Claim a tax deduction
You may be able to claim a tax deduction on your next tax return for any after tax super contributions you've made
Claiming a tax deduction for after-tax contributions can reduce your taxable income. This could mean you pay less income tax when you complete your income tax return.
For example, if you earned $50,000 and had eligible tax deductions of $500, you’ll only pay income tax on $49,500.
To receive the deduction, you’ll need to let us know by submitting a notice of intent before you complete your tax return or before 30 June of the financial year following the year you contributed, whichever occurs earlier.
When you claim a tax deduction for your after-tax contributions, the amount you’ve claimed changes to a before-tax contribution. This before-tax contribution will count towards your before-tax (concessional) cap. Keep in mind that before-tax contributions usually attract a 15% contributions tax. You’ll need to pay this tax on the amount you’ve claimed a deduction for, and it will be deducted from your account once your tax deduction claim is accepted.
You can't receive a government co-contribution for personal contributions you've claimed a deduction for.
How to claim a tax deduction
1. Submit a notice of intent. You can do this:
- in Member Online - select Contributions - Claim tax deductions
- by completing this form
- by calling us on 1800 006 166.
2. Once you submit your claim, we’ll send you an acknowledgement that we’ve received your intent to claim and confirm the amount. You must receive this acknowledgement from us before claiming the deduction on your tax return.
3. Submit your tax return. You’ll need to state the amount you want to claim as a tax deduction in the supplementary section of your tax return.
Time is key
You must submit your claim for tax deduction before whichever of the following happens earliest:
- Lodging your tax return for the financial year in which the contribution(s) were made
- The last day of the financial year after the financial year in which you made the contribution(s).
For example, if you made a personal contribution on 20 May 2024, you’ll need to provide us with your claim form by 30 June 2025 or before you submit your 2023-24 tax return, whichever occurs earlier.
Example
Consider the super contribution limits
The government sets limits on the amount you can contribute to super, known as contribution caps. If you overdo it with your contributions, you could find yourself with an unexpected tax bill. Find out more about the contribution caps and what happens if you go over the limits.
FAQs
You might be able to claim a tax deduction for your personal contributions if:
- you’re aged under 67 years*
- you’re aged between 67 and 75 years^ and meet the work test or qualify for the work test exemption
- the funds you contributed are still in your account, meaning you haven’t transferred your super to another fund, opened a Retirement Income account (including Transition to Retirement account), split your contributions with your spouse or withdrawn your super. If you’ve withdrawn or transferred only part of your super account, you can only claim a tax deduction for the remaining proportion of your contribution in the fund.
For more information about eligibility to claim a tax deduction for personal super contributions visit the ATO website or call us on 1800 005 166.
*If you’re under 18 at the end of the financial year you made the contribution, you can only claim a deduction if you earned income as an employee or business operator during the financial year.
^ If you’re 75 or older, you can’t claim a deduction for personal contributions you made more than 28 days after the month you turned 75.
If you claim a tax deduction on an after-tax contribution, then the contribution is counted as a before-tax contribution and goes towards your before-tax (concessional) contribution cap. You can claim up to this cap of $30,000 in 2024-25. Before-tax contributions also include contributions made by your employer and salary sacrifice amounts. You may also be able to claim additional contributions under the 'carry forward rule' if eligible. Find out more about the contribution caps and the carry-forward rule here.
If you’re planning to split part or all of your contributions with your spouse, but also want to claim a tax deduction for them, you must provide us with your intent to claim and wait for our acknowledgement before lodging an application to split the contributions. If you lodge these the other way round and we’ve accepted your application to split your contribution, we won’t be able to accept your intent to claim.
You can increase your claim amount in Member Online or by calling us. The new amount will override any previous nomination you’ve made on all personal contributions in the relevant financial year.
If you complete the Notice of intent to claim or vary a deduction for personal super contributions form, you must submit a new form for the additional amount you want to claim only. Your original paper-based claim will remain in place.
You can vary a notice until the due date for lodging a claim – see timing section above.
Once we receive your notice, we’re required to deduct 15% tax from the amount claimed. The contributions tax rate may be higher if your income and before-tax contributions go over $250,000 a year, but if you earn less than $37,000 you may be eligible to receive some or all of this tax back with the government’s low income super tax offset (conditions apply).
Depending on your personal tax rate, claiming your contributions as a tax deduction may reduce the amount of tax you need to pay on your income.
If you earn less than $60,400 in 2024-25 and make after-tax contributions to your super, you may qualify for a super co-contribution. However, if you claim a tax deduction for all of your after-tax contributions, you won't be eligible for a super co-contribution. If you only claim a deduction for some of your after-tax contributions, you may still be eligible to receive a super co-contribution.
Visit the ATO website or contact us to find out more.
Once you claim a tax deduction, we’re required to deduct 15% tax from the amount claimed. The contributions tax rate may be higher if your income and before-tax contributions go over $250,000 a year, but if you earn less than $37,000 you may be eligible to receive some or all of this tax back with the government’s low income super tax offset (conditions apply).
The amount you’ve claimed reduces your taxable income. This could mean you pay less income tax when you complete your income tax return.
For example, if you earned $80,000 and you successfully claimed a tax deduction for a $10,000 super contribution, you’ll only pay income tax on $70,000.
Do your friends have more super than you?
