How much money can you put in a SMSF?
A self-managed super fund (SMSF) is part of the superannuation system which is a key government incentive to encourage employers and individuals to contribute money to super to provide for a member’s retirement.
The amount of money you or your employer can put into your SMSF is limited by your contribution caps. SMSFs use the contributions to invest on behalf of the members to hold assets such as shares, property, managed funds, cash and bonds to build wealth which is eventually paid out to members as lump sums or pension payments.
The government offers tax incentives to encourage employers to fund employees’ retirement, reducing the financial burden on the government. Over time the rules and regulations have expanded to allow members to contribute their own money, after tax, into super and to obtain a tax deduction for member contributions claimed in their personal tax returns.
Other incentives include low-income super tax offset, government co-contributions, downsizer contributions, spouse contributions, splitting contributions and the first home super saver (FHSS) Scheme. Other ways of getting money into super include:
- rollovers from other funds
- personal injury contributions
- CGT small business contributions
What are contribution caps?
The taxation laws impose a cap on the contributions that can be made to a SMSF. Like any law, penalties and additional tax can be applied when a cap is breached.
The concessional contribution (CC) cap for the 2026/27 financial year is $32,500.
The cap on non-concessional contributions (NCC) for the 2026/27 financial year is $130,000. The annual NCC cap is calculated to be four times the annual CC Cap.
Concessional contributions (CC) are employer (including salary sacrifice contributions) or member concessional contributions which are contributions claimed as a tax deduction in a member’s personal tax return. Tax at 15% is paid by the SMSF.
To claim a personal superannuation tax deduction a member who is 67 and above and up to 28 days after the month in which a member turns 75 must pass a work test during the year in which the contribution is made or be eligible for the once off work test exemption. No work test is required for a member under 67.
A SMSF trustee can accept voluntary employer or concessional member contributions up to 28 days after the month in which a member turns 75. Compulsory employer contributions such as superannuation guarantee charge (SGC) or award contributions can be made at any age subject to the CC cap.
Non-Concessional Contributions (NCC) include member contributions which are from after tax sources and no tax deduction is claimed in the member’s personal tax return. The SMSF does not pay contributions tax on NCC and are tax free when withdrawn. Other NCC which are not included in the NCC cap include:
- CGT small business contributions included in the individual’s CGT cap amount
- Government co-contributions
- Downsizer contributions
- Some personal injury payments
Refer to the table below which is a summary of the contribution caps.
| Type of Contribution
Year ended 30 June 2027 |
Age | Cap | Total Super Balance at 30 June 2026 | Comment |
| Concessional contributions (CC) Employer voluntary contributions ie salary sacrifice (excludes SGC and award CCs) | Less than 75** | $32,500^^ | N/A | The cap includes SGC and award CCs. |
| CCs which are compulsory such as SGC and award contributions | All ages | $32,500^^ | N/A | |
| Carrying forward unused concessional contributions | Less than 75** | Less than $500,000 | The cap is the unused concessional contributions
From one or more of the previous five years (FIFO) |
|
| Member CC | Less than 75 ** | $32,500 | N/A | A member must pass the work test in the year the contribution is made or a once off work test exemption from the age of 67 to 28 days in the month after the member turns 75 |
| Non concessional contributions (NCC) | Less than 75** | $130,000 | Less than $2,100,000 | |
| Bring forward NCC | Less than 75** | $390,000 # | Less than $1,840,000 | Bring forward over 3 years from 1/7/26 to 30/6/29. Warning the member is subject to age limitations ** and GTBC ### in year 2 & year 3 |
| Bring forward NCC | Less than 75** | $260,000## | $1,840,000 but less than $1,970,000 | Bring forward over 2 years from 1/7/26 to 30/6/28. Warning the member is subject to age limitations ** and GTBC ###in year 2 |
** CCs or NCC received up to 28 days after the month they turn 75 can be received by the SMSF, BUT to be eligible to use the bring forward rule for NCC, the member must be under 75 at the 1July in the year when the bring forward arrangement is first triggered
^^ The CC cap is indexed annually in accordance with increases in Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE) in $2,500 increments
# The member must not be part way through an existing bring forward arrangement for the year ended 30 June 2027 to have a cap of $390,000 as this is only available when triggering the bring forward rule for the first time in the 2026/27 financial year or later. The bring forward arrangement is triggered in a year the NCC cap of $130,000 is exceeded. which can be as little as $1
## The member must not be part way through an existing bring forward arrangement for the year ended 30 June 2027 to have a cap of $260,000 as this is only available when triggering the bring forward rule for the first time in the 2026/27 financial year or later. The bring forward arrangement is triggered in a year the NCC cap of $130,000 is exceeded which can be as little as $1
### The members TSB must be less than the general transfer balance cap of $2.1 million at the 30th June in the prior year in year 2 and year 3 of the bring forward arrangement