What is a co-contribution

A co-contribution is an extra amount the Government adds to your super if you're a lower income earner who has made after-tax contributions and are otherwise eligible. This could mean reaching your super goals sooner, rather than later.

How it works

If you earn less than $39,837 in the 2020-21 financial year, are eligible, and make after-tax contributions to your superannuation, the Government will pay 50 cents into your super for every $1 that you contribute yourself, up to a maximum of $500.
If you earn between $39,837 and $54,837, you may still be eligible for the co-contribution; however, the higher your income, the less the Government will contribute to your super. If you earn more than $54,837, you are ineligible to receive the Government co-contribution.

Understand the co-contribution limits

The amount you receive from the Government will depend on two income tests. The first is the income threshold test, which calculates your total income for the year.¹

To be able to receive the maximum co-contribution, your total income must be less than $39,837 for the 2020-21 financial year. The co-contribution reduces on a sliding scale, as shown in the table below:

Total income	After-tax contribution required for maximum super co-contribution	Maximum super co-contribution
$39,837 or less	$1,000	$500
$44,837	$666	$333
$49,837	$334	$167
$54,837	$0	$0

The second test is the 10% income test, where you must earn 10% of your income from eligible employment, or 10% or more of your income from carrying on a business, or a combination of both.

Check if you're eligible

To be eligible for the Government co-contribution, there are a few requirements you must satisfy:

• You must be less than 71 years old at the end of the financial year.
• You must lodge a tax return in the financial year.
• You must have a total superannuation balance of less than $1.6 million at the end of the previous financial year.
• You must not have contributed more than your non-concessional cap. Find out more about the contribution limits.
• You must not hold a temporary visa at any time during the financial year (unless you are a New Zealand citizen, or it was a prescribed visa).

What else to consider

• The co-contribution is only paid if you have made one or more eligible after-tax contributions to your super fund. So before-tax payments, such as salary sacrifice or any after-tax contributions where a tax deduction has been claimed, won’t count.
• You are only eligible for the super co-contribution once a year, but may receive it each financial year if you earn under the income threshold and make after-tax contributions in that year.
• Spouse contributions aren’t included when assessing eligibility for the super co-contribution.
• You don’t need to make an application to claim the co-contribution. After you lodge your tax return, the Australian Taxation Office will calculate the amount you’re entitled to and pay it directly to your superannuation fund.

To learn more about the Government co-contribution, download our Personal Contributions Guide (pdf).

Get started

Making after-tax contributions is easy; you can make a one-off deposit or regular payments.

You can:

• Use your BPAY® details found in Member Online.
• Set up regular payments by contacting your payroll office or, if you work for the Queensland Government or a related entity, by completing this form (pdf).
• Make contributions via cheque or money order, either by sending us a completed Deposit form (pdf) or in person at one of our Member Centres.