Check super contribution caps for the relevant financial year before adding money to super. This guide separates concessional and non-concessional contributions, carry-forward and bring-forward rules, Division 293 tax and minimum pension payments.
Selected figures and pension-payment rules reviewed 5 October 2026. Financial years run from 1 July to 30 June; 2021–22 is the year ending 30 June 2022.
Super contribution caps by financial year
Compare the general before-tax and after-tax limits below. The highlighted row is the current financial year. Historical rows help you understand earlier contributions and possible carry-forward amounts; they are not additional current-year allowances.
On a small screen, swipe or scroll the table horizontally. All amounts are Australian dollars.
| Financial year | Concessional cap Before tax, per year | Non-concessional cap After tax, per year | Maximum new bring-forward Eligible three-year total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026–27Current | $32,500 | $130,000 | $390,000 |
| 2025–26Historical | $30,000 | $120,000 | $360,000 |
| 2024–25Historical | $30,000 | $120,000 | $360,000 |
| 2023–24Historical | $27,500 | $110,000 | $330,000 |
| 2022–23Historical | $27,500 | $110,000 | $330,000 |
| 2021–22Historical | $27,500 | $110,000 | $330,000 |
Concessional contributions and carry-forward
Concessional contributions are the before-tax amounts paid into super: employer Superannuation Guarantee, salary sacrifice and personal contributions you claim as a tax deduction. These count together across all your funds. They are generally taxed at 15% inside the fund, with additional Division 293 tax possible for higher incomes.
If your total super balance was less than $500,000 at the previous 30 June, you may use unused concessional cap amounts from the previous five financial years. The oldest available amounts are used first. This is carry-forward or catch-up, and is different from the after-tax bring-forward rule.
For 2026–27, the five earlier years are 2021–22 through 2025–26. Unused 2021–22 cap amounts expire after 30 June 2027. Check your actual unused balance with the ATO rather than assuming every historical cap is still available.
Worked example: using an unused concessional cap
Sarah is 58, earns $95,000 and had a total super balance of $310,000 at 30 June 2026. Suppose her total concessional contributions in 2025–26 were $12,000 against that year’s $30,000 cap, leaving $18,000 unused. If eligible and that amount remains available, adding it to the 2026–27 general cap of $32,500 gives $50,500 of concessional cap space. Employer contributions are included, and tax-deduction and other eligibility rules still need checking.
Non-concessional contributions and bring-forward
Non-concessional contributions come from money already taxed. They do not generally attract the 15% contributions tax on entry. The general annual cap is four times the concessional cap: $130,000 in 2026–27.
Eligible people may trigger a period using up to three years of after-tax caps, with a maximum new three-year total of $390,000 at the 2026–27 rate. Bring-forward uses future caps, not unused caps from past years. Total-super-balance tiers can limit this to two years, one year or no cap. The 2026–27 general transfer balance cap is $2.1 million; your personal transfer balance cap may differ.
The age qualification changed over the table’s history: you needed to be under 67 at some time in 2021–22; from 2022–23 onward, the bring-forward age test is under 75 at some time in the financial year. Separate fund-acceptance and age rules also apply. Existing bring-forward periods retain their own applicable limits.
Division 293: the additional tax for higher incomes
An additional 15% tax can apply when your income and relevant concessional contributions, calculated under the Division 293 rules, exceed $250,000. It applies to the lesser of the relevant contributions and the amount above the threshold. This is not a salary-only test, and carry-forward concessional contributions can count.
The $250,000 threshold has applied from 2017–18. See the ATO’s Division 293 guidance for the income calculation and exceptions.
Minimum annual pension drawdown rates
Once an account-based pension starts, minimum pension-payment rules apply. The standard full-year percentages below depend on age on 1 July, or the commencement date in the first year. These are withdrawal minimums, not contribution caps.
| Age | Minimum annual drawdown |
|---|---|
| Under 65 | 4% |
| 65–74 | 5% |
| 75–79 | 6% |
| 80–84 | 7% |
| 85–89 | 9% |
| 90–94 | 11% |
| 95 and over | 14% |
First-year payments are generally pro-rated for the days from commencement through 30 June, including the commencement day. A pension starting on or after 1 June has no minimum payment for that financial year. Minimum amounts are rounded to the nearest $10, with an exact $5 rounded up. Confirm the required amount with your fund or the ATO. Transition-to-retirement pensions have additional maximum-payment rules.
These are standard current rates. Temporary minimum-payment reductions applied in some earlier financial years; do not apply this table retrospectively without checking the relevant year’s rules.
Worked example: a full-year pension at age 67
For an account-based pension already running on 1 July, suppose Tom is 67 and the balance on that date is $600,000. A 5% annual rate gives a $30,000 minimum for a full year. Starting or ending a pension during the year can change the required amount.
Frequently asked questions
Do employer contributions count toward my concessional cap?
Yes. Employer super, salary sacrifice and deductible personal contributions count together across your funds.
What happens if I go over a cap?
Excess concessional contributions are generally included in assessable income and taxed at your marginal rate, with a 15% offset for contributions tax already paid. The former excess concessional contributions charge no longer applies from 1 July 2021. Excess non-concessional contributions have different release and tax rules. Read your ATO determination and get advice before acting. See ATO contributions-cap guidance.
Can I draw down less than the minimum?
You must meet the minimum payment calculated under the applicable pension rules. Check commencement, pro-rating and the 1 June exception before applying a full-year percentage.
Does the minimum drawdown apply from age 60?
The minimum applies once an account-based pension has started under the applicable release rules. It is not triggered just by a particular birthday; the percentage increases across the age bands above.
Official sources and how to check your own position
- ATO: current and historical contributions caps
- ATO education: the $32,500 concessional cap from 1 July 2026
- ATO: non-concessional caps and bring-forward eligibility
- Income Tax Assessment Act 1997: sections 291-20, 292-85 and 293-20
- Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation: current super tax guide
- Official minimum-payment rules: Schedule 7 of the superannuation regulations
This guide and Pension Pilot reports provide educational estimates. Confirm contribution eligibility, unused caps, your own bring-forward period, transfer balance limits and required pension payments with the ATO, your super fund or a qualified adviser before acting.