Getting help with your application
We can answer any questions you have about completing your application if you phone us on 13 10 20. However, we can't process applications over the phone.
Help from third parties
The ATO does not charge for processing applications. However, if you get help from a business or organisation to prepare or submit your application, they may charge you a fee. Only registered tax agents are allowed to charge you a fee. To check if someone is a registered tax agent, use the Tax Practitioners Board registerExternal Link.
You can't apply for the release of super amounts to cover the fees of registered agents that helped you to apply. If you have paid a fee, you can't claim this fee as a deduction in your income tax return. However, if part of the fee from a registered tax agent includes a component for advice about managing your tax affairs then you may be able to claim a deduction for this part only.
If a third party is helping you to apply, it is important that you review the application and any documents you intend to provide us before you submit your application, to ensure they are accurate.
Don't share your myGov sign in details
You should never share your myGov sign in details with anyone else, including registered tax agents or health practitioners. If you share your myGov details:
- it compromises the security of your records
- it can result in significant consequences for you, including having your myGov account locked, suspended or permanently deactivated
- it is a breach of the myGov terms of useExternal Link
- you are responsible for everything that happens with your account. This includes paying any penalties we apply if false or misleading applications have been lodged.
Checks to complete before you apply
Follow these steps before you apply:
- Check if your super fund allows early release of super.
- Confirm with your super fund that you have a sufficient super balance to cover the amount you want to release. In most cases, you need to pay tax on super withdrawals, so you will need to request enough to cover your expense and any tax.
- Carefully review the information we provide here to
- understand what you need to know about the effects of accessing your super early
- work out if you meet the eligibility conditions for compassionate release of super
- understand the evidence required to support an application, including
- the general evidence requirements
- any evidence required to show a dependant relationship when you're seeking access to super to pay expenses for someone else
- evidence about eligible expenses for which you are applying.
- Collect all the documents and evidence required to support your application.
- Make sure that all the information you're providing is accurate, including the content within medical reports and other documents you provide. Penalties can apply to anyone who provides inaccurate information in their application.
- Make sure that documents are in the correct format.
Common errors when applying
Applications need to be supported by the right evidence for the specific compassionate release ground. Failing to provide the right evidence will result in delays in processing the application or it not being approved.
Common errors when applying include:
- Attaching out of date quotes or invoices for unpaid expenses. Note that
- quotes must be no more than 6 months old
- invoices must be no more than 30 days old.
- Not providing the right medical reports to support your medical treatment. Note that
- you must get a medical report from the relevant registered medical specialist in the area of the medical condition that you're applying for release to treat
- if you're applying for treatment to alleviate an acute or chronic mental illness, the relevant medical specialist report must be completed by a psychiatrist (not a psychologist).
- Applying to prevent the foreclosure or forced sale of your home from a mortgage lender, and not providing all of the following evidence requirements
- default notice
- letter from the mortgage lender
- a utility bill.
- Applying for release to prevent foreclosure or forced sale of your home for ineligible expenses such as a personal credit card debt, outstanding rent, or other personal loans.
- Not including the additional information required when applying to purchase a vehicle for medical transport that costs more than $20,000.
- Applying for the expense of a dependant and not including sufficient evidence to support the existence of an interdependency relationship or substantial financial dependency relationship.
Find out more about Evidence to support compassionate release of super applications.