The annual concessional contribution cap stays at $30,000 for the 2025/2026 financial year. Consequently, the annual non-concessional contribution (NCC) cap also remains at $120,000. This NCC cap equals four times the concessional cap.

Even though the NCC cap itself hasn’t changed, more people might now be able to make these contributions. The rules now let individuals contribute if their total super balance (TSB) was under $2,000,000 on 30 June 2025. This change links to the increased general transfer balance cap (TBC), now at $2,000,000. Remember, individuals must also be under age 75 and consider any prior bring-forward arrangements.

Your specific NCC cap and bring-forward period depend directly on your TSB at 30 June 2025. 

• If your balance was less than $1.76 million, you can contribute up to $360,000 using a three-year bring-forward period. 
• Balances between $1.76 million and $1.88 million allow a $240,000 cap with a two-year bring-forward. 
• Individuals with a TSB between $1.88 million and $2.0 million have a standard $120,000 cap and cannot use the bring-forward rule. 
• Importantly, anyone with a TSB of $2.0 million or more cannot make any non-concessional contributions.

Personal Deductible Contributions

Super fund members can potentially claim a tax deduction for personal contributions made using after-tax money. Eligibility usually requires meeting several conditions. You must make an after-tax contribution within the relevant financial year. You also need to be under age 67, or aged 67 to 74 while meeting a work test or exemption. You must give your super fund a valid notice of intent to claim the deduction. Finally, your fund must acknowledge receiving this notice.

Notice of Intent to Claim

Eligible members wanting a deduction must formally notify their super fund. This notice must use the approved form (NAT 71121) and be valid. Tax law states a notice is valid only if certain conditions apply. You must still be a member of the fund you notified. 

The fund must still hold the contribution amount. The notice cannot cover amounts already included in a previous notice. None of the contribution can have been used to start a super income stream. 

Furthermore, the amount cannot include funds released or recontributed under the First Home Super Saver (FHSS) scheme.

What You Need to Consider

Timing matters significantly for your notice. You must give it to your fund by the earlier of two dates: the day you lodge your tax return for that year, or 30 June of the next financial year. 

• However, specific actions can invalidate your notice.
• Providing it after you roll over your entire super balance to another fund makes it invalid. 
• Withdrawing your entire super interest as a lump sum also invalidates it.
• Starting a pension using any part of the contribution has the same effect. This invalidation means you lose the ability to claim a deduction for those personal contributions made before the rollover, withdrawal, or pension commencement.

Please feel free to contact Bates Cosgrave team for any questions you may have relating to superannuation contributions.