This article provides general information only and does not constitute personal financial advice. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any information in this article, you should consider whether it is appropriate for you and seek advice from a licensed financial adviser if necessary.

We are now in the first quarter of the 2026-27 financial year. If you have already made superannuation contributions through your employer or personally, you need to know how much contribution room remains before the June 30, 2027 deadline. Exceeding the caps can trigger excess contributions tax of up to 47%, so planning your contributions carefully is essential.

What You Will Learn

This guide walks you through checking the 2026-27 contribution caps, calculating your year-to-date contributions, working out your remaining room, and planning your contribution strategy for the rest of the financial year.

Step 1: Know the 2026-27 Contribution Caps

According to the Australian Taxation Office, the contribution caps for the 2026-27 financial year are:

  • Concessional contributions cap: $30,000 per year (indexed to Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings; verify the current cap at ato.gov.au as it may have increased)
  • Non-concessional contributions cap: $120,000 per year (four times the concessional cap)

Concessional contributions include your employer Superannuation Guarantee payments (currently 12% as of July 1, 2025), salary sacrifice contributions, and personal deductible contributions. These are taxed at 15% inside the fund. Non-concessional contributions are after-tax dollars you contribute personally and are not taxed again.

If your total superannuation balance was below $500,000 on June 30, 2026, you may be able to carry forward unused concessional cap amounts from previous years (up to five years). This can allow you to contribute more than $30,000 in concessional contributions this year if you have unused cap space from 2021-22 onwards.

Step 2: Check Your Year-to-Date Contributions

Log in to your myGov account and link it to the ATO. Under the Super section, you can view your contributions for the current financial year. Your employer reports Superannuation Guarantee contributions quarterly (due 28 days after the end of each quarter), so there may be a reporting lag.

Check:

  • Total concessional contributions received so far (employer SG, salary sacrifice, and any personal deductible contributions)
  • Total non-concessional contributions made
  • Your total superannuation balance as of the last reporting date

If you made a personal contribution and intend to claim it as a tax deduction, you must lodge a valid notice of intent to claim a deduction with your fund before the earlier of lodging your tax return or June 30, 2027.

Step 3: Calculate Your Remaining Contribution Room

Subtract your year-to-date contributions from the relevant cap:

Concessional room remaining = $30,000 (or higher if using carry-forward) minus year-to-date concessional contributions

Non-concessional room remaining = $120,000 minus year-to-date non-concessional contributions

Read also: How to Maximise Your Superannuation Contributions Before 30 June in Australia: Strategy Comparison

For example, if your employer has contributed $10,000 in Superannuation Guarantee so far, and you have made no salary sacrifice or personal deductible contributions, you have $20,000 of concessional cap remaining (assuming no carry-forward).

Step 4: Plan Your Contribution Strategy

Once you know your remaining room, decide how to use it. As covered in foundational texts such as Principles of Finance, strategic retirement contributions can significantly improve long-term wealth accumulation through tax-advantaged compounding.

For concessional contributions, consider:

  • Salary sacrifice: arrange with your employer to divert pre-tax salary into super. This reduces your taxable income and is taxed at 15% in the fund (a saving if your marginal tax rate is above 15%).
  • Personal deductible contributions: make a lump-sum contribution from after-tax savings and claim a tax deduction, effectively converting it to a concessional contribution.

For non-concessional contributions, consider:

  • Lump-sum contributions: if you have savings, inheritance, or a windfall, you can contribute up to $120,000 this year tax-free.
  • Bring-forward rule: if you are under 75 and your total super balance is below the transfer balance cap ($1.9 million as of 2023-24; verify current limit at ato.gov.au), you may be able to bring forward up to three years of non-concessional caps ($360,000 total). This is triggered automatically when you exceed the annual non-concessional cap in a single year.

Timing matters. If you are close to the cap, spread contributions across months to avoid accidentally exceeding it due to employer reporting lags.

Step 5: Monitor and Adjust

Check your myGov account quarterly after your employer’s contribution is reported. If you are approaching the cap, pause or reduce salary sacrifice arrangements. If you have unused room and the financial year is drawing to a close, you may wish to top up before June 30.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Forgetting carry-forward eligibility: if your total super balance was below $500,000 on June 30, 2026, check your carry-forward cap space. You may be able to contribute more than $30,000 in concessional contributions.
  • Not lodging a notice of intent: if you claim a personal contribution as a tax deduction without lodging the notice with your fund first, the ATO will treat it as non-concessional and you lose the deduction.
  • Exceeding caps due to reporting lags: employer contributions can be reported weeks after the pay period. Always leave a buffer.
  • Assuming the cap is fixed: contribution caps are indexed. Verify the current cap at ato.gov.au before making large contributions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I exceed the concessional cap?
Excess concessional contributions are included in your assessable income and taxed at your marginal rate, minus a 15% tax offset. You can elect to withdraw up to 85% of the excess (the rest covers the 15% already paid by the fund) or leave it in super where it counts toward your non-concessional cap.

Can I still contribute if I am over 75?
Yes, but different rules apply. You can make non-concessional contributions until age 75 (from July 1, 2022) if you meet the work test or work test exemption. Concessional contributions can be made by your employer regardless of age, but personal deductible contributions require meeting the work test if you are 67 to 74.

Do spouse contributions count toward my cap?
No. Spouse contributions count toward your spouse’s non-concessional cap, not yours. You may be eligible for a tax offset of up to $540 if your spouse earns less than $40,000 and you contribute up to $3,000 to their super.

Conclusion

Planning your super contributions for the remainder of 2026-27 starts with knowing the caps, checking your year-to-date contributions via myGov, and calculating your remaining room. Whether you use salary sacrifice, personal deductible contributions, or lump-sum after-tax contributions, staying within the caps maximises the tax advantages of superannuation and avoids costly excess contributions tax. Review your strategy quarterly and verify current caps and rules at ato.gov.au before making large contributions.