The Australian Government provides incentives for eligible individuals to make personal contributions to superannuation and in turn receive a Government co-contribution.

For the 2016/2017 financial year, if you meet all the requirements and make a personal contribution (using your after-tax money) of at least $1,000 into superannuation, the Government will contribute an additional $500.  This means that for every $1.00 of personal contribution, the Government may contribute an additional 50¢ (cents) (up to $500), which would effectively be a 50% return on your money.

What are the requirements?

To qualify for the Government co-contribution you must be gainfully employed.  You also need to earn at least 10% or more of your total income from carrying on a business, eligible employment or a combination of the two.  This means you can either be employed or self-employed.  You also need to be less than 71 years old at the end of the financial year you make the personal superannuation contribution.

Other conditions are:

• You make a non-concessional contribution to a complying superannuation fund in the relevant year and do not claim a tax deduction on this amount.
• You lodge a tax return for the year.
• You do not hold a temporary resident visa at any time during the financial year.
• Your total income is below the income thresholds. Total income is assessable income plus reportable fringe benefits and reportable employer superannuation contributions (which excludes your compulsory superannuation guarantee contributions).

I’m self-employed; can I still receive a co-contribution?

Self-employed workers are able to receive the co-contribution, however, the income test is more complicated than for an employee (for example, total income for a self-employed person is not reduced by your allowable business deductions when calculating the above stated 10% rule).  You can discuss this with your financial adviser and they will determine if you are eligible.

Can I reduce my income through salary sacrificing?

The Government introduced changes from 1 July 2009 which means that any salary sacrificed income is added back when determining your eligibility for the Government co-contribution.

What are the income requirements?

You will qualify for the full co-contribution if your total income is below the lower income threshold.

If your total income is above the upper income threshold, you do not qualify for the co-contribution and are not entitled to receive any co-contribution from the Government.

If your income is between the upper and lower income thresholds you will qualify for a part co-contribution.

You will receive a 3.333¢ (cent) reduction in the amount of co-contribution for every $1 that your total income exceeds the lower threshold.

Financial Year	Lower Income Threshold	Upper Income Threshold	Maximum Co-contribution
2016/2017	$36,021	$51,021	$500
2015/2016	$35,454	$50,454	$500

The lower income threshold and upper income threshold is indexed each year.  The amounts shown in the table above have been indexed.

What is the proposed maximum co-contribution I can receive?

For the 2016/2017 financial year, the maximum co-contribution is 0.5 times the amount of your contribution, up to $500.  For example, if you contribute $12,000 and are under the lower income threshold, then the maximum co-contribution you can receive is $500.

How do I receive the co-contribution?

The amount of co-contribution you are entitled to is automatically calculated by the Australian Tax Office (ATO) after you have lodged your income tax return.  The ATO will then pay the amount of the co-contribution into the same superannuation fund you made the original contribution into.  If this superannuation fund has been closed, the ATO will notify you and ask you for details of a superannuation fund into which they can pay the contribution.

Examples

The following examples are based on the Government co-contribution to take effect for the 2014/2015 financial year.

Example 1 – Full Co-contribution

Rebecca is working part-time and earns a salary of $29,000 per annum. She has no other income.  Rebecca makes a personal contribution using her bank funds of $1,000 into superannuation.  As Rebecca’s total income is below the lower threshold, she will qualify for the full co-contribution of $500.

Example 2 – Part Co-contribution with $1,000 after-tax contribution

Daniel is aged 25 and is earning a salary of $40,000.  He contributes $1,000 into superannuation as a personal contribution using his bank funds.

As Daniel’s total income of $40,000 is over the lower income threshold, but below the upper income threshold, he will receive a reduced co-contribution calculated as follows:

Maximum co-contribution = $500 - [(total assessable Income - lower income threshold) x 3.333¢]

= $500 – [($40,000 - $36,021) x 0.03333]

= $500 – [$3,979 x 0.03333]

= $367

Example 3 – Part Co-contribution with $250 after-tax contribution

Craig is earning a salary of $45,000 and makes a personal contribution using his bank funds of $250 into superannuation.  As Craig’s total income of $45,000 is between the lower and upper income thresholds, he will receive a reduced co-contribution calculated as follows:

Craig will receive the lower of:

• $500 – [(total assessable income – lower income threshold) x 0.03333], or
• The amount of his personal contribution multiplied by 50%

Maximum co-contribution = $500 - [(total assessable Income - lower income threshold) x 3.333¢]

= $500 – [($45,000 - $36,021) x 0.03333]

= $500 – [$8,979 x 0.03333]

= $200.73

As Craig contributed $250 the maximum co-contribution he can receive is $125.