Changes to super from 1 July 2024

Key takeaways

• From 1 July 2024, the SG rate which determines the minimum percentage of your salary that your employer must contribute to your super fund, will increase from 11% to 11.5%
• The cap on concessional (before-tax) super contributions will increase from $27,500 to $30,000 per year
• The non-concessional (after-tax) super contributions cap will also increase from $110,000 to $120,000 from the 2024-25 financial year.

In this article we look at the changes to super rates for the financial year 2024-25, including the increase to the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) and super contributions caps.

Being aware of these changes can help you make more informed decisions when it comes to your retirement savings.

Super Guarantee (SG) rate rise

If you are employed in Australia and meet eligibility requirements, you must be paid super by your employer. This is paid on top of your annual salary known as the Super Guarantee (SG).

One of the significant changes that took effect from 1 July 2024 is the SG rate, it increased from 11% to 11.5%. This rate will continue to increase until it reaches 12% on 1 July 2025.

Changes to super contributions caps

There are a range of strategies you can implement to improve your retirement savings, like putting a little extra money into your super while you’re still working.

Aside from the compulsory employer contributions, you can also make voluntary contributions to your super. These can be either before-tax (concessional) or after-tax (non-concessional).

The good news is the super contribution limits went up on 1 July 2024. This means you may have more opportunity to boost your super savings and have more for retirement.

The concessional and non-concessional contribution caps are summarised below:

Concessional (before-tax) contributions cap

Concessional contributions include compulsory super contributions made on your behalf by your employer, including salary sacrifice, as well as any personal contributions you make to super which you claim as a tax deduction.

There is a cap associated with concessional super contributions which is the maximum amount you can contribute to your super without being required to pay a higher tax rate.

The cap on concessional contributions will increase from $27,500 to $30,000 for the financial year 2024-25.

Carry forward concessional contributions

If you’ve had time out of work raising kids or for other lifestyle reasons, or you haven’t had the money to boost your super until now, you could take advantage of carry forward concessional contributions (also known as catch-up contributions).

To be eligible for catch-up contributions, your total super balance at 30 June of the last financial year must have been below $500,000.

If you’re eligible, your concessional contribution cap for the financial year is the annual cap plus any unused concessional contribution caps for the last five financial years. Catch up contributions can help you to make up for past years where you may not have utilised all your concessional contributions cap.

If you have increased income for the financial year, taking advantage of the catch-up contributions can help you claim a larger tax deduction.

Non-concessional (after-tax) contributions cap

From 1 July 2024, you may be able to add more into super by making personal, after-tax contributions with the cap increasing from $110,000 to $120,000 per year.

You can make additional contributions with your after-tax money—including those made from savings or your take-home pay.

To be eligible to make after-tax contributions you must be less than 75 years old and your total super balance last 30 June must be less than $1.9 million.

Non-concessional contributions bring forward rule

This rule relates to after-tax super contributions and may allow you to contribute more into super by bringing forward up to two years’ worth of after-tax contributions in addition to the annual cap.

The total amount you have in super at the end 30 June of the last financial year will affect whether you are eligible to make any non-concessional contributions and if you have triggered the bring forward rule in the previous two financial years. Your total super balance also determines the maximum amount you can contribute.

For example, in 2024-25, if your total super balance is less than $1.66 million at 30 June 2024, and you did not use the bring-forward rule in the previous two financial years (FY 2022-23 and FY 2023-24), you may be able to contribute up to $360,000 in 2024-25, three times the annual cap, using the bring forward rule.

If your total super balance is between $1.66 million and less $1.78 million, you can contribute up to $240,000, and if your total super balance is 1.78 million but less than $1.9 million, the maximum you can contribute is $120,000.

Seek professional help

Super rules can be complicated to understand so speaking with professional can help to give you peace of mind. Alternatively, for more information visit the Australian Taxation Office website at ato.gov.au.

We can tailor a super strategy that suits your circumstances and goals. They can also provide valuable insights into the best investment options and insurance coverage for you.

Bottom line: remaining informed about the changes to super rates and rules is key to securing a comfortable retirement. If you’re unsure how it may benefit you, consider speaking to a professional.

* Based on KPMG Super Insights 2023 Report as at May 2023
https://assets.kpmg.com/content/dam/kpmg/au/pdf/2023/super-insights-2023-report.pdf

This article has been prepared by NULIS Nominees (Australia) Limited ABN 80 008 515 633 AFSL 236465 (NULIS) as trustee of the MLC Super Fund ABN 70 732 426 024. NULIS is part of the Insignia Financial group of companies comprising Insignia Financial Ltd ABN 49 100 103 722 and its related bodies corporate (‘Insignia Financial Group’). The information in this article is current as at June 2024 and may be subject to change. This information may constitute general advice. The information in this article is general in nature and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions based on this information. It is recommended that you consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) before you make any decisions about your superannuation. You can obtain the latest copy of the PDS (or other disclosure documents) and TMD by calling us on 132 652 or by searching for the applicable product at mlc.com.au. You should not rely on this article to determine your personal tax obligations. Please consult a registered tax agent for this purpose. Opinions constitute our judgement at the time of issue. The case study examples (if any) provided in this article have been included for illustrative purposes only and should not be relied upon for decision making. Subject to terms implied by law and which cannot be excluded, neither NULIS nor any member of the Insignia Financial Group accept responsibility for any loss or liability incurred by you in respect of any error, omission or misrepresentation in the information in this communication.