Seven super strategies before 30 June 2026
There are seven things you can do with your super before 30 June 2026. Some of them, like carry-forward contributions from 2020-21, expire this year. Once they're gone, they're gone.
Super contribution caps: what rises on 1 July 2026
What expires on 30 June 2026 that I can't get back?
Unused carry-forward concessional cap amounts from the 2020/21 financial year expire permanently on 30 June 2026. If your total super balance is under $500,000 and you have not fully used your concessional cap for the past five years, your available concessional capacity could be as high as $167,500 for this financial year alone.
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 current concessional cap is $30,000 per year. If you have not used your full cap in previous years, you may have accumulated significant unused capacity. The earliest year in the carry-forward window for 2025/26 is the 2020/21 financial year. Any unused amount from that year disappears permanently on 30 June 2026.
If you have not fully used your concessional cap for the past five years, your available concessional capacity could be as high as $167,500 for this financial year alone.
Example: Sandy
Sandy had $400,000 in super on 30 June 2025. She has $40,000 in unused carry-forward cap amounts from previous years. This year, she can contribute up to $70,000 in concessional contributions ($30,000 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. If you have capacity, consider making a personal deductible contribution before 30 June.
Should I use the bring-forward rule now or wait for the higher cap?
The non-concessional (after-tax) contributions cap for 2025/26 is $120,000, rising to $130,000 from 1 July 2026. If you are under 75, the bring-forward rule may let you contribute up to three years' worth in a single year: the current maximum is $360,000, rising to $390,000 from 1 July 2026.
Australian Taxation Office (ATO), Non-Concessional Contributions Cap and Bring-Forward Arrangements.
The non-concessional (after-tax) contributions cap for 2025/26 is $120,000. From 1 July 2026, this cap rises to $130,000.
If you are under 75 and your total super balance is below $1.76 million (as at 30 June 2025), you may also be able to use the bring-forward rule to contribute up to three years’ worth of non-concessional contributions in a single year. The current three-year maximum is $360,000. From 1 July 2026, it rises to $390,000.
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.
In most cases, contributing $360,000 now and getting an extra year of compounding inside super is more valuable than waiting for the higher $390,000 cap. However, this 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 under $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.
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 must be below $2 million (as at 30 June 2025; rising to $2.1 million from 1 July 2026).
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.
What is payday super and do I need to do anything before 1 July?
From 1 July 2026, employers must pay superannuation guarantee contributions within seven business days of each payday. This replaces the current quarterly system where employers can 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.
From 1 July 2026, employers must pay superannuation guarantee contributions within seven business days of each payday. This replaces the current quarterly system where employers can 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, it means payroll systems and clearing house arrangements need to be updated before 1 July.
Action: Employees should check that their employer is aware of the payday super changes. Business owners should contact their payroll provider or clearing house to confirm their systems are ready.
If you are both an employee and a business owner, this change affects you on both sides. The ATO will have real-time visibility of unpaid or late contributions from day one of the new system.
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 2020/21 expire on 30 June 2026. Once they pass, they cannot be recovered.
possible this financial year, if you have not used your full concessional cap since 2020-21.
Common questions
What's the deadline for super contributions this financial year?
30 June 2026. 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 2025-26?
$30,000 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 2020-21?
Only until 30 June 2026. Carry-forward concessional contributions expire after five years. The 2020-21 cap is gone after this financial year. Use it or lose it.
What's the non-concessional cap for 2025-26?
$120,000 a year, or up to $360,000 in one go using the bring-forward rule (subject to your total super balance). The cap is tied to 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 24-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 Financial Advisers is a Corporate Authorised Representative of Akumin Financial Planning Pty Ltd (AFSL 232706).
