The window to make superannuation contributions for the 2025-26 financial year closes on 30 June 2026. Several opportunities available to you right now cannot be deferred or recovered once that deadline passes.
This is a particularly important end-of-financial-year because confirmed rule changes take effect on 1 July 2026, affecting contribution caps and timing.
Here is what matters this financial year and what to consider before the deadline.
What are the contribution caps for 2025-26?
The concessional (before tax) contributions cap is $30,000 per member. This includes your employer’s Super Guarantee, salary sacrifice, and any personal contributions you plan to claim as a tax deduction.
The non-concessional (after tax) contributions cap is $120,000 per member. To make these contributions this year, your Total Super Balance must have been below $2 million at 30 June 2025.
Comparison of current and upcoming caps
Contribution Type | 2025-26 (now) | From 1 July 2026 |
|---|---|---|
Concessional (before tax) cap | $30,000 | $32,500 |
Non-concessional (after tax) cap | $120,000 | $130,000 |
Bring-forward maximum | $360,000 | $390,000 |
From 1 July 2026, both caps are indexed higher. This indexation is worth considering when deciding whether to contribute now or wait a few months.
What is the carry-forward concessional contributions rule?
If your Total Super Balance was below $500,000 at 30 June 2025, you may be able to contribute more than the $30,000 annual cap by using unused amounts from previous years.
Important note: any unused cap from 2019-20 expired permanently on 30 June 2025. The oldest amounts you can now use are from 2020-21. If you have not used your full cap in recent years, your effective cap for 2025-26 could be significantly higher than $30,000.
To check your available carry-forward balance, log into myGov → ATO → Super, or ask your accountant.
The bring-forward rule and why timing matters this year
The bring-forward rule allows eligible members to contribute up to three years’ worth of non-concessional contributions in a single year. For 2025-26 the maximum is $360,000.
From 1 July 2026, this rises to $390,000.
This creates a timing decision. If you start the bring-forward rule before 30 June 2026, you lock in the current $360,000 limit for your three-year period. In some cases, it may be better to contribute the $120,000 this year and then start the bring-forward rule from 1 July 2026 to access the higher limit.
If your Total Super Balance has been too high in recent years to make non-concessional contributions, the increase in the transfer balance cap to $2 million from 1 July 2025 may have opened up new eligibility. It is worth checking even if you have been unable to contribute in the past.
One other strategy worth knowing: contribution splitting
SMSF members can split up to 85 percent of their concessional contributions made in the previous financial year into their spouse’s super account.
This is worth considering if one member has a significantly higher balance than the other - especially if one balance is approaching the $3 million Division 296 threshold. Contribution splitting does not reduce the total amount contributed. It simply redirects part of the contributions to rebalance the balances between the two members.
The request must be made before 30 June of the following year. That means splits from the 2024-25 financial year must be actioned before 30 June 2026. If your fund has two members with quite different balances, this is worth raising with your accountant.
The contribution deadline is harder than it looks
Contributions must be received in your SMSF’s bank account by 30 June 2026 – not just initiated or sent. Banks can take several days (especially in the last week of June).
Allow at least 5 business days. Making a transfer on the last working day is risky.
Also remember: if you want to claim a personal contribution as a tax deduction, you must lodge a Notice of Intent with your fund before you lodge your personal tax return.
What to raise with your accountant or adviser now
Four simple questions worth asking before the end of May:
What is my current concessional contribution usage for 2025-26 (including employer contributions I may not be tracking closely)?
Do I have carry-forward concessional amounts available from 2020-21 onward, and is my Total Super Balance under $500,000?
Is the bring-forward rule worth using this year or after 1 July, given the cap increase?
Have I checked my eligibility for non-concessional contributions now that the transfer balance cap has increased?
These are not complicated questions – but they do require your latest numbers. The closer you get to 30 June, the fewer options you have.
This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult a licensed financial adviser or SMSF specialist before making decisions about your fund.