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Super Contribution Caps 2025–26

Concessional and non-concessional contribution limits, the bring-forward rule, and what happens if you exceed them.

Updated March 20266 min read
Based on published ATO ratesUpdated for 2025–26

Concessional cap

$30,000

Non-concessional cap

$120,000

Bring-forward max

$360,000

TSB threshold (NCC)

$1.9m

Concessional contributions cap

The concessional contributions cap for 2025–26 is $30,000. Concessional contributions are before-tax contributions that are taxed at 15% inside your super fund. They include:

  • Employer super guarantee (SG) contributions — 12% of OTE
  • Salary sacrifice contributions
  • Personal contributions you claim as a tax deduction (s290-150 ITAA 1997)

How much cap space do you have?

The amount of cap space available for voluntary contributions depends on your employer SG. Here are some examples:

SalaryEmployer SG (12%)Remaining cap space
$80,000$9,600$20,400
$100,000$12,000$18,000
$120,000$14,400$15,600
$150,000$18,000$12,000
$200,000$24,000$6,000
$250,000+$30,000$0

Non-concessional contributions cap

The non-concessional (after-tax) contributions cap for 2025–26 is $120,000. These are contributions made from your after-tax income that are not taxed again inside super.

Non-concessional contributions include personal after-tax contributions where you don't claim a tax deduction, spouse contributions, and contributions from the proceeds of the sale of certain small business assets.

Total super balance limit

If your total super balance (TSB) is $1.9 million or more at 30 June of the prior year, you cannot make any non-concessional contributions. This threshold is indexed and may change in future years.

Bring-forward rule

If you're under 75, you may be able to bring forward up to 3 years' worth of non-concessional contributions into a single year. The amount available depends on your total super balance:

TSB at 30 June prior yearMax NCC contributionPeriod
Less than $1.66m$360,0003 years
$1.66m – $1.78m$240,0002 years
$1.78m – $1.9m$120,0001 year
$1.9m or more$0 (nil)

The bring-forward is triggered automatically when you contribute more than $120,000 of NCCs in a single year. Once triggered, you have the remainder of the 3-year period to use the full bring-forward amount. See our detailed bring-forward guide.

Carry-forward rule (unused concessional cap)

If your total super balance is below $500,000 at 30 June of the prior year, you can carry forward unused concessional cap space from the last 5 financial years. This allows you to make larger concessional contributions in a single year.

Catch up on your super

The carry-forward rule is especially useful if you've had years of lower income or part-time work and now want to catch up on super contributions. See our carry-forward guide and calculator.

What happens if you exceed the caps?

Excess concessional contributions

If you exceed the concessional cap, the excess is included in your assessable income and taxed at your marginal rate. You receive a 15% tax offset to account for the contributions tax already paid. You can elect to release up to 85% of the excess from your super fund to help pay the additional tax.

The excess also counts toward your non-concessional cap (unless you elect to release).

Excess non-concessional contributions

Excess non-concessional contributions are taxed at 47% (top marginal rate plus Medicare levy). However, you can choose to withdraw the excess and associated earnings. If you withdraw, only the earnings component is taxed at your marginal rate.

Avoid excess contributions

The penalties for exceeding contribution caps can be severe. Track your contributions carefully, especially if you have multiple employers or make personal contributions alongside salary sacrifice.

Check your carry-forward cap space

Use the calculator below to estimate your available unused concessional cap space:

Contribution cap history

Financial yearConcessional capNCC cap
2025–26$30,000$120,000
2024–25$30,000$120,000
2023–24$27,500$110,000
2022–23$27,500$110,000
2021–22$27,500$110,000
2020–21$25,000$100,000

Frequently Asked Questions

Assumptions last updated: March 2026