About this time every financial year, it’s an excellent time to review any super contribution opportunities. However, since March 2020, there has been high volatility in investment markets, which may have created extra potential for clients to benefit. There have also been changes to super contribution rules over the last few years which are worth reviewing before you make a contribution.
Non-concessional contributions
The non-concessional contributions (NCC) cap is $100,000 for 2019/20 and will remain at $100,000 for 2020/21.
The NCC bring-forward cap is $300,000 for 2019/20 and will remain at $300,000 for 2020/21, however it will depend on your total super balance (TSB) on 30 June 2019.
Table 1 – NCC bring-forward provisions for clients 64 years old or younger on 1 July 2019
| TSB on 30 June 2019 | NCC cap | Cap period (years) |
|---|---|---|
| < $1.4mil | $300,000 | 3 |
| $1.4mil to less than $1.5mil | $200,000 | 2 |
| $1.5mil to less than $1.6mil | $100,000 | |
| $1.6mil + | $0 | n/a |
Note, your TSB is considered each financial year. A person who has a TSB of $1.6mil or higher on 30 June, has an NCC cap of nil for the subsequent financial year, regardless if you had triggered the bring-forward provisions previously and had unused NCC bring forward cap space previously.
If you are 65-74, you must meet the work test (40 hours gainful employment over a consecutive 30-day period) since 1 July 2019 to be eligible to make an NCC. If you were 64 on 1 July 2019, but have since turned 65 this financial year, you are still eligible to use the bring-forward provisions but must meet the work test to be eligible to contribute. If you were 64 on 1 July 2019, but have since turned 65 this financial year, are still eligible to use the bring-forward provisions but must meet the work test to be eligible to contribute.
The current draft legislation proposes to change from 1 July 2020 both the work test age restriction to 67 (up from 65) and eligibility for the bring-forward provisions to age 66 or less on 1 July of the relevant financial year (up from 64). However, with parliament next due to sit on 11 August 2020, this measure may not pass parliament before the end of 2019/20. However, on 16 April 2020, Scott Morrison announced that “we will be looking to have a trial week of Parliament in May and that would be returning to the normal business of Parliament”, so we will need to continue to look for developments.
Government co-contribution
If you had a TSB less than $1.6mil on 30 June 2019 and have taxable income $38,564 or less for 2019/20, you may be entitled to the $500 Government co-contribution, subject to the 10 percent eligible income test. The $500 co-contribution reduces for individuals with income greater than $38,564 until no Government co-contribution is available for those with an income of $53,564 or more.
Concessional contributions
The concessional contributions (CC) cap is $25,000 for 2019/20 and will remain at $25,000 for 2020/21.
Individuals aged 65 or over will need to meet the work test (40 hours gainful employment over a consecutive 30-day period) to be able to contribute.
Individuals who will receive Super Guarantee (SG) contributions from their employer of less than $25,000 in 2019/20, may be able to claim a deduction for their contribution using the ‘Notice of intent to claim or vary a deduction for personal super contributions’ form.
You must make a personal contribution to your super fund by 30 June 2020, and then must send completed form to your fund by the earlier of:
- The day you lodge your tax return for 2019/20;
- or 30 June 2021.
Catch-up concessional contributions
If you:
- Are eligible to contribute to super;
- Have unused CC cap from 2018/19; and
- Your TSB was less than $500,000 on 30 June 2019.
Then you can effectively add your unused CC cap from 2018/19 to their $25,000 CC cap in 2019/20.
Eligible individuals can consider increasing personal deductible contributions and/or salary sacrifice before 30 June 2020.
Concessional contribution splitting
Contribution splitting is a strategy that can help:
- Couples equalise their superannuation benefits;
- Enable superannuation benefits to be accessed sooner where contributions are split to an older spouse;
- Reduce Centrelink assessable assets where contributions are split to a spouse below Age Pension age; or
- Help the spouse with a higher TSB reduce their TSB to potentially enable them to make an NCC or catch-up concessional contributions.
You can split up to 85 percent of concessional contributions (up to the CC cap plus any catch-up CCs) where your spouse is less than preservation age, or preservation up to age 64 but not retired.
Clients have until 30 June 2020 to split CCs made in 2018/19, or they can split CCs already made in 2019/20 if they roll over their entire benefit and/or take the whole benefit as a lump sum.
Further, if you would like to discuss any of the above measures or the financial impact you are currently facing, in general, please feel free to email your AHJ contact or enquiries@ahjackson.com or call (07) 3253 1500.