Superannuation Calculator Australia 2026

The Super Guarantee (SG) rate is 12% from 1 July 2025. This is the final legislated rate — no further increases are scheduled. It applies to your ordinary time earnings (OTE), which includes base salary, commissions, and allowances but generally excludes overtime.

The concessional (before-tax) contributions cap is $30,000 per year for 2025-26. This covers your employer's SG contributions, any salary sacrifice, and personal contributions you claim a tax deduction for. Exceeding the cap means the excess is taxed at your marginal rate minus a 15% offset.

Concessional contributions are taxed at 15% on entry (or 30% for high earners via Division 293). Investment earnings inside the fund during accumulation phase are also taxed at 15%. In retirement phase (account-based pension), fund earnings are taxed at 0%.

For anyone born after 1 July 1964, preservation age is 60. Reaching 60 is not enough alone — you must also satisfy a condition of release, most commonly retiring with no intention of returning to work for more than 10 hours per week. The Age Pension age is 67, separate from preservation age.

Salary sacrifice redirects pre-tax salary into super instead of receiving it as cash income. The amount is taxed at 15% inside the fund rather than your marginal rate (up to 45%), creating a significant tax saving. Salary sacrifice counts toward your $30,000 concessional cap.

From 1 July 2026, employers must pay SG contributions at the same time as wages (payday super), rather than quarterly. This benefits employees through more frequent compounding and reduces unpaid super. The ATO estimates this will add $6,000–$10,000 to typical workers' retirement savings.