Super contribution caps 2026: how to make the most of the rise before 30 June
Super contribution caps – the limits on how much you can contribute to super – are rising from 1 July 2026. How you time contributions before 30 June could make a meaningful difference to how much you can put into super.
If you are building wealth, approaching retirement, or want to get more money working inside super’s tax-effective environment, the new rules are worth understanding now, before the financial year ends.
What’s changing from 1 July 2026
Three key figures are increasing:
2025/26 | 2026/27 | |
Concessional (pre-tax) cap | $30,000 | $32,500 |
Non-concessional (after-tax) cap | $120,000 | $130,000 |
General transfer balance cap | $2,000,000 | $2,100,000 |
Bring-forward rules: what you can contribute from 1 July 2026
The bring-forward rules allow eligible people (generally aged under 75) to contribute up to three years’ worth of after-tax contributions in a single year.
How much you can contribute depends on your total super balance at the previous 30 June.
From 1 July 2026, the thresholds increase:
Total super balance at 30 June 2026 | Maximum non-concessional contributions |
Under $1.84m | $390,000 (3-year bring-forward) |
$1.84m to under $1.97m | $260,000 (2-year) |
$1.97m to under $2.1m | $130,000 (1 year only) |
$2.1m or above | $0 |
The increase in thresholds means some people who have been unable to make after-tax contributions in recent years may now be eligible again.
Should you wait until July to act?
In some cases, yes.
Once you trigger the bring-forward arrangement, you lock in the current contribution caps for that period. That means you won’t benefit from the higher limits starting 1 July 2026.
A practical example:
- Contribute $120,000 before 30 June 2026, then trigger the three-year bring-forward from 1 July 2026: you could contribute a further $390,000 → Total: $510,000 across two financial years.
- Triggering the bring-forward before 30 June 2026 → Total capped at $360,000.
It won’t suit everyone to wait until after July. The right approach depends on your balance, age and plans. But if you’re close to the thresholds, it is worth reviewing your position well before 30 June.
Other opportunities worth reviewing
These changes are not just about contribution limits. They may also create opportunities to revisit how your super is structured.
Previously ineligible to contribute?
Your eligibility may have changed.
If you have been unable to make after-tax contributions in recent years due to your balance, you should revisit your eligibility.
The thresholds are based on the general transfer balance cap, not your personal cap. This means eligibility can change even if you’ve already commenced a pension.
Recontribution strategies
With higher caps, there may be an opportunity to withdraw and recontribute amounts to improve the tax position of your super, particularly from an estate planning perspective.
Contributing to a spouse’s super
The spouse contribution tax offset is now accessible where the receiving spouse’s balance is under $2.1 million (up from $2 million previously) at 30 June 2026. This may allow additional contributions to be made in a tax-effective way.
A note on Division 296
The Division 296 tax has now passed Parliament and applies from 1 July 2026. It imposes an additional 15% tax on super earnings attributable to balances above $3 million. If this applies to you, or could in future, now is a good time to review your position.
Is this relevant to you?
Consider getting advice before 30 June 2026 if any of the following apply:
- You are planning to use the bring-forward rules this year, and your balance is approaching $1.84 million.
- You have been unable to make after-tax contributions in recent years.
- You want to review your overall contribution strategy before the new financial year.
- You have a super balance approaching or exceeding $3 million.
If you’d like to talk through what these changes mean for your situation, please reach out to Synectic’s Financial Advisers in Devonport, Launceston or Hobart.
