Government contributions
If you are a low-to-middle income earner, the Australian Government may help boost your super savings through the super co-contribution payment.
There are two types of contributions the government can make to help boost your super: co-contributions and low income contributions.
Co-contributions are designed to help low-to-middle income earners boost their super.
How it works
You can take advantage of the co-contribution payment by making a personal contribution into your super fund. Depending on your income and how much you contribute, the government will then match your contribution up to a maximum of $500.
Eligibility
You may be eligible if you:
- earn below the maximum income threshold;
- pass the 10% eligible income test;
- make a personal contribution to your super in the income year; and
- lodge your tax return.
How to apply
You don’t need to apply for the co-contribution. When you lodge your tax return, the government works out if you are eligible. If you are, they will automatically pay the co-contribution into your super account.
Things you can do to help:
- Work out if you are eligible to receive a co-contribution payment by visiting the ATO website.
- Use the ATO super co-contribution calculator to estimate how much you could receive.
- If you are eligible to receive a co-contribution, make a personal contribution before the end of the financial year so that your money is received and applied into your super account prior to June 30.
- Make sure that we have your Tax File Number (TFN) so that we can accept your contribution.
Any co-contributions paid into your account will show on your annual benefit statement. For more detailed information about co-contributions, visit the ATO website.
Low income contributions are designed to ‘refund’ the 15% tax paid on before-tax super contributions made by you or your employer into your super fund. This contribution is called a low income superannuation tax offset (LISTO).
How it works
The government will pay 15% of the before-tax contributions made into your super account back into your super, up to a maximum of $500 per financial year. If you're eligible for a low income contribution of less than $10, the ATO will round this up to $10.
Eligibility
You may be eligible to receive the low income contribution if you:
- receive before-tax contributions into your super account by you or your employer;
- earn below the low income threshold;
- pass the 10% eligible income test; and
- lodge your tax return.
How to apply
You don’t need to apply for the low income contribution. When you lodge your tax return, the government works out if you are eligible. If you are, they will automatically pay the contribution into your super account.
Things you can do to help
- Learn more about the low income contribution – LISTO – on the ATO website and determine if you are eligible.
- Use the ATO LISTO calculator to estimate how much you could receive.
- Make sure that we have your Tax File Number (TFN) so that the government knows where to send the payment to.
Any low income contributions paid into your account will show on your annual benefit statement. For more detailed information, visit the ATO website.