What is the concessional contribution cap for FY2025-26?
The concessional contribution cap for FY2025-26 is $30,000. Employer SG, salary sacrifice and personal deductible contributions all count toward this cap.
SMSF Contribution Caps Australia
2025-26 & 2026-27
This guide covers the key SMSF contribution caps and eligibility rules for FY2025-26 and FY2026-27, including concessional, non-concessional, bring-forward, carry-forward and downsizer contributions.
For FY2025-26, the concessional cap is $30,000, the non-concessional cap is $120,000 for eligible members, and the maximum three-year bring-forward amount is $360,000. From 1 July 2026, these rise to $32,500, $130,000, and $390,000 respectively.
On this page
Reference
Caps at a Glance: 2025-26 vs 2026-27
The headline numbers. Changes from 1 July 2026 are shown alongside the current year figures. The Super Guarantee rate stays at 12% from 1 July 2025 onward.
| Cap or threshold | FY2025-26 | FY2026-27 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concessional contribution cap | $30,000 | $32,500 | +$2,500 |
| Non-concessional contribution cap | $120,000 | $130,000 | +$10,000 |
| Three-year bring-forward maximum | $360,000 | $390,000 | +$30,000 |
| TSB limit for NCC eligibility | Below $2.0M | Below $2.1M | +$100k |
| Super Guarantee rate | 12% | 12% | No change |
Quick Reference
What can I contribute?
Choose the financial year you are planning for. TSB is measured at the prior 30 June.
TSB at 30 June 2025
Below $500,000
TSB at 30 June 2025
$500k to below $1.76M
TSB at 30 June 2025
$1.76M to below $1.88M
TSB at 30 June 2025
$1.88M to below $2M
TSB at 30 June 2025
$2,000,000 or above
TSB at 30 June 2026
Below $500,000
TSB at 30 June 2026
$500k to below $1.84M
TSB at 30 June 2026
$1.84M to below $1.97M
TSB at 30 June 2026
$1.97M to below $2.1M
TSB at 30 June 2026
$2,100,000 or above
Confirm your TSB via myGov (ATO online services) before acting. This is general
information only.
Source: Concessional cap increase to $32,500 confirmed via AWOTE December 2025 quarter
data. Non-concessional and bring-forward figures move in proportion to the general Transfer Balance Cap, which
rises to $2.1M from 1 July 2026. ATO contribution caps ↗. For the wider 1 July 2026 SMSF transition,
see What Changes for SMSFs on 1 July 2026.
Pre-Tax Contributions
Concessional Contribution Cap: FY2025-26 and FY2026-27
What Counts Toward the Concessional Contribution Cap?
Pre-tax contributions taxed at 15% inside the fund. For most Australians, that rate is lower than their marginal income tax rate, making CCs one of the most effective strategies for building retirement savings.
What counts as a concessional contribution
- Employer SG contributions (12% from 1 July 2025)
- Salary sacrifice: pre-tax contributions arranged with your employer
- Personal deductible contributions: personal contributions where you lodge a valid Notice of Intent to Claim a Deduction with your fund before lodging your tax return
| Financial Year | Annual Cap | Change |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025-26 | $30,000 | Current |
| FY2026-27 (from 1 July 2026) | $32,500 | +$2,500 |
Division 293 tax: High income earners whose combined income and concessional
contributions exceed $250,000 pay an additional 15% tax on their CCs, bringing the effective rate to
30%. The ATO issues the assessment directly. It does not prevent CCs from being made, but reduces the
tax benefit for affected members.
Excess concessional contributions: Amounts over the cap are included in your
assessable income at your marginal rate, less a 15% tax offset (to avoid double taxation). An excess
concessional contributions charge also applies. The ATO notifies you after the fund lodges its annual
return.
Why it matters
The concessional cap applies to all CCs combined: employer SG, salary sacrifice, and personal deductible
contributions. A common mistake is salary sacrificing close to the cap without accounting for the SG contributions already being made. On
a $120,000 salary with 12% SG ($14,400), only $15,600 of additional salary sacrifice room remains before
the $30,000 cap is reached.
After-Tax Contributions
Non-Concessional Contribution Cap: FY2025-26 and FY2026-27
What Counts Toward the Non-Concessional Contribution Cap?
After-tax contributions made from money on which personal income tax has already been paid. NCCs are not included in the fund's assessable income and are not taxed inside the fund.
| Financial Year | Annual Cap | TSB must be below |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025-26 | $120,000 | $2,000,000 |
| FY2026-27 (from 1 July 2026) | $130,000 +$10,000 | $2,100,000 |
TSB is measured at 30 June of the prior financial year. If your TSB is at or above the threshold, you cannot make any NCCs for that year. TSB is available via myGov (ATO online services).
Excess non-concessional contributions: If you exceed the NCC cap, you have 2
options. Option 1: withdraw the excess plus 85% of the associated earnings (the earnings are taxed at
your marginal rate). Option 2: leave it in the fund and pay 47% tax on the excess amount. The ATO will
issue a determination and give you the choice.
Why it matters
NCCs build the tax-free component of your super balance: the portion that comes out tax-free regardless of
your age when you eventually withdraw it. For members approaching retirement who have capacity to
contribute, NCCs can be one of the most tax-effective uses of personal savings.
NCC Strategy
SMSF Bring-Forward Rule: FY2025-26 and FY2026-27
The bring-forward rule lets eligible members contribute up to 3 years of non-concessional contributions in a single financial year. Your available bring-forward amount depends on your TSB at the prior 30 June.
FY2025-26 Bring-Forward Thresholds
Based on your TSB at 30 June 2025. NCC cap: $120,000. General Transfer Balance Cap: $2,000,000.
| TSB at 30 June 2025 | Bring-forward period | Maximum NCC |
|---|---|---|
| Below $1,760,000 | 3 years | $360,000 |
| $1,760,000 to below $1,880,000 | 2 years | $240,000 |
| $1,880,000 to below $2,000,000 | 1 year | $120,000 |
| $2,000,000 or above | Nil | Nil |
FY2026-27 Bring-Forward Thresholds
Based on your TSB at 30 June 2026. NCC cap rises to $130,000. General Transfer Balance Cap rises to $2,100,000.
| TSB at 30 June 2026 | Bring-forward period | Maximum NCC |
|---|---|---|
| Below $1,840,000 | 3 years | $390,000 |
| $1,840,000 to below $1,970,000 | 2 years | $260,000 |
| $1,970,000 to below $2,100,000 | 1 year | $130,000 |
| $2,100,000 or above | Nil | Nil |
Timing decision for FY2025-26 vs FY2026-27: If your balance is approaching $1.76M at
30 June 2026, waiting one year to trigger bring-forward gives you access to the higher $390,000 limit
instead of $360,000, provided your balance stays below $1.84M. Worth discussing with your accountant
before year-end.
Eligibility: You must be under age 75 at the time of the contribution. Once a
bring-forward period is triggered, the period and maximum amount are fixed. You cannot re-trigger a new
bring-forward until the prior period expires. The bring-forward period is 3 years from the year it is
triggered, not from when the contributions are made.
CC Strategy
Carry-Forward Concessional Contributions Before 30 June 2026
Using Unused Concessional Cap Amounts
If you did not use your full concessional cap in prior years, you may be able to carry forward those unused amounts and contribute more than the standard annual cap in the current year. Unused cap amounts can be carried forward for up to 5 years before they expire.
- Eligibility: Your Total Super Balance (TSB) must be below $500,000 at 30 June of the prior financial year. If your TSB was $500,000 or above at 30 June 2025, you cannot use carry-forward in FY2025-26.
- Available from: 1 July 2019. Carry-forward amounts only accumulate from FY2019-20 onward. Any year before that cannot be captured.
- 5-year expiry: Unused cap amounts expire after 5 years. The oldest available year is always checked first. Amounts that have not been used within 5 years are permanently lost.
- Check your balance: The ATO calculates your unused cap amounts based on prior lodged annual returns. You can view your available amounts via myGov (ATO online services).
Urgent: FY2020-21 unused cap expires 30 June 2026. Any unused concessional cap from
FY2020-21 disappears permanently on 30 June 2026. There is no extension and no recovery after that date.
If your TSB was below $500,000 at 30 June 2025 and you had unused cap in FY2020-21, this is the last year
to use it. See the Compliance Calendar for key dates ↗
Worked example: Priya's TSB was $420,000 at 30 June 2025. She has unused concessional cap amounts of $8,000 from FY2020-21, $12,000 from FY2021-22 and $5,000 from FY2022-23. In FY2025-26, she can contribute above the standard $30,000 cap by using those unused amounts. The FY2020-21 amount is used first and must be used by 30 June 2026 or it expires.
Why it matters
Carry-forward is particularly useful for members who took time out of the workforce (for caregiving,
illness, or career breaks), received an inheritance or asset sale proceeds and want to shelter them in
super, or simply had lower income in earlier years. The $500,000 TSB test means this strategy is most
relevant for members with smaller balances who have the most to gain from catching up.
Eligibility
SMSF Contribution Age Rules and Work Test
Contribution Eligibility by Age
| Age band | Contribution types available | Work test required? |
|---|---|---|
| Under 67 | Employer SG, salary sacrifice, personal deductible contributions and non-concessional contributions, subject to caps and TSB limits. | No work test required. |
| 67 to 74 | Employer SG, salary sacrifice and non-concessional contributions can generally be accepted, subject to caps and TSB limits. | Personal deductible contributions still require 40 hours of gainful employment in any 30 consecutive days during the financial year, unless the one-year exemption applies. |
| 75 and over | Mandated employer contributions and eligible downsizer contributions only. | Voluntary personal contributions and salary sacrifice generally cannot be accepted. |
Work test exemption (age 67-74): Members who met the work test in the prior financial
year and whose TSB was below $300,000 at the prior 30 June may be able to use a one-year work test
exemption to make personal deductible contributions even if they did not meet the work test in the current
year. Confirm eligibility with your accountant.
Special Contribution
Downsizer Contribution Rules for SMSFs
Downsizer Contribution Rules
- Maximum amount$300,000 per person. Couples can contribute up to $600,000 combined from the proceeds of a single eligible property sale.
- Eligibility age55 or older at the time of the contribution. This age was reduced from 60 to 55 from 1 January 2023.
- Property requirementThe property must have been the main residence of you or your spouse for at least 10 years, and you must have been eligible for the main residence CGT exemption (full or partial). Investment properties that were never a main residence do not qualify.
- No NCC cap impactDownsizer contributions do not count toward the non-concessional contributions cap. You can make a downsizer contribution even if your NCC cap is $0 due to a high TSB.No TSB restriction applies to downsizer contributions
- One use onlyOne downsizer contribution per person. The rule is personal, not per couple: one spouse's prior downsizer contribution does not automatically stop the other spouse from making their own eligible downsizer contribution from the same property sale.
- TimingMust be made within 90 days of the property settlement date (or such other time as the ATO allows).
Transfer Balance Cap impact: A downsizer contribution goes into the accumulation
phase, not directly into pension phase. If you later move it into pension phase, it will count against
your Transfer Balance Cap at that time. Members with balances approaching $2M should take this into
account when deciding whether to make a downsizer contribution.
Action Required
Key Deadlines
Contribution Deadlines for FY2025-26
- 30 June 2026All contributions for FY2025-26 must be received by the fund's bank account by this date. The date the money leaves your account is irrelevant. What matters is when the fund receives it.Allow 3 to 5 business days for bank clearing. Do not transfer on 30 June and assume it counts.
- Notice of IntentTo claim a tax deduction on personal contributions, a Notice of Intent to Claim a Deduction must be lodged with the fund before the earlier of: lodging your personal tax return; commencing a pension from the fund; rolling over or transferring the funds; or winding up the fund. There is no fixed calendar date, but acting before 30 June each year avoids complications.The fund must acknowledge the notice in writing before you finalise your return
- Downsizer: 90 daysDownsizer contributions must reach the fund within 90 days of the property settlement date. This is a hard deadline with no discretion to extend in ordinary circumstances.
For the full list of SMSF compliance dates including annual return lodgement, TBAR deadlines, and the
June 2026 Decision Checklist, see the SMSF Compliance Calendar ↗
Government Incentives
Co-Contribution & LISTO
These incentives are less relevant to many SMSF trustees, but they matter for completeness where a member has low or middle income. Both are calculated by the ATO rather than claimed through the SMSF trustee.
Government Co-Contribution (FY2025-26)
If you earn below $62,488 and make personal after-tax contributions to your super, the government adds 50 cents for every dollar you contribute, up to a maximum of $500. The full $500 is available if your income is $47,488 or below. The benefit phases out completely at $62,488.
| Income | Max co-contribution | To receive the maximum, contribute at least... |
|---|---|---|
| $47,488 or below | $500 | $1,000 |
| $50,000 | $416 | $832 |
| $55,000 | $250 | $500 |
| $60,000 | $83 | $166 |
| $62,488 or above | Nil | Not eligible |
Income figures are approximate. The phase-out reduces the maximum co-contribution by $1 for every $3 of income above $47,488. Confirm eligibility with the ATO co-contribution calculator ↗
Eligibility conditions: At least 10% of your income must come from eligible employment
or self-employment. The contribution must be a personal non-concessional contribution (not salary
sacrifice). You must be under age 71 at the end of the financial year. You must not be a temporary resident.
Low Income Super Tax Offset (LISTO)
If your adjusted taxable income is $37,000 or below, the ATO credits up to $500 directly into your super fund. LISTO effectively refunds the 15% contributions tax paid on concessional contributions, ensuring low income earners do not pay more tax on their super than they would pay personally.
- Maximum payment: $500, calculated as 15% of your total concessional contributions for the year
- No application needed: The ATO calculates and credits LISTO automatically after the fund lodges its annual return and your personal return is assessed
- Income threshold: $37,000 adjusted taxable income, unchanged for FY2025-26 and FY2026-27
- Future change: From 1 July 2027 the income threshold rises to $45,000 and the maximum payment rises to $810
Common Questions
SMSF Contribution Caps FAQ
These answers cover the most common SMSF contribution cap questions trustees need to check before making or accepting contributions.
What is the concessional contribution cap for FY2026-27?
The concessional contribution cap rises to $32,500 from 1 July 2026 for FY2026-27.
What is the non-concessional contribution cap for FY2025-26?
The annual non-concessional contribution cap for FY2025-26 is $120,000, provided your total super balance at 30 June 2025 is below $2 million.
What is the bring-forward maximum for FY2026-27?
From 1 July 2026, the maximum three-year bring-forward amount is $390,000 for eligible members whose total super balance at 30 June 2026 is below the relevant threshold.
Can I use carry-forward concessional contributions if my total super balance is above $500,000?
No. To use unused concessional cap amounts, your total super balance must be below $500,000 at 30 June of the previous financial year.
When does unused FY2020-21 concessional cap expire?
Unused concessional cap from FY2020-21 expires after 30 June 2026. If it is not used by then, it is permanently lost.
What is the non-concessional contribution cap for FY2026-27?
The annual non-concessional contribution cap rises to $130,000 from 1 July 2026, provided your total super balance at 30 June 2026 is below $2.1 million.
Should I trigger the bring-forward rule in FY2025-26 or wait until FY2026-27?
It depends on your total super balance and cash-flow needs. Triggering bring-forward in FY2025-26 can allow up to $360,000 for eligible members. Waiting until FY2026-27 may allow up to $390,000, but only if your total super balance at 30 June 2026 remains below the relevant threshold.
Can I make non-concessional contributions if my total super balance is above the transfer balance cap?
No. If your total super balance at the prior 30 June is at or above the non-concessional eligibility threshold, you cannot make non-concessional contributions for that financial year.
Can I contribute to super after age 75?
After age 75, an SMSF can generally only accept mandated employer contributions and eligible downsizer contributions. Voluntary personal contributions and salary sacrifice generally cannot be accepted.
What happens if I exceed the concessional contribution cap?
Excess concessional contributions are included in your assessable income and taxed at your marginal rate, with a 15% tax offset for contributions tax already paid by the fund. The ATO issues the assessment after fund reporting.
What happens if I exceed the non-concessional contribution cap?
The ATO will generally issue a determination. You may be able to withdraw the excess and associated earnings, or leave the excess in the fund and pay the applicable excess non-concessional contributions tax.
Do downsizer contributions count toward the non-concessional contribution cap?
No. Eligible downsizer contributions do not count toward the non-concessional contributions cap and are not blocked by the total super balance threshold.