SMSF Contribution Limits Australia 2025–26: Caps, Rules and What Changes on 1 July 2026
This article is general information only and does not constitute financial advice. SMSFs involve complex legal, tax and compliance obligations. Before making any decision about contributions to a self-managed super fund, consult a licensed financial adviser holding an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) and an ASIC-registered SMSF auditor.
With 30 June 2026 approaching, understanding the current contribution limits for your SMSF matters now more than at any other point in the financial year. This article sets out the ATO contribution caps for 2025–26, the rules that determine how much each member can contribute, what happens when caps are exceeded, and what changes from 1 July 2026 — all sourced directly from the Australian Taxation Office.
At a glance: 2025–26 SMSF contribution caps
| Contribution type | 2025–26 cap | From 1 July 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Concessional (before-tax) | $30,000 | $32,500 |
| Non-concessional (after-tax) | $120,000 | $130,000 |
| Bring-forward maximum (3 years) | $360,000 | $390,000 |
| Transfer balance cap | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 (unchanged) |
| Superannuation Guarantee rate | 12% | 12% (unchanged) |
| Division 293 threshold | $250,000 | $250,000 (unchanged) |
| EOFY deadline | 30 June 2026 | — |
Source: ATO key superannuation rates and thresholds
EOFY deadline: what it means for SMSF members
For a contribution to count in the 2025–26 financial year it must be received and accepted by the SMSF by 30 June 2026 — not initiated, not in transit, but cleared into the fund’s bank account. SMSF members cannot rely on a transfer being initiated on 30 June and counting for that year. Allow sufficient processing time before the deadline.
Concessional contributions: the $30,000 cap
Concessional contributions are before-tax contributions. They include:
- Employer Superannuation Guarantee (SG) contributions — 12% of ordinary time earnings from 1 July 2025
- Salary sacrifice contributions arranged with your employer
- Personal contributions for which a valid Notice of Intent to Claim a Deduction has been lodged with the fund
The general concessional contributions cap for 2025–26 is $30,000. This cap applies per member across all super funds combined — not per fund. If you have both an SMSF and a retail fund, contributions to both count toward the same $30,000.
Concessional contributions are generally taxed at 15% inside the fund. The cap has been $30,000 since 1 July 2024, rising from the previous $27,500 that applied from 2021 to 2024.
Carry-forward concessional contributions
If your total superannuation balance (TSB) was below $500,000 at 30 June of the previous financial year, you may be able to contribute more than the $30,000 general cap by carrying forward unused cap amounts from up to five previous financial years. Unused concessional cap amounts from as far back as 2019–20 may be available, provided they have not expired. The oldest unused amounts are applied first. You can check your available carry-forward amounts through ATO online services via myGov.
Division 293 tax
If your income plus concessional contributions exceeds $250,000 in a financial year, an additional 15% tax applies to the relevant concessional contributions — bringing the total tax on those contributions to 30% rather than the standard 15%. The ATO issues a Division 293 assessment after tax return lodgement. The tax can be paid personally or released from the super fund. For more on how Australian income tax rates interact with superannuation, see Australia tax rates 2026.
Non-concessional contributions: the $120,000 cap
Non-concessional contributions are after-tax contributions — money contributed from income on which personal tax has already been paid, with no tax deduction claimed. The non-concessional contributions cap for 2025–26 is $120,000 per member.
Unlike concessional contributions, non-concessional contributions are not taxed again when they enter the fund — provided you stay within the cap.
Eligibility: your total super balance determines whether you can contribute
Eligibility to make non-concessional contributions in 2025–26 is based on your TSB at 30 June 2025:
| TSB at 30 June 2025 | Non-concessional cap for 2025–26 |
|---|---|
| Below $2,000,000 | Up to $120,000 (standard annual cap) |
| $2,000,000 or above | Nil — no non-concessional contributions permitted |
The general transfer balance cap increased to $2 million from 1 July 2025. Members whose TSB is at or above this threshold cannot make any non-concessional contributions in 2025–26.
You can check your TSB through ATO online services via myGov.
Exceeding the non-concessional cap
Contributions above the non-concessional cap are taxed at the highest marginal rate plus the Medicare levy — currently 47%. The ATO will contact you to explain your options, which include withdrawing the excess and associated earnings from the fund.
The bring-forward rule: contributing up to $360,000 in one year
Members under age 75 may be able to bring forward up to three years of non-concessional contribution caps into a single financial year under the bring-forward rule. The amount available depends on your TSB at 30 June of the previous year.
For 2025–26, the bring-forward caps based on TSB at 30 June 2025 are:
| TSB at 30 June 2025 | Maximum bring-forward contribution | Bring-forward period |
|---|---|---|
| Below $1,760,000 | $360,000 | 3 years |
| $1,760,000 to below $1,880,000 | $240,000 | 2 years |
| $1,880,000 to below $2,000,000 | $120,000 | 1 year (no bring-forward) |
| $2,000,000 or above | Nil | Not eligible |
Source: ATO non-concessional contributions cap
Triggering the bring-forward rule uses up the future year caps it draws on. Once triggered, your ability to make further non-concessional contributions may be limited until the bring-forward period ends. Before triggering the bring-forward rule, check your existing arrangement through ATO online services to confirm whether a prior arrangement is already in place.
Superannuation Guarantee: 12% from 1 July 2025
The Superannuation Guarantee rate reached 12% from 1 July 2025 — the final step in the legislated increase schedule. Employers must contribute at least 12% of eligible employees’ ordinary time earnings to their super fund. For SMSF members who are also employees, employer SG contributions count toward the $30,000 concessional cap along with any salary sacrifice or personal deductible contributions.
For context on Australian wages data that the SG is applied to, see wages in Australia 2026.
What changes from 1 July 2026
Two significant changes take effect on 1 July 2026 that affect every SMSF member:
Contribution caps indexed upward:
The concessional cap rises from $30,000 to $32,500. The non-concessional cap rises from $120,000 to $130,000. The three-year bring-forward maximum increases from $360,000 to $390,000. These increases are driven by CPI indexation. The transfer balance cap remains at $2 million and the Division 293 threshold remains at $250,000.
Payday super commences:
From 1 July 2026, employers are required to pay Superannuation Guarantee contributions within seven business days of each payday, rather than the current quarterly cycle. For SMSF members who are employees, this means employer contributions arrive more frequently and begin compounding sooner. For employers, payroll systems and clearing house arrangements need to be updated before 1 July 2026. The ATO will have real-time visibility of unpaid or late contributions from commencement.
How contributions are tracked and reported in an SMSF
SMSF trustees are responsible for recording all contributions correctly in the fund’s accounts and reporting them in the SMSF annual return lodged with the ATO each year. The ATO cross-references contributions reported by the SMSF against individual tax returns and employer data.
Members can track their concessional contributions through ATO online services via myGov. Note that SMSF data may be reported on a different timeline to APRA-regulated funds — information in ATO online services may not reflect the most recent contributions. Where real-time accuracy is needed, check directly with the SMSF administrator or auditor.
All SMSFs are required to appoint an approved SMSF auditor each year. The auditor reviews both the financial statements and the fund’s compliance with superannuation law, including contribution rules. Find an ASIC-registered SMSF auditor through the ASIC register.
Frequently asked questions
Do contribution caps apply per fund or per member?
Per member across all funds. If a member has an SMSF and a retail fund, contributions to both are added together and measured against the one cap.
Can a member contribute after age 75?
From 1 July 2022, members aged 75 and over can only receive mandated employer contributions — primarily SG contributions. Voluntary concessional and non-concessional contributions are generally not accepted by super funds for members aged 75 and over, with limited exceptions.
What is a downsizer contribution and does it count toward the cap?
Eligible Australians aged 55 and over can contribute up to $300,000 per person ($600,000 per couple) from the proceeds of selling their primary home under the downsizer contribution rules. Downsizer contributions do not count toward the non-concessional contributions cap — they are in addition to it. The member’s TSB does not affect eligibility for downsizer contributions.
What happens if a member accidentally exceeds the concessional cap?
The ATO will notify the member. Excess concessional contributions are included in the member’s assessable income and taxed at their marginal tax rate — with a 15% tax offset to account for the contributions tax already paid inside the fund. Members can elect to release up to 85% of the excess from the fund. For detailed information, see the ATO guidance on excess concessional contributions.
Does salary sacrifice reduce take-home pay and count toward the cap?
Yes to both. Salary sacrifice contributions are made before income tax is applied, reducing taxable income — but they count toward the $30,000 concessional cap along with employer SG contributions. See Australia tax rates 2026 for current income tax brackets.
This article is general information only and does not constitute financial advice. SMSFs involve complex legal, tax and compliance obligations. Before making any decision about contributions to a self-managed super fund, consult a licensed financial adviser holding an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) and an ASIC-registered SMSF auditor.
Sources: ATO contributions caps | ATO non-concessional contributions cap | ATO SMSF annual return