Superannuation Growth: Strategies to Maximise Benefits
Superannuation Growth Strategies: How to make the most of them
There are many strategies you can use to see superannuation growth and make the most of available schemes. Here are some strategies to consider when planning for the end of this financial year. Then to set up your financial plans for next year.
Superannuation Growth Strategies
- First home super saver scheme – this allows you to save money for your first home within your superannuation fund. You do this by making voluntary contributions into your super fund. The concessional tax treatment of super benefits individuals saving for a first home and helps you to save faster. If you’re eligible, you can apply to release your voluntary contributions and related earnings. Then you can put them towards your first home deposit.
- Work test changes – if you’re aged between 67 and 75 years old and still working, you can make salary sacrifice contributions without having to meet the work test.
- Downsizer contributions – eligible individuals aged 60 and over can make contributions to super from the proceeds of selling your home. This allows an individual or couple to add significantly to your super fund. If you’ve sold a business, you may also be able to take advantage of this rule to contribute proceeds of business asset sales into super.
- Transfer balance cap – this is a lifetime limit on the total amount of super that can be transferred into retirement income such as pensions. The maximum for 2022 is $1.7 million, depending on when the retirement phase income stream starts. This can be useful to consider when one member of a couple has reached their personal transfer balance cap.
- Total super balance – your total super balance may differ from the actual super fund account balance on 30 June. Your total super balance each year determines whether you are eligible for certain super measures in the following financial year.
- Extra contributions – you can put extra money into your super fund from pre-tax earnings with a salary sacrifice arrangement with your employer or add additional funds from your post-tax earnings. Pre-tax contributions are called concessional contributions and are taxed at a flat rate of 15%. Post-tax contributions are called non-concessional contributions and are not taxed in your super fund. There are caps on the amount you can add to your fund for both types.
- Carry forward rule – you can make extra concessional contributions without paying extra tax if you have not contributed the maximum concessional amount in previous years.
Ready to Take Action?
Talk to us if you’d like to discuss tactics for increasing your super and making the most of allowable schemes. Contributing extra funds to super is generally beneficial, but certain thresholds must be observed to avoid additional tax.
Check the ATO Growing your super information to learn about available possibilities. We can help work out a customised plan for your situation to reap the benefits of strategic super planning for 2022 and beyond.