This hub tracks the Australian superannuation system as it stands in the 2025/26 financial year (1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026) and the changes already locked in for 2026/27 (starting 1 July 2026). Primary source: Australian Taxation Office (ATO) key superannuation rates and thresholds. Coverage focuses on what affects an Australian worker's pay packet, take-home, and retirement balance.

Super Guarantee (SG) rate

The Super Guarantee, the minimum percentage of an employee's ordinary time earnings (OTE) that an employer must pay into their nominated super fund, is currently 12%. The 12% rate took effect on 1 July 2025 and applies for the full 2025/26 financial year. There is no further legislated increase; the SG rate remains at 12% from 1 July 2026.

An employee's super balance therefore receives 12 cents for every dollar of OTE earned. For someone on a $90,000 OTE base, that is $10,800 a year in employer-paid super, on top of cash salary.

Maximum contribution base

The maximum contribution base limits the OTE an employer is required to pay SG on. For 2025/26 it is $62,500 per quarter ($250,000 a year). Earnings above the cap do not attract compulsory employer SG. High-income employees should check their employment contract: many employers continue to pay 12% SG on the full salary by agreement, others stop at the cap.

Concessional contributions cap

Concessional contributions (employer SG, salary sacrifice, and personal deductible contributions combined) are capped at:

  • $30,000 a year for the 2025/26 financial year.
  • $32,500 a year from 1 July 2026 (legislated indexation increase).

Concessional contributions are taxed inside the fund at 15% (or 30% for very high earners under Division 293). Anything contributed above the cap counts as excess and is taxed at the individual's marginal rate plus an interest charge, so do not chase the cap by hand without a calculation.

Catch-up (carry-forward) contributions

Australians with a total super balance under $500,000 at 30 June of the previous financial year can use unused concessional cap from the previous five financial years. This is useful for people who took time out of paid work, ran a small business with lumpy income, or are catching up after maternity / parental leave.

Non-concessional contributions cap

Non-concessional contributions (after-tax money you put into super yourself) are capped at $120,000 a year for 2025/26. Under the bring-forward rule, eligible Australians under age 75 can bring forward up to three years of caps in a single year (up to $360,000 in one go). Eligibility tapers as your total super balance approaches the transfer balance cap.

Transfer balance cap

The transfer balance cap, the maximum that can be moved into the tax-free retirement (pension) phase, is $1.9 million for the 2025/26 financial year. Indexed thresholds change each financial year for new pension accounts.

Division 293 threshold

Division 293 tax adds an extra 15% tax on concessional contributions for very high earners. The threshold is $250,000 of combined adjusted taxable income plus low-tax contributions. Crossing the threshold means the slice of contributions above it is taxed at an effective 30%, instead of the standard 15%.

What to do if your employer is short on super

  1. Check your most recent payslip for the SG amount paid. It should equal at least 12% of your OTE for the period.
  2. Log in to your myGov account, link the ATO, and check your super contributions history. The ATO publishes employer-reported SG payments quarterly.
  3. If contributions are missing, raise it in writing with your employer first.
  4. If unresolved, lodge an unpaid super complaint with the ATO via the online form. The ATO can compel payment plus the SG charge (interest plus an admin fee).
  5. For complex cases, contact a free Financial Counselling service on 1800 007 007 or your union.

Where to read the official numbers