{"id":53,"date":"2026-01-24T17:09:26","date_gmt":"2026-01-24T06:09:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/auideaai.au\/blog\/?p=53"},"modified":"2026-01-24T17:09:44","modified_gmt":"2026-01-24T06:09:44","slug":"supercharging-your-super-carry-forward-contributions-for-it-high-earners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/auideaai.au\/blog\/supercharging-your-super-carry-forward-contributions-for-it-high-earners\/","title":{"rendered":"Supercharging Your Super: Carry-Forward Contributions for IT High Earners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The “Catch-Up” Secret<\/strong> In 2026, the standard amount you can contribute to super at the discounted 15% tax rate (the Concessional Cap<\/strong>) is $30,000<\/strong>. For most senior IT pros, your employer’s 12% Super Guarantee (SG) already eats up most of this cap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But there is a “hidden” way to contribute much more. If your total super balance is under $500,000<\/strong>, you can “carry forward” any unused cap space from the last five years. This is a game-changer if you\u2019ve recently received a large bonus, sold an asset, or had a career break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How the “Carry-Forward” Math Works<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you haven’t maximized your super for the last few years, your 2026 limit might not be $30,000\u2014it could be over $150,000<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • 2020\u20132021 Cap:<\/strong> $25,000<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • 2021\u20132024 Cap:<\/strong> $27,500 (per year)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • 2024\u20132026 Cap:<\/strong> $30,000 (per year)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Example:<\/strong> If you only contributed $15,000 per year for the last 5 years, you have roughly $65,000<\/strong> in “unused” space waiting for you. You can add this to your current $30,000 cap, allowing you to tip in $95,000<\/strong> this year\u2014all taxed at just 15% instead of your 45% marginal rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The $500k Gateway<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    To use this rule in the 2025-26 financial year, your Total Super Balance<\/strong> must have been less than $500,000<\/strong> on June 30, 2025. If you are even $1 over, you can only use the standard $30,000 annual cap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Why IT Pros Use This Strategy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    1. Offsetting Capital Gains:<\/strong> If you sold tech shares or a property this year, a large “catch-up” super contribution can slash your taxable income, effectively using your super to “pay” your CGT bill.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. The “Bonus” Strategy:<\/strong> Instead of taking a $50k bonus as cash (and losing half to tax), you can “sacrifice” the whole amount into super if you have the carry-forward space.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      \n\n\n\n

      FAQ: Carry-Forward Super Contributions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Q: Where can I see exactly how much “Carry-Forward” space I have?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n

      A:<\/strong> Log into your myGov<\/strong> account and link it to the ATO<\/strong>. Navigate to Super > Information > Carry forward concessional contributions<\/em>. It will show you a year-by-year breakdown of your available “catch-up” balance.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

      Q: Do I have to tell my employer?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n

      A:<\/strong> Not necessarily. You can make a Personal Deductible Contribution<\/strong> by transferring your own savings into your super fund and then lodging a “Notice of Intent” (NOI) form with your fund. This allows you to claim the tax deduction on your personal tax return.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

      Q: What is the “Division 293” trap?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n

      A:<\/strong> If your combined income and super contributions exceed $250,000<\/strong>, the ATO charges an extra 15% tax (total 30%) on your super contributions. Even at 30%, it is still usually lower than the 47% top marginal rate, but it’s a cost to factor in.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      The “Catch-Up” Secret In 2026, the standard amount you can contribute to super at the discounted 15% tax rate (the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[71],"tags":[93,96,95,92,94],"class_list":["post-53","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-it-career-finance","tag-carry-forward","tag-catch-up-contributions","tag-super-caps","tag-superannuation","tag-tax-planning-2026"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/auideaai.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/auideaai.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/auideaai.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/auideaai.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/auideaai.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/auideaai.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54,"href":"https:\/\/auideaai.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53\/revisions\/54"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/auideaai.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/auideaai.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/auideaai.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}