Save for retirement together
If your spouse1 has or will take time out of the workforce before retirement age then their super balance could be impacted. Contribute to their super balance with spouse contributions. There could be benefits for you both now and in the future.
There are 2 ways to do this:
1. Make an after-tax contribution into their super.
2. Split your super contributions.
Why share super with your spouse?
You could be able to access your super earlier
You could qualify for a higher government age pension
It could maximise the amount of super you both transfer into retirement
After-tax spouse super contributions
Make an after-tax, spouse super contribution to your spouse’s account.
You’ll need your spouse’s account details to pay into their super. If they’re with UniSuper, you can pay with BPAY® or by cheque.
They can log in to their account to find their BPAY details.
If you prefer to fill in a form, complete the Spouse contribution form (PDF, 102 KB) and return it to us with your cheque.
The usual rules for after-tax contributions apply.
Tax offset for spouse super contributions
A tax offset of up to $540 each financial year is available on eligible spouse super contributions. You can claim this offset when you do your tax return.
Generally, to be eligible for the tax offset:
- your spouse must earn less than $40,000
- you must live together in Australia.
Other eligibility requirements may apply. For more information, visit the ATO website.
Contributions splitting
You may be eligible to pay up to 85% of your before-tax contributions into your spouse’s super fund account instead of yours.
To do this, your spouse must be aged under 65 or under their preservation age. If they’re over their preservation age but under age 65 they must not be permanently retired.
To split your contributions, complete the Contribution splitting form (PDF, 185 KB) and return it to us.
Eligible before-tax contributions
- employer contributions
- salary sacrifice contributions
- contributions for which you’ve claimed a tax deduction.
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Things you need to know
1 Under the current legislation as ‘a spouse’ is defined as:
- a person to whom you’re legally married,
- a person, whether of the same sex or different sex, with whom you’re in a relationship that is registered under a prescribed Australian state or territory law, or
- a person, whether of the same sex or different sex, with whom you’re not legally married but who lives with you on a genuine domestic basis in a relationship as a couple.