Guide for employees and self-employed - reportable superannuation contributions

Personal deductible contributions

Your personal deductible contributions include any personal contributions you made to a super fund that you can claim a tax deduction for on your individual tax return.

You can claim an income tax deduction for personal contributions you make to a super fund if you meet certain eligibility criteria.

If you made a personal contribution and you did not claim a deduction for it, that amount is not a reportable super contribution.

Example 1

In the 2011-12 income year, Fred is self-employed and earns $40,000. Fred is not an employee for the purposes of super guarantee law.

Fred contributes $1,000 to his super fund. If he lodges a notice of intent to deduct and his super fund acknowledges that notice:

• he can claim a personal tax deduction of $1,000
• his taxable income is $39,000 if he claims no other deductions.

For income tests that include reportable super contributions, Fred's income is $40,000 - that is, $39,000 in taxable income, plus the $1,000 reportable super contribution amount.

For more information, refer to D12 - Personal superannuation contributions.