There are two types of personal contributions you can consider: concessional (before-tax) and non-concessional (after-tax).
If you intend to claim a tax deduction on your contribution, it will count as a concessional contribution. These are capped at $30,000 for the 2025/26 financial year and include all employer contributions, salary sacrifice, and personal deductible contributions. Contributions tax of 15% is deducted when the contribution is added to your account. Depending on your current contribution rate and how many benefit points you've accrued in SASS, you may still have room under this cap to make a deductible contribution.
If you don’t intend to claim a deduction, the contribution is treated as non-concessional. These are made with after-tax money – like an inheritance – and are limited to $120,000 per year, provided your Total Super Balance (TSB) as at 30 June last financial year was below $2 million.
That’s where the bring forward rule can help. It allows you to contribute more than the annual cap by ‘bringing forward’ up to two years’ worth of non-concessional contributions. If your TSB was under $1.76 million, you may be eligible to contribute up to $360,000 in a single year. If your balance was between $1.76 million and $1.88 million, the cap is reduced to $240,000. And once your TSB reaches $1.88 million or more, you’re limited to just the $120,000 annual cap. After $2 million, you can no longer make non-concessional contributions without incurring significant tax penalties.Ìý
For example, if you contribute $360,000 in May 2026 using the bring forward rule, that amount will count across three years – 2025/26, 2026/27 and 2027/28. You won’t be able to make any further non-concessional contributions until 1 July 2028 without facing tax of up to 47%.
Contributing funds to your super will save you tax: earnings inside super are taxed at a maximum of 15%, with capital gains tax potentially as low as 10% – compared to marginal tax rates outside of super, which can go as high as 45%. That means if you're happy to put the money aside for the future, super can be an effective way to grow your wealth.
That said, a few things are worth checking before you go ahead. Make sure you haven’t already triggered the bring forward rule in the last two financial years, and double-check any other non-concessional contributions you’ve made this year – including any after-tax contributions to your SASS account, if you’re not salary sacrificing. These count towards the same cap.
Also, keep in mind how a large contribution might affect your TSB. If it pushes your balance over key thresholds, it could limit your ability to make other contributions down the track – like catch-up concessional contributions – or use the bring forward rule again.Ìý
This is where a financial planner can be a big help. They can assess your full situation and goals, help you avoid any tax traps, and make sure you’re making the most of your opportunity.
