By putting in a little extra now, you could go some way toward making a difference in the future.

Here are a few ways you might be able to add to your super savings.

Salary sacrificing

You can ‘sacrifice’ some of your before-tax salary and/or bonuses and get your employer to pay it into your super for you. Not only does this help increase your super savings but it might also:

  • Assist with tax management as you are generally subject to only 15% tax on these contributions, instead of your marginal tax rate (plus Medicare levy and other applicable levies)
  • Move you into a lower tax bracket

Get help from the government

Contributions from your spouse

  • If you go on parental leave, your working spouse may be able to contribute to your super. This will ensure your super is still being added to, even when you’re not receiving regular contributions from your employer. Your spouse may even be able to claim a tax offset on some of the contributions. Check the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website to check what your spouse needs to qualify for a spouse contribution tax offset

Bring your super together

  • If you’ve lost track of your super and have multiple super accounts, you may be paying multiple sets of fees. There is millions of dollars’ worth of unclaimed and lost super in Australia. Consider checking with the ATO for your lost super and consolidating your super into one account so you can keep track of it easily.
  • Before making a decision, you should compare the costs, risks and benefits of your various funds. It’s also a good idea to consider things like fees, investment strategy, loss of insurance cover and any costs for rolling over from your other super funds as well as any investment or tax implications.

Watch your limits

  • Remember, the Government has set caps that limit the level of contributions you can make into super for each financial year before more tax applies. Ensure you know the current limits and how they may change in the future.
  • If you want to discuss strategies on how you might be able to boost your super, speak to a Financial Planner.

Try our retirement calculator

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Things you should know

This article contains general advice only. It does not take account of your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider talking to a financial planner before making any financial decision based on this information. This document has been prepared by Commonwealth Financial Planning Limited ABN 65 003 900 169, AFSL 231139, (Commonwealth Financial Planning) a wholly-owned, but non-guaranteed subsidiary of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124. Commonwealth Financial Planners are representatives of Commonwealth Financial Planning. 

Information in this article is based on current regulatory requirements and laws. While care has been taken in the preparation of this document, no liability is accepted by Commonwealth Financial Planning, Commonwealth Financial Planning related entities, agents and employees for any loss arising from reliance on this document. Taxation considerations are general and based on present taxation laws. You should seek independent, professional tax advice before making any decision based on this information. Commonwealth Bank is not a registered tax (financial) adviser under the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 and you should seek tax advice from a registered tax agent or a registered tax (financial) adviser if you intend to rely on this information to satisfy the liabilities or obligations or claim entitlements that arise, or could arise, under a taxation law.

Before you make a decision about your combining your super if you multiple accounts, you should compare the costs, fees, risks and benefits of each super fund. It makes sense to consider whether you can replace any insurance cover you may lose when you bring your accounts together, as well as any costs for withdrawing from other super funds and any investment or tax implications.