Income Stream Tax Tables
Element taxed in the fund of a superannuation income stream
The table below summarises the taxation of a superannuation income stream paid with an element taxed in the fund in 2007/08.

The tax free component is not included. This component is not assessable income and not exempt income in all cases.

Age of Recipient

Income Stream

Age 60 and over

Not assessable, not exempt income

At or above preservation age and under 60

Taxed at marginal tax rates. Tax offset of 15% is available

Under preservation age

Taxed at marginal tax rates with no tax offset. Tax offset of 15% is available if a disability superannuation benefit

Medicare levy (1.5%) is added to whichever rate of tax applies

Element untaxed in the fund of a superannuation income stream
The table below summarises the taxation of a superannuation member income stream paid with an element untaxed in the fund in 2007/08.

The tax free component is not included. This component is not assessable income and not exempt income in all cases.

Age of Recipient

Income Stream

Age 60 and over

Taxed at marginal rates, with a 10% tax offset

At or above preservation age and under 60

Taxed at marginal rates, with no tax offset

Under preservation age

Taxed at marginal rates, with no tax offset

Medicare levy (1.5%) is added to whichever rate of tax applies

Age Based Superannuation Contribution Limits

 

Employers

Self Employed

Age

2003/04

2004/05

2005/06

2006/2007

2003/04

2004/05

2005/06

2006/07

under 35

$13,233

$13,934

$14,603

$15,260

$15,977

$16,912

$17,804

$15,260

35 to 49

$36,754

$38,702

$40,560

$42,385

$47,339

$49,936

$52,413

$42,385

50 to 70+28 days

$91,149

$95,980

$100,587

$105,113

$119,865

$126,306

$132,449

$105,113

       

Limited to $5,000 + 75% of the contributions in excess of $5,000, up to the person's aged based limit.

Superannuation Guarantee Charge

Year

Rate

Max Quarterly Salary On Which SGC Is Calculated

2010

9%

$40,170

2009

9%

$38,180

2008

9%

$36,470

2007

9%

$35,240

2006

9%

$33,720

2005

9%

$32,180

2004

9%

$30,560

2003

9%

$29,220

2002

8%

$27,510

2001

8%

$26,300

2000

7%

$25,240

1999

7%

$24,480

1998

6%

$23,630

1997

6%

$22,590

Contribution and Payment Rules From 1 July 2006
Contributions:

  1. Under 65. A person will no longer need to be working to contribute if aged under 65. The work test has been removed. 
  2. If between 65 and 74, the work test for personal contributions is that the member must have already worked at least 40 hours in a period of not more than 30 consecutive days during the financial year of the contribution, in order to contribute in that financial year.

Employer contributions

Age SG Award Voluntary Member Personal
65 to 69 Yes Yes Yes Yes
70 to 74 No Yes No Only if worked 40+ hours in a 30 consecutive day period in the year
75+ No Yes No No

Cashout Rules:

Age Does everything other than Post-65 Mandated contributions have to come out?
65 to 74 No, not if the member has worked at least 240 hours in the past financial year. If work test not satisfied, all benefits accrued prior to 65 & voluntary (employer & personal) benefits accrued after 65 must be paid.
If aged 75 on 30/6/04 No, not if they are still working 30 hours each week.
If turn 75 after 30/6/04 or, over 75 & fail the 30 hours each week test Yes, everything other than the post-65 employer mandated contributions must come out. If a member ceases working 30 hours each week, or the employer mandated contributions are no longer paid or liable to be paid, then even the mandated contributions must come out.

Superannuation Contributions Surcharge

Year Lower Threshold Rate - Nil Upper Threshold Rate Between Rate per calculation Max Rate
1999/2000 $78,208 $94,966 [(ATI - $78,208) / $1,118]% 15%
2000/01 $81,493 $98,955 [(ATI - $81,493) / $1,165]% 15%
2001/02 $85,242 $103,507 [(ATI - $85,242) / $1,219]% 15%
2002/03 $90,527 $109,924 [(ATI - $90,527) / $1,295]% 15%
2003/04 $94,691 $114,981 [(ATI - $94,691) / $1,399]% 14.50%
2004/05 $99,710 $121,075 [(ATI - $99,710) / $1,709]% 12.50%
2005/06 Superannuation Contributions surcharge abolished from 1 July 2005

The Surcharge is payable where the adjusted taxable income (ATI) of the member exceeds the thresholds below. Adjusted taxable income is the member's taxable income plus, employer superannuation contributions, deductible component of personal super contributions and reportable fringe benefits.

Government Co-Contribution

2003/04 $0 to $27,500 100% up to $1,000
$27,501 to $40,000 100% up to $1,000 less 8 cents / $ above $27,500
2004/05 $0 to $28,000 150% up to $1,000
$28,001 to $58,000 150% up to $1,000 less 5 cents / $ above $28,000
2005/06 $0 to $28,000 150% up to $1,000
$28,001 to $58,000 150% up to $1,000 less 5 cents / $ above $28,000
2006/2007 $0 to $28,001 150% up to $1,000
$28,001 to $58,000 150% up to $1,000 less 5 cents / $ above $28,001
2007/2008 $0 to $28,980 150% up to $1,000
$28,981 to $58,980 150% up to $1,000 less 5 cents / $ above $28,980
2008/2009 $0 to $30,342 150% up to $1,000
$30,343 to $60,342 150% up to $1,000 less 5 cents / $ above $30,343
2009/2010 $0 to $31,920 150% up to $1,000
$31,920 to $61,920 150% up to $1,000 less 5 cents / $ above $31,920

Links to Reference Websites
ATO - Key Rates and Thresholds
ATO - Contributions Cap
ATO - Superannuation Benefits
ATO - Super Co-contribution
ATO - Employment Termination Payments
ATO - Superannuation Guarantee
ATO - Other Superannuation Rates and Thresholds
ATO - Superannuation Co-contribution

ProAcct Home