Changes to super are coming into effect from July

The clock is ticking and changes to the superannuation rules will come into effect on 1 July 2017.

While the government will reduce the amount of money you can put into super from 1 July 2017, the good news is that you could still take advantage of opportunities before the financial year ends. See what you should be aware of and what the new laws could mean for your future goals.

The government’s May 2016 Federal Budget proposals and several subsequent modifications to its plans around super reform passed through both houses of parliament at the end of November.

With new regulations set to become part of Australian superannuation law, some of the rules around super contributions and the tax breaks available will change from 1 July 2017.

See what the changes could mean for you and what opportunities you could take advantage of before the end of financial year.

What’s changing

The after-tax super contributions cap will reduce

Initially, the government planned to introduce a $500,000 lifetime cap on after-tax (non-concessional) super contributions, which it will no longer be implementing.

Instead, an annual after-tax contributions cap of $100,000 will be put in place, replacing the current cap of $180,000. Those under age 65 will still have the ability to bring forward three years’ worth of after-tax super contributions, with a maximum of $300,000 under the bring-forward rules.

The before-tax super contributions cap will be lowered

The before-tax (concessional) contributions cap will decrease from $30,000 (or $35,000 if you’re turning 50 years of age or older this financial year) to $25,000 per year for everyone, irrespective of age.

A pension transfer cap of $1.6m will be introduced

If you’re converting your super into a pension to derive an income in retirement you’ll be restricted to a limit of $1.6 million in your tax-free pension account, not including subsequent earnings.

If you already have a balance above that, the excess will need to be placed back into the super accumulation phase, where earnings will be taxed at the concessional rate of 15%, or taken out of super completely.

Transition to retirement pensions will lose their tax exemption

Investment earnings on super fund assets that support a pension are currently tax free. However, this will no longer apply to transition to retirement (TTR) income streams.

Earnings on fund assets supporting a TTR income stream will be subject to the same maximum 15% tax rate that applies to accumulation funds.

Super opportunities this financial year

• You can contribute $80,000 more in after-tax super contributions than what will be possible from 1 July 2017, as the after-tax contributions cap will be reduced from $180,000 to $100,000 per year.
• If you’re under age 65, you can also bring forward three years’ worth of after-tax super contributions up to a maximum of $540,000. This is significantly higher than the $300,000 limit that will apply from 1 July 2017.
• The before-tax contributions limit will remain at $30,000 (or $35,000 if you’re turning 50 years of age or older this financial year) until 1 July 2017. This means you can contribute $5,000 or $10,000 more in before-tax contributions respectively before the limit is reduced to $25,000 per year for everyone.To find out how reforms to the superannuation system could affect you, speak to us, simply call on 03 6343 1007.Meanwhile, to recap on some of the other changes coming in and when they’ll take effect, check out our May Federal Budget 2016-17 roundup and our subsequent article published in September, regarding changes to the government’s initial plans.