spouse contributions

save for retirement together

Working part time or taking time out of the workforce can impact your super balance. Less time in the workforce may mean accumulating less super, and that means less money when you retire. That’s where spouse contributions can fill the gap.

what are spouse contributions?

Spouse contributions are super contributions:

your spouse (married or defacto) can make into your super account from their after-tax income
you make into your spouse’s super account from your after-tax income.

potential benefits for you both

You or your spouse can grow your super

You or your spouse can save on income tax

making or receiving after-tax spouse super contributions

To make an after-tax spouse contribution into your account, or vice versa, you’ll need each other’s account details. HESTA contributions can be paid with BPAY^®.

How to receive a spouse contribution

To receive contributions from your spouse, you first need to log in to your online account to get your spouse contribution BPAY details. Provide them to your spouse and you’re ready to receive your spouse contribution.

How to make a spouse contribution

To make a spouse contribution to your spouse's account, you'll need their super account details.

You'll need to check with your spouse's super fund to find out how to make the spouse contribution into their account. This may vary depending on the super fund.

claiming a tax offset for your spouse contribution

If you’ve made a spouse contribution, you may be able to claim a tax offset of up to $540 per year, if your spouse’s income (assessable income plus reportable employer super contributions plus any reportable fringe benefits) is below $40,000 in the income year of the contribution and you meet the eligibility conditions.

The tax offset is calculated as 18% of the lesser of:

$3,000 minus the amount by which your income exceeds $37,000
the total of your spouse’s contributions made in the income year.

To claim the tax offset, both you and your spouse need to meet certain criteria. Find out more on the ATO website.

general eligibility conditions

For the contributing spouse to be eligible to claim the tax offset, both spouses need to meet certain criteria.

You must make a non-concessional (after-tax) contribution to your spouse’s super which you don’t claim a tax deduction for.
You must be married or in a de facto relationship, and you must not be living separately and apart on a permanent basis when making the contribution.
You must both be Australian residents.
The receiving spouse’s income must be $37,000 or less for the contributing spouse to qualify for the full tax offset of $540 per year and less than $40,000 to receive a partial tax offset.

Age and contribution caps apply. To find out more and see the full eligibility conditions, visit the ATO website.

contribution splitting: another way to share the load

This is another way to share the super load. Your partner can boost your super by splitting the lesser of up to 85% of their before-tax contributions or their concessional contribution cap with you (or vice versa). These are the contributions already made or received in the previous financial year.

Contribution splitting is a different strategy to spouse contributions. Using both spouse contributions as well as contribution splitting strategies could provide a double boost for you and your partner in building your super balances.

Learn more about contribution splitting >

Need some expert help with contributions?

Our super advisers can help work out a contribution strategy that's right for you, and your partner. For an initial discussion with our general advice team, book a time below.

Make a time

® Registered to BPAY Pty Ltd ABN 69 079 137 518