What are voluntary contributions?

Voluntary contributions are payments you can make which may help your super to grow in addition to the super guarantee (SG) contributions your employer is required to make.

Until 30 June 2025 the SG rate is at least 11.5% of your salary, increasing to at least 12% on 1 July 2025.

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    Know how to grow this Super Season

    Making extra contributions is a great way to grow your super.

    Contributions come in two forms: ‘concessional’, meaning before tax, and ‘non-concessional’, meaning after tax. Concessional contributions come from your before-tax income. They include your SG payments as well as any extra contributions you've made via salary sacrifice. Non-concessional contributions come from your after-tax income. They include voluntary payments you make from your after-tax income, as well as spouse contributions.

    Because concessional contributions come from your before-tax earnings, your super fund will deduct 15% from your contribution and send it to the ATO. Non-concessional contributions are made using money that's already been taxed. So when a non-concessional contribution is made to your super, no further tax needs to be deducted.

    There are a few other ways you can grow your super# besides the contributions I've already talked about. The First Home Super Saver scheme can help you save a deposit for your first home faster. The downsizer contribution allows older Australians to make additional contributions to their super using the proceeds from the sale of their home. And there's also the super co-contribution, where, depending on your income, the government may top up your super when you make an after-tax contribution.

    Extra contributions now can make a big difference to your future balance, but how much extra you contribute will depend on a lot of factors like your budget, goals, and stage of life.



    #Like all superannuation contributions, these types of contributions have eligibility requirements.

Super contributions

There are two types of super contributions:

Concessional contributions

Concessional contributions are contributions generally made from your before-tax income. They are typically taxed in your super fund at a rate lower than your regular income, and some Concessional contributions can help to lower your taxable income. They also include personal contributions you claim a tax deduction for.

 

Superannuation guarantee
The amount employers pay into your super account from your wages.

 

Salary sacrifice
Sacrifice part of your before-tax salary and add it to your super instead.

 

Personal contributions
Any personal contributions you claim a tax deduction for.

Non-concessional contributions

Non-concessional contributions are contributions typically made from your after-tax income.

 

Government co-contributions
In some cases, the government will add to your super when you make an after-tax contribution. See eligibility on the ATO website.

 

Personal contributions
Any after-tax contributions you pay via your employer, or directly to your super fund, which you have not claimed as a tax deduction.

 

Spouse contributions
Your spouse may be able to make an after-tax contribution to top up your UniSuper account.


Contribution caps

There are limits (caps) on contributions made into super, and if you’ve made contributions to other super funds, the money will count towards your limits for the financial year. For the 2024-25 financial year^, the super contributions caps limits are:  

$30,000

Annually for
Concessional
Contributions

$120,000

Annually for
Non-concessional
Contributions


For more information about the current limits for concessional and non-concessional contributions visit the ATO’s page on contribution caps.

^ You can check how you are sitting against the caps via your account online. Your online account only shows contributions to your UniSuper account. Contact your other fund or the ATO for more information.

Get the know-how to grow

Our super consultants1 are here to help you understand your superannuation and your current contributions before 30 June.

Estimate your super balance at retirement

See your growth potential. Calculate how much super you may have when you retire and discover the steps you can take to boost your super. Our calculator also takes into account the government Age Pension.  
  • Things you need to know

    1 UniSuper Advice super consultants can give you information and tell you what is generally recommended for our members. This advice will be of a general nature only and will not take into account your personal circumstances. UniSuper Advice’s Financial Services Guide is on the website and it provides important information about the financial services that can be provided. Consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determinations (TMD) on our website and consider your circumstances before making decisions. UniSuper Advice is operated by UniSuper Management Pty Ltd ABN 91 006 961 799 (USM), which is licensed to provide financial product advice. USM is also the administrator of the fund UniSuper ABN 91 385 943 850 (UniSuper). UniSuper Limited ABN 54 006 027 121 is the trustee of UniSuper.

    The information contained on this web page is of a general nature only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making a decision about your UniSuper membership, you should consider your personal circumstances, the relevant product disclosure statement (PDS) and Target Market Determinations (TMD), and whether to consult a qualified financial adviser. For a copy of the PDS or TMD, call UniSuper on 1800 331 685 or go to unisuper.com.au.

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