Can I contribute to my super if I'm retired?

Does my age affect my ability to make a contribution?

Your age is one factor that determines whether you can make a contribution.

If you’re under 75 years of age you can continue to contribute to your super fund regardless of whether you are still working or not.

You can make personal contributions for up to 28 days after the end of the month that you turn 75, but after that you can only make 'downsizer contributions'. See Downsizing to get ahead for more information on downsizer contributions.

If you are still working after age 75, your employer is still required to make compulsory super guarantee contributions on your behalf.

No other types of contribution can be accepted after age 75.

How does my age affect my ability to claim a tax deduction?

If you wish to claim a tax deduction for your personal super contribution, and you are age 67 ─ 74 (i.e. up to 28 days after the end of the month you turn 75) at the time you make your personal super contribution, you will have to satisfy the ATO’s 'work test' or 'work test exemption'. This means you may not be able to claim a tax deduction for your personal super contribution if you are in this age range and have retired. For more information on the rules for claiming a tax deduction for personal super contributions see Notice of Intent to Claim a Tax Deduction.

How does my total superannuation balance affect my ability to make a contribution?

If your total super balance is less than the general transfer balance cap on the 30 June of the previous financial year ─ you may contribute up to $120,000 as personal non-concessional contributions in the current financial year without being subject to extra tax.

If your total super balance is equal to or more than the general transfer balance cap on the 30 June of the previous financial year ─ you cannot make any personal non-concessional contributions in the current financial year without having to pay extra tax.

If you make a personal concessional contribution to super, the maximum amount you can contribute is not affected by your total super balance.

For more information see Super contributions – too much can mean extra tax.

How does my recent contribution history impact my ability to make a contribution?

If you made contributions above the annual non-concessional contribution cap in one of the past two financial years, this means you have used the 'bring-forward rule'. You will would be subject to a bring-forward contribution cap and will have to check with the ATO how much you can contribute to super in the current year without paying extra tax. For more information see Bring forward arrangements.

If you are going to claim a tax deduction for your super contribution, and you haven't contributed much to super over the past five financial years, you should check whether your personal contribution limit is more than the concessional contributions cap. For more information see Carry forward of unused concessional contributions.