Complete this section only if your super fund or retirement savings account (RSA) provider has given you an acknowledgment of your valid notice which advised them of the amount you intend to claim as a deduction.
Things to know
Personal super contributions are amounts you have paid to an eligible complying super fund or RSA to provide superannuation benefits for yourself, or for your dependants in the event of your death.
You may be able to claim a deduction for these contributions in 2019–20 if all the following apply:
- the eligible contributions were made from after-tax income to a complying super fund or RSA
- you meet the age restrictions
- your valid notice of intent has been sent and acknowledged by your fund.
Claiming a deduction may have an impact on several areas including:
- income tests for eligibility for certain tax offsets and government benefits
- super contribution caps.
Before claiming a deduction, you should consider broader tax outcomes that may apply if you have:
- withdrawn your super under the COVID-19 Early release of super program, and
- recontributed that amount back into your super fund to claim a personal super contribution deduction.
Any tax benefit obtained in relation to such a deduction could be cancelled if you enter into a scheme mainly for the purpose of obtaining a tax benefit.
See also
Eligible contributions
You may be able to claim a deduction for personal super contributions that you made to your eligible super fund or RSA provider from your after-tax income, for example, from your bank account directly to your super fund.
To be eligible to claim a deduction:
- the contributions must have been received by your super fund or RSA provider before 1 July 2020
- the super fund or RSA provider still holds the contributions you've included on your notice of intent
- this requirement may not be met if, for example, you withdrew those contributions under the COVID 19 – Early release of superannuation scheme before giving the notice.
Most super funds have deductible status. If you are unsure:
- you can check if personal contributions made to your fund are deductible by selecting Fund details under the Super tab in your ATO Online account (accessed via myGov), and referring to the Deductible status
- contact your super fund.
See also
What you can't claim
You can't claim a deduction:
- for super contributions paid by your employer directly to your super fund or RSA provider from your before-tax income such as
- the compulsory superannuation guarantee
- salary sacrifice amounts
- reportable employer superannuation contributions from your annual income statement or payment summary and shown in the Income tests section
- for contributions to the following types of funds
- a Commonwealth public sector superannuation scheme (super scheme) with a defined benefit interest
- constitutionally protected funds or other untaxed funds that would not include the contributions in their assessable income
- super funds that notified the Commissioner before the start of the income year that they elected to treat all member contributions to the
- super fund as non-deductible
- defined benefit interest within the super fund as non-deductible
- where you made contributions to a super fund or RSA provider that are attributable to the following super housing measures
- downsizer contributions
- re-contributions of amounts released under the first home super saver (FHSS) scheme
- where either of the following applied
- you made a contribution that was attributable, either in whole or in part, to a capital gain that you made and
- you chose to apply the small business capital gains tax retirement exemption to all or part of that capital gain, and
- you were under 55 years old just before you made that choice, or
- the contribution was attributable, either in whole or in part, to a capital gain and
- a company or trust chose to apply the small business capital gains tax retirement exemption to all or part of that capital gain, and
- you were under 55 years old just before the contribution was made.
- you made a contribution that was attributable, either in whole or in part, to a capital gain that you made and
See also
Age restrictions
A number of age restrictions apply to making a claim:
- If you turned 75 years old before 1 June 2019, you are not eligible to claim a deduction for personal superannuation contributions for 2019–20.
- If you turned 75 years old between 1 June 2019 and 30 June 2020, you can only claim a deduction for contributions you made before the 28th day of the month following the month in which you turned 75.
- Once you turn 65, you must satisfy the work test or meet the work test exemption criteria in order for your super fund to accept a contribution for which you can claim a deduction. You should check with your super fund or RSA provider.
- If you were under 18 years old on 30 June 2020 and you made the contribution in 2019–20, you can claim a deduction for your personal super contributions only if you earned income from:
- activities or circumstances which treat you as an employee for superannuation guarantee purposes, such as, salary or wages or other remuneration in return for your personal labour or skills
- carrying on a business.
Notice of intent – valid and acknowledged
All of the following must apply to make a claim:
- you gave a valid notice of intent to claim or vary a deduction for personal super contributions to your super fund or RSA provider in the approved form advising them of the amount you intend to claim as a deduction (you must give this notice on or before the day you lodge your 2020 tax return or 30 June 2021, whichever is earlier)
- your super fund or RSA provider acknowledged your valid notice
- until you receive an acknowledgment from your super fund or RSA provider, you are not entitled to a deduction for personal super contributions
- you may either wait to lodge your tax return until you receive the acknowledgment, or
- you may lodge now (without claiming the deduction) and request an amendment once you have received the acknowledgment.
If your super fund or RSA provider has rejected your notice or advised that it is not valid, you are not entitled to claim a deduction.
See also
- Notice of intent to claim or vary a deduction for personal super contributions
- How do I change an amount previously included on a valid notice?
Income splitting
If you don't claim an income tax deduction for personal super contributions, they can't be split to your spouse's super account. If you're planning to split all or part of your contributions with your spouse but want to claim a tax deduction for them, you must give the notice of intent to claim a deduction first. See: Splitting amounts to your spouse.
Super contribution caps and government super contributions
The amount of your personal super contributions that is allowed as an income tax deduction will count towards your concessional contributions cap. The amount of your personal contributions that is not allowed as an income tax deduction will count towards your non-concessional contributions cap.
You may be entitled to a super co-contribution for your personal contributions that you do not claim as a tax deduction. Do not include any amount at this section for the purpose of asking us for a super co-contribution. We calculate this automatically from information reported by your super fund or RSA provider and from other sections on your tax return.
See also
Completing this section
We pre-fill your return with personal super contribution deductions that your super fund or RSA provider has acknowledged from your valid notice of intent. Check them, and add any deductions that your super fund or RSA provider has acknowledged from your valid notice of intent that has not prefilled.
To personalise your return to show personal superannuation contributions, at Personalise return select:
- You had deductions you want to claim
- Other deductions
To show your personal superannuation contributions, at Prepare return select 'Add/Edit' at the Deductions banner.
At the Personal super contributions banner:
- For each super fund or RSA provider you contributed to that has not pre-filled and you have confirmed that you meet all contribution, age restriction and notice of intent eligibility criteria, select Add and enter the fund name.
- Answer the question Did you provide your fund (including a retirement savings account) with a notice of intent to claim a deduction for personal superannuation contributions, and receive an acknowledgment from your fund?
If No, go to step 5.
If Yes, go to step 3. - Enter the Fund ABN or Fund TFN.
- Add up and enter the 2019–20 contributions which you are eligible to claim as a tax deduction at Amount.
You can't claim an amount higher than the amount your super fund or RSA provider acknowledged.
The deduction you claim can only reduce your taxable income to nil. It can't add to or create a loss. - Select Save.
- Select Save and continue when you have completed the Deductions section.
Note: You can check your super fund details by selecting Fund details under the Super tab in your ATO Online account, accessed via myGov. A link to your fund website will also be provided there which you may find useful.
Record keeping
Keep your notice of intent to claim a deduction and the acknowledgment of your notice from your super fund or RSA provider, as we may ask to see them.
These myTax 2020 instructions are about claiming deductions for personal superannuation contributions.