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A Quick Reference For Australian Tax Rates And Related Information

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Super Contributions Tax

The concessional contributions “normal” tax rate on super funds is 15%, but for income earners with income over $250,000, the rate is 30%.

Concessional contributions are those for which a tax deduction has been obtained.

Under new rules, from 1 July 2026 the tax rate on earnings for super balances between $3 million and $10 million will be 30 per cent and on balances over $10 million the rate will be 40 per cent.

Superannuation contributions tax rules within limits provide a legal way to shield income from tax at normal rates, and build up retirement savings in the lower-taxed environment of a super fund.

Div 296 Modified Super Tax on Large Balances and LISTO Increase

Two new superannuation measures take effect from 1 July 2026 and 1 July 2027.

They include:

Low-Income Superannuation Tax Offset (LISTO)

  • The LISTO will be increased by $310 to $810.
  • The eligibility threshold for the LISTO will be raised from $37,000 to $45,000.
  • These LISTO changes will take effect from 1 July 2027.

Large Superannuation Balances

  • A second threshold will be introduced to target super concessions on the earnings of large balances above $10 million.
  • The total concessional tax rate applied to earnings on balances between $3 million and $10 million will be 30 per cent (starting 1 July 2026).
  • The total concessional tax rate applied to earnings on balances over $10 million will be 40 per cent (starting 1 July 2026).
  • The large balance thresholds of $3 million and $10 million will be indexed to maintain relativity with the Transfer Balance Cap.
  • The earnings calculation will be adjusted so that concessional tax rates on large balances only apply to future realised earnings

Legislation passed:

See also:

Div 293 Tax Thresholds

With effect from 1 July 2017 the threshold at which high-income earners pay Division 293 tax on their concessional taxed contribution to superannuation) was reduced from $300,000 to $250,000. See Treasury Laws Amendment (Fair and Sustainable Superannuation) Bill 2016.

Tax YearThreshold
From 1 July 2017 onwards$250,000
From 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2017$300,000

In general, tax deductible (“concessional“) superannuation contributions are taxed when received by a complying super fund at the rate of 15%.

Higher income earners‘ contributions are subject to an additional 15% (i.e. total 30%) on the over-$250,000 (over-$300,000 before 1 July 2017) slice of (income + contributions) under Division 293 which has applied since 1 July 2012.

Debt account interest – defined benefit interests

Payment of the Div 293 tax is deferred on defined benefit interests until a super benefit is actually paid. Payment of the the benefit crystallises the taxable amount and interest accumulates until that point.

The Tax Office calculates a “debt account” for each defined benefit interest for which Division 293 tax has been deferred. The interest is applied at the end of the tax year based on the Average 10-year Treasury bond rate for the preceding year.

See further at: Division 293 tax | Australian Taxation Office

Division 293 Notices

If your income plus low-tax super contributions add up to more than the threshold (see table above) there is an extra 15% tax on the taxable contributions.

These are referred to as “Division 293” assessments. The first issue of these assessments were for the 2012-13 tax year in February 2014.

Source: ato.gov.au

Withdrawal of Tax-Free Contributions

Non-tax deductible contributions, (also referred to as undeducted or non-concessional contributions) are not taxed at all, and ultimately can be withdrawn tax free.

There are times when it’s convenient or tax-preferable to make super contributions without claiming a tax deduction. This is to take advantage of a complying super fund’s investment income being taxed at the concessional rate of 15%, as well as (normally, and subject to limitations) being entitled to dividend franking credits.

This can result in the overall tax rate on the investments earnings being lower than it would otherwise have been if the investment income had been earned directly in the hands of an individual taxpayer paying tax at the tax scale marginal rates.

Annual contribution caps apply to limit access to the concessions.

Contributions Tax Is Paid By The Super Fund (not you)

Tax on superannuation contributions is paid by the super fund.

Thus in cash flow terms the tax normally comes from the contribution itself or the fund, and won’t directly impact your personal income tax assessment or cash flow.

Contributions form part of a complying super fund’s taxable income , generally taxed at 15%, but with effective tax rates of 47% or even higher if qualifying conditions are not fully met.

Taxing Rates on Super Contributions Summary 3

Complying concessional (tax deductible) contributions within allowable limits to a complying fund (non-high income earners)15%
“Breach” circumstances, such as contributions in excess2 of specified limits before 1 July 2013, or to a non-complying fund47%*
From 1 July 2012:
Higher income earners 1 concessional contributions within allowable limits to a complying fund – on the amount of the over-$250,000 ($300,000 before 1 July 2017) slice of (income + contributions) – Division 293 assessments
30% (i.e. 15% + 15%)
Refunded contributions since 30 June 2013 (see excess)
Marginal rate + interest

1 Applies to the excess over $250,000 ($300,000 before 1 July 2017) the income for surcharge purposes (other than reportable super contributions) Plus low tax contributions. For further info, see the EM for the Bill which passed through Federal parliament in late June 2013.

2 Contributions caps information is tabulated here and the changing treatment of excess contributions since 1 July 2011 is summarised here. * Includes medicare levy, 49% from 2014-15 to 2016-17.

3 Other than contributions, this article does not deal with the taxing of superannuation funds as such, which can derive other kinds of income taxed at varying rates according to circumstances and status.

Lower Income Earners Superannuation Tax Offset

For lower income earners (less than $37,000 a year) from 1 July 2012 until 30 June 2017 the Low Income Superannuation Contribution (“LISC”) scheme was in place, which is a refund of the 15% contributions tax up to a maximum of $500.

The Mining Tax repeal measures which gained the approval of Federal Parliament on 2 September 2014 provide for the removal of LISC from 1 July 2017.

From 1 July 2017 the Low Income Superannuation Tax Offset commenced, which operates in similar terms to effectively refund the 15% contributions tax to a maximum of $500 (i.e. equivalent to $3,333 on concessional contributions).

See also

This page was last modified 2026-03-07