News Hub Superannuation

Claiming a super tax deduction

Finance

01 May 2025 3 min read

Adding after-tax money to your super might do more than boost your retirement savings. It may also help you save at tax time.

When you make super contributions from your after-tax income, you may be able to claim them as a tax deduction. It could be a smart way to pay less tax and grow your super. It all depends on your situation.

Before you begin, check the rules and know your super contribution limits. It's also a good idea to get professional advice to make sure you're saving on tax and not paying more.

What can you get a tax deduction on?

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) sets the rules for tax deductions. In general, you can claim a deduction on:

Personal super contributions

Also called voluntary after-tax super contributions or non-concessional contributions. An example is when you use BPAY^® to send money from your bank account to your QSuper account.

Standard (member) contributions

Made after tax to an Accumulation account. Some employees of the Queensland Government make these as part of their super arrangement.²

Who can claim a super tax deduction?

You may be eligible to claim for personal super contributions if:¹

you made the contributions to your fund
you meet the age restriction requirements if you're under age 18 or over 67
you've told your fund you want to claim (called a 'notice of intent')
your fund has told you in writing that we've processed your request.

Age requirements

Under 18

You'll need to earn money as an employee or by running a business if you're under 18 at the end of the financial year that you made the contributions in.

Over 67

You'll need to meet the ATO's work test. That means working at least 40 hours over 30 consecutive days during the income year that you made the contributions.

There's a one-off exemption if: your total super balance is under $300,000 at the end of the previous income year; and you've met the work test for that year.

75 or older

You can only claim for contributions you made within 28 days after the end of the month you turned 75.

Download our factsheet (PDF) to check the rules

Example: How much you could save on income tax

Check your limits before claiming a super tax deduction

It pays to understand how super contribution caps work, because if you go over these limits, you might have to pay extra tax.

Personal super contributions that you claim as a deduction will count towards your concessional contributions cap and we will deduct/apply 15% contributions tax on/to them.³

Extra tax may apply to any concessional contributions that go over the limit.

Think about how this might affect you before you go ahead.

Where to get advice

ART is not a tax agent. To make sure this is the best tax strategy for you, it's a good idea to get advice from:

your accountant
a financial adviser
the ATO.

How to claim a tax deduction on super contributions

1

Make a personal super contribution with your BPAY® details in Member Online (remember it may take a while for the money to go into your account).

2

Tell us you want to claim a tax deduction with our online form in Member Online.

3

Wait for our confirmation letter or email – this can take up to 8 weeks at tax time with so many members claiming a tax deduction.

4

Once you hear from us, add how much you're claiming into your tax return.

You can also complete the form attached to this factsheet.

Key dates for tax time

Please note: The below dates are a guide only. To make sure your transaction is done by 30 June 2025, we recommend you submit your request as early as possible.

What	Date
Consolidate to super – Cheque	Make sure we get this by 5pm AEST on 27 June 2025. Keep in mind how long it might take to arrive by post, and how long your cheque might take to clear.
Contribute to super – BPAY^®	You need to send your payment via your financial institution before 5pm AEST on 23 June 2025.®Registered to BPAY Pty Ltd, ABN 69 079 137 518.
Notice to claim a tax deduction	If you're claiming for the: 2023–24 financial year, we need this before you lodge your tax return or 30 June 2025 2024–25 financial year, we need this before you lodge your tax return or by 30 June 2026, whichever is earlier.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Can I claim tax on contributions for the First Home Super Saver Scheme?

A: You can’t get a tax deduction for First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS) contributions that are released to you for a first home deposit or re-contributed to your QSuper account.

Q: Can I get a tax deduction on downsizer contributions?

A: No, downsizer contributions aren't eligible for a tax deduction.

Q: Can I claim a tax deduction and still get the government co-contribution?

A: You won’t get the government co-contribution for any personal contributions that you’ve claimed on tax.

Ready to claim a tax deduction?

Start by letting us know. It's quick and easy through Member Online.

Tell us today

1. Australian Taxation office, Claiming deductions for personal super contributions, accessed 17 March 2025.
2. You can't claim a tax deduction for standard member contributions made to a Defined Benefit account.
3. If your income, plus before-tax contributions, are over $250,000 per year, the ATO may apply an extra 15% tax to some or all of your before-tax contributions. If you haven’t provided your super fund your tax file numbers (TFN), the super tax rate may be higher.