Your contributions
Only your own eligible voluntary contributions made from 1 July 2017 count towards the total amount that can be released to you from your super under the FHSS scheme.
first home super saver scheme explained
Saving your first home deposit isn’t easy. But the Australian Government’s First Home Super Saver (FHSS) scheme could help you get there faster and move into your own home sooner.
how does the FHSS scheme work?
The first thing most people want to know about the First Home Super Saver (FHSS) scheme is whether they can use their super to buy a house, so let’s start there.
The FHSS scheme lets you save a first home deposit by making voluntary before or after-tax contributions to your super. The FHSS scheme can be a way to pay less tax so you can put more money towards your first home deposit.
You can’t use contributions made to your super by anyone else — employers, government co-contributions, or a spouse. Instead, you use the FHSS scheme to save your own voluntary contributions. So rather than using a savings account, you save up for your first home deposit in your super account.
Everyone’s tax circumstances and eligibility are different, so it’s worth seeking advice to make sure the FHSS scheme is right for you.
top 3 things to know about the FHSS scheme
Property type
The property you buy must be a residential property — not vacant land (unless you’re building on it), a motor home, houseboat, or any other type of property that can’t be a residence.
Timeframe to buy
From the date of your FHSS scheme release request, you’ll need to sign a contract to buy a property or start the construction of your home within 12 months (unless an additional 12 months extension is granted by the ATO), or you must recontribute the released amount to your super fund or keep the funds and be subject to FHSS tax, see full requirements on the ATO website.
how to make contributions to the FHSS scheme
You can make eligible personal voluntary before or after-tax (or both) contributions to your super under the FHSS scheme. Let’s learn a bit more about them. You can also visit the ATO website for more information.
Before tax
Called concessional contributions because most people (those earning less than $250,000 a year) get a tax concession. They only pay 15% tax on the salary they ‘sacrifice’ straight into their super, instead of their individual income tax rate (marginal tax rate).
The concessional contributions cap of $30,000 (for the 2024-25 financial year) applies to these contributions. Learn more about super rules to keep in mind.
After tax
Non-concessional super contributions are payments you put into your super from your savings or from income you have already paid tax on.
The non-concessional contributions cap of $120,000 (for the 2024-25 financial year) per financial year applies to these contributions.
how much can you access under the FHSS scheme?
If you’re eligible for the FHSS scheme, you can make one withdrawal from your voluntary contributions to help buy your first home, limited to $15,000 from each financial year and a maximum withdrawal of $50,000 across multiple years, plus associated earnings. Learn more about associated earnings on the ATO website.
Depending on the price of the property you want to buy, you may also need additional savings to reach your deposit target and cover other home-buying expenses like legal fees or stamp duty.
Age
You need to be 18 years old or over when you apply to release the funds you’ve saved.
To live in
You need to intend to live in the property you’re buying as soon as it’s practical to move in, for at least 6 months of the first 12 months from when it's practicable to occupy it.
First property
You haven’t owned a property in Australia before*.
*If you’ve previously owned a home/property, but suffered a financial hardship event and lost your home, you may be eligible to apply for the financial hardship provision under the FHSS scheme. Find out more on the ATO website.
how do I withdraw my money to buy a house?
Once you’ve saved your money under the FHSS scheme and you’re ready to buy a property, there are a couple of steps to complete to withdraw your money.
Request a determination from the ATO
Apply for your FHSS scheme determination from the ATO through your myGov account. You’ll be told by the ATO how much you can withdraw and what the income tax is.
By saving and releasing funds through the FHSS scheme, you’re entitled to a 30% tax offset for the released amount in that income year. The ATO will withhold tax that will be calculated at either:
- your expected marginal tax rate (including Medicare levy), less a 30% offset, or
- 17% if the ATO is unable to estimate your expected marginal rate.
Request your funds from the ATO
Once you have your determination from the ATO, the next step is to ask them to release your FHSS savings by submitting a ‘request for release’.
After that, the ATO tells your super fund to release your FHSS savings to the ATO. Then the ATO deducts tax and deposits the funds into your bank account. The whole process takes 15–25 business days.
Buy your home
From the date of your ‘request for release’ you’ll need to sign a contract to buy a property or start construction of your home within 12 months (unless an additional 12 month extension is granted by the ATO) or, you must recontribute the released amount to your super fund.
You need to notify the government within 28 days of signing the contract via myGov (unless the ATO allows another period). If you don't, or you choose to keep the funds, you may be subject to the FHSS tax. See full requirements on the ATO website.
what's next?
If you want to buy your first home as soon as possible, use these helpful tools and tips.
Speak to a superannuation expert
There’s lots to consider, so chat with a HESTA superannuation expert — to ask questions, weigh up whether it’s right for you, or start using the FHSS scheme — book a time to chat now.
Making contributions
What are concessional and non-concessional contributions? What impact can they have on tax? Read more about the two ways you can contribute to your super.
The information provided on this page is a general guide only as of 1 July 2024. For full FHSS scheme eligibility requirements go to the ATO website.