You can boost your super by adding your own contributions to your super fund or into your spouse’s super fund.
Personal super contributions are the amounts you contribute to your super fund from your after-tax income (that is, from your take-home pay).
These contributions:
- are in addition to any compulsory super contributions your employer makes on your behalf
- do not include super contributions made through a salary-sacrifice arrangement.
Personal contributions are non-concessional (after-tax) contributions and will count towards your non-concessional contributions cap unless you have claimed a tax deduction for them.
If you’re an employee you generally can’t claim a tax deduction for any personal super contributions made before 1 July 2017, although you may be eligible for a super co-contribution. From 1 July 2017, most people, regardless of their employment arrangement, will be able to claim a full deduction for personal super contributions they make to their super until they turn 75. Individuals who are aged between 65 and 75 will need to meet the work test to be eligible to claim the deduction. See below for further information.
If you wish to claim a tax deduction for personal contributions, you must complete and lodge a notice of intent with your super fund and have this notice acknowledged (in writing) by your fund.