Super co-contribution

Depending on how much you earn, they do contribute when you do. It's not an exact match, because they pay 50c for every $1 you pay, up to $500 (where you paid $1,000), if you earn less than the super co-contribution income thresholds.

In 2023-24, you can get the super co-contribution if you're eligible and you earn less than $43,445 in that financial year.

If you earn between $43,445 and $58,445, you may still be eligible for a partial co-contribution.

Once you're earning more than $58,445 a year, you can't get the co-contribution.

The second income test for the super co-contribution is that you need to earn 10% of your income from your employers and/or running your own business.

To make sure you get the government's matching co-contribution, you need to be a low income earner, add money to your super, and lodge your tax return.

You also need to be:

• Under 71 years old at the end of the relevant financial year
• Have a total super balance of less than $1.9 million at the end of the previous financial year
• Within your after-tax contributions cap for the year
• Not on a temporary visa (except New Zealand citizens or prescribed visas).

Finally, you need to make sure you make the right type of contribution to be eligible for the super co-contribution: an after-tax contribution (money from your bank) or standard member contribution, not a spouse contribution or a contribution you're claiming a tax deduction for.

If you meet all of these conditions, you're eligible to get the super co-contribution once a year.

Learn more about the ways you can grow your super.

No, you don't pay the super contributions tax or income tax on this payment from the ATO into your QSuper account. So it is a tax-free payment and does not affect your taxable income.

As for the money you add to your QSuper account, you'll be making an after-tax contribution, which means it's money in your bank that you've already paid income tax on. So before-tax payments (e.g. salary sacrifice or after-tax contributions where you claim a tax deduction) don't get the government's co-contribution.

When talking about super, a contribution means adding money to your super account. You, your employer, your spouse, or the government can all make contributions to your super fund.

Learn more.

There are some things you can check if you want to grow your super on a low income:

• Make before-tax contributions instead and claim the super contributions tax back with the low income super tax offset (LISTO)
• Find any lost super and bring it into your QSuper account
• Combine all your super into your QSuper account
• If you have a spouse, they can add to your super as well.

And to really make the most of your super, QSuper members can get personal financial advice over the phone.

You can also try our online learning modules (no cost, designed for members), with classes on managing debt, understanding super and investing, and more.