Six super strategies before 30 June
Figures in this guide are for the 2026-27 financial year, 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. Caps can change each 1 July, so check the ATO before acting on anything below.
There are six things worth checking in your super before 30 June each year. One has a hard expiry: unused concessional cap amounts lapse after five years. In 2026-27 that means the 2021-22 amounts, which expire on 30 June 2027. Once they're gone, they're gone.
Super contribution caps for 2026-27
What expires on 30 June that I can't get back?
Unused concessional cap amounts can be carried forward for five years, then they lapse. In 2026-27 the oldest year still available is 2021-22, and those amounts expire permanently on 30 June 2027. If your total super balance was under $500,000 on 30 June 2026 and you have used none of your concessional cap for the past five years, your concessional capacity could be as high as $175,000 this financial year.
Australian Taxation Office (ATO), Carry-Forward Concessional Contributions.
Since 2018/19, Australians with a total super balance under $500,000 (as at the previous 30 June) have been able to carry forward unused concessional contribution cap amounts for up to five years.
The concessional cap for 2026-27 is $32,500. If you have not used your full cap in earlier years, you may have built up unused capacity. The earliest year in the carry-forward window for 2026-27 is 2021-22. Any unused amount from that year disappears permanently on 30 June 2027.
If your total super balance was under $500,000 on 30 June 2026 and you have used none of your concessional cap for the past five years, your available concessional capacity could be as high as $175,000 for this financial year alone.
Example: Sandy
Sandy had $400,000 in super on 30 June 2026. She has $40,000 in unused carry-forward cap amounts from previous years. This year, she can contribute up to $72,500 in concessional contributions ($32,500 current cap plus $40,000 carry-forward) and claim a tax deduction on the personal contributions.
Worked example from this guide. Source: Australian Taxation Office (ATO), Carry-Forward Concessional Contributions.
Action: Check your unused concessional cap amounts through your myGov account or by contacting your super fund or a superannuation adviser near Brisbane. If you have capacity, consider making a personal deductible contribution before 30 June.
How does the bring-forward rule work, and when should I use it?
The non-concessional (after-tax) contributions cap for 2026-27 is $130,000. If you are under 75 and your total super balance is low enough, the bring-forward rule may let you contribute up to three years' worth in a single year, which is $390,000 in 2026-27.
Australian Taxation Office (ATO), Non-Concessional Contributions Cap and Bring-Forward Arrangements.
The non-concessional (after-tax) contributions cap for 2026-27 is $130,000. It is set at four times the concessional cap, so it rises whenever the concessional cap is indexed.
If you are under 75 and your total super balance was below $1.84 million on 30 June 2026, you may be able to use the bring-forward rule to contribute up to three years’ worth of non-concessional contributions in a single year, up to $390,000. A higher balance allows a shorter bring-forward period or none.
Action: If you have funds outside super and want to boost your retirement savings, consider making a non-concessional contribution before 30 June. Check your total super balance to confirm your eligibility and bring-forward capacity.
Timing matters most in a year when the caps are about to rise. A bring-forward arrangement uses the cap that applies in the year you trigger it, so triggering it just before an increase can leave room unused. Whether an extra year of compounding outweighs that depends on your total super balance and whether you have already triggered a bring-forward arrangement.
I'm selling my home. Can I put the proceeds into super?
If you are 55 or older and have sold (or are selling) your home, the downsizer contribution allows you to contribute up to $300,000 per person (or $600,000 per couple) directly into super from the sale proceeds. It does not count towards your concessional or non-concessional caps, and there is no total super balance test and no work test requirement.
Australian Taxation Office (ATO), Downsizer Super Contributions.
If you are 55 or older and have sold (or are selling) your home, the downsizer contribution allows you to contribute up to $300,000 per person (or $600,000 per couple) directly into super from the sale proceeds.
Downsizer contributions do not count towards your concessional or non-concessional caps. There is no total super balance test and no work test requirement. The property must have been owned for at least 10 years and the contribution must generally be made within 90 days of settlement.
Action: If you are planning to sell your family home or have recently settled, speak with a financial adviser about whether a downsizer contribution suits your overall strategy.
This is one of the few remaining ways to make large contributions to super regardless of your existing balance.
What else should I check inside my super before 30 June?
The end of the financial year is a natural checkpoint to review your investment options and to consolidate stray accounts. A portfolio that was appropriate at 45 may carry too much risk at 60, or may be too conservative for a 25-year retirement, and as at the most recent data there was just over $18.9 billion in lost super waiting to be claimed across Australia (as at 30 June 2025).
Australian Taxation Office (ATO), Lost and Unclaimed Super.
As you approach retirement, the allocation of your super between growth assets (shares, property) and defensive assets (cash, bonds) becomes increasingly important. A portfolio that was appropriate at 45 may carry too much risk at 60, or conversely, may be too conservative to generate the returns needed for a 25-year retirement.
The end of the financial year is a natural checkpoint to review your investment options, rebalance if needed, and ensure your super fund’s strategy aligns with your retirement timeline.
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Review your investment allocation
Log in to your super fund and review your current allocation. If unsure whether your mix suits your age and risk profile, this is exactly the type of question a financial adviser can help with.
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Consolidate scattered accounts
Super spread across several funds means each account charges its own administration fees and insurance premiums. Over time, this duplication quietly erodes your balance.
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Search for lost super
Use myGov linked to the ATO to search for lost or unclaimed super. Just under $18.9 billion is unclaimed (as at 30 June 2025).
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Check old insurance cover first
Before consolidating, check whether any existing insurance cover attached to an old account is worth retaining.
When we look at self-managed super funds, minimums are important, because that adds a lot of complexity around setting up a self-managed super fund, keeping it compliant, audited, and the paperwork in line. My advice is keep it simple. If you just want to have term deposits and a mix of direct equities or exchange traded funds, most super funds offer those types of investment menus within them.
George Iacovou, Principal Financial Adviser, Great Advice
My partner earns under $40,000. Is a spouse contribution worth it?
If your spouse earns less than $40,000 per year, you may be eligible for a spouse contribution tax offset of up to $540 when you contribute to their super. This is particularly relevant for couples where one partner has taken career breaks.
Australian Taxation Office (ATO), Spouse Contributions Tax Offset.
If your spouse earns less than $40,000 per year, you may be eligible for a spouse contribution tax offset of up to $540 when you contribute to their super. The receiving spouse’s total super balance on 30 June 2026 must be below the general transfer balance cap, which is $2.1 million for contributions made in 2026-27.
Source: Australian Taxation Office (ATO), Spouse Contributions Tax Offset.
Action: If one partner has a lower super balance, consider a spouse contribution before 30 June. This is particularly relevant for couples where one partner has taken career breaks.
Spouse contributions are an effective way to build both partners' super balances closer to equal, which can have significant benefits for retirement income structuring and age pension eligibility.
Payday super started on 1 July 2026. What should I check?
Since 1 July 2026, employers must pay superannuation guarantee contributions within seven business days of each payday. This replaced the quarterly system, where employers could take up to three months to remit your super, so your super gets invested sooner and starts compounding earlier.
Australian Taxation Office (ATO), Payday Super: Changes from 1 July 2026.
Since 1 July 2026, employers must pay superannuation guarantee contributions within seven business days of each payday. This replaced the quarterly system, where employers could take up to three months to remit your super.
Source: Australian Taxation Office (ATO), Payday Super: Changes from 1 July 2026. Three months charted as roughly 90 days; seven business days as roughly 10.
For employees, this means your super gets invested sooner and starts compounding earlier. For business owners, payroll systems and clearing house arrangements should now be running on the new timing.
Action: Employees can check that contributions are reaching their super account soon after each payday. Business owners should confirm with their payroll provider or clearing house that contributions are going out on time.
If you are both an employee and a business owner, this change affects you on both sides. Under Payday Super, the ATO uses data matching to find missed or late super payments.
The end of each financial year brings contribution opportunities that cannot be recovered once they pass.
A single conversation with a financial adviser before that date could identify thousands of dollars in contribution capacity you did not know you had.
Unused carry-forward amounts from 2021-22 expire on 30 June 2027. Once they pass, they cannot be recovered.
possible in 2026-27 if your total super balance was under $500,000 on 30 June 2026 and you have used none of your concessional cap since 2021-22.
Common questions
What's the deadline for super contributions this financial year?
30 June 2027. Contributions need to be received by your super fund (not just sent) by close of business that day. Most funds want them a week earlier to clear processing.
What's the concessional contribution cap for 2026-27?
$32,500 across all your super funds. That includes employer SG, salary sacrifice, and personal deductible contributions. If you've got unused cap from earlier years and a balance under $500,000, you can roll the extra forward.
Can I still use my unused cap from 2021-22?
Only until 30 June 2027. Carry-forward concessional contributions expire after five years. The 2021-22 amounts are gone after this financial year. Use it or lose it.
What's the non-concessional cap for 2026-27?
$130,000 a year, or up to $390,000 in one go using the bring-forward rule (subject to your total super balance). The cap is four times the concessional cap and moves with indexation.
Is salary sacrifice still worth it on $130k income?
Almost always yes. At $130k you're paying 32% marginal tax including Medicare. Salary sacrifice is taxed at 15% inside super. That's a 17-point saving on every dollar you redirect, up to the concessional limit.
General Advice Warning: This article contains general information only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation, or needs. Before making any financial decisions, you should consider whether the information is appropriate for your circumstances and seek personal financial advice from a licensed adviser. Great Advice is a Corporate Authorised Representative of Akumin Financial Planning Pty Ltd (AFSL 232706).
