The 'Catch-Up' Countdown: Securing Your Expiring Super Tax Deductions.

The $30,000 Bucket

Why 30 June 2026 is the Final Frontier for Five Years of Unused Cap Space.

Updated 10th April 2026

In the world of Australian tax planning, we often talk about 'use it or lose it' opportunities. Usually, these refer to annual limits. However, on 30 June 2026, a much larger window is slamming shut. For Sydney’s business owners and high-income earners, this date marks the permanent expiry of thousands of dollars in potential tax deductions that have been accumulating since 2020.

At Aspley Jandera, we are currently auditing our clients' Carry-Forward Concessional Caps. If your Total Superannuation Balance (TSB) was under $500,000 at the end of the last financial year, you may be sitting on a 'tax goldmine' that disappears at midnight on June 30.

1. The 2020-21 Expiry: The $25,000 'Ghost' Cap

The carry-forward rules allow you to 'roll over' unused portions of your $25,000 to $30,000 annual concessional caps for a maximum of five years.

As we approach the end of the 2025-26 financial year, the unused cap from 2020-21—the first year of the rolling window—is set to expire. If you had a year of lower income, a career break, or simply didn't maximise your contributions during the pandemic era, that 'ghost' cap is still available to you today. But on 1 July 2026, it is gone forever. For a top-bracket taxpayer, failing to use a carried-forward $25,000 cap represents a lost tax saving of roughly $8,000.

2. The 2026-27 Indexation: A New $32,500 Baseline

Looking forward, 1 July 2026 brings a welcome increase. Due to wage inflation (AWOTE), the standard annual concessional cap is rising from $30,000 to $32,500.

While this $2,500 increase seems modest, it ripples through your entire strategy. It increases the 'Maximum Contribution Base' for employers to $270,830 per year, and it pushes the non-concessional (after-tax) cap up to $130,000. We are currently working with clients to recalibrate their salary sacrifice agreements to ensure they hit these new 'sweet spots' without overshooting into excess contribution penalties.

3. Strategic 'Doubling Up'

For those expecting a large capital gain this year—perhaps from the sale of a Sydney investment property or a business asset—the carry-forward rule is your most powerful defensive tool.

By 'doubling up' your contributions—using this year’s $30,000 cap plus, for example, $70,000 in unused caps from previous years—you can create a $100,000 tax deduction in a single hit. This can effectively pull your taxable income down from the 47% bracket into the 32% or 39% brackets, providing an immediate and significant cash-flow benefit.

4. The 'Division 293' Reality Check

A common question we hear is: "Is it still worth contributing if I’m over the $250,000 Division 293 threshold?"

The answer, in 2026, remains a definitive yes. Even if you are hit with the additional 15% Division 293 tax (bringing your total contribution tax to 30%), you are still ahead. Compared to the 47% top marginal rate (including Medicare), you are still achieving a 17% immediate tax arbitrage. When compounded over a decade in a low-tax environment, the 'Div 293' hit is a minor speed bump on the road to a multi-million-dollar retirement.

Your Future, Architected

Traicha, Martin, and the team manage the intricate details of your tax position, allowing you to lead your business while we keep your personal wealth on a deliberate and strategic trajectory.

Professional Governance & Caveats

• The $500,000 'Cliff': Your eligibility to use carry-forward caps is tested on 30 June each year. If your balance is $499,000 on June 30, you can use them next year. If it is $501,000, the carry-forward window 'locks' until your balance drops back down.

• Timing is Everything: Contributions are only 'made' when they hit the fund's bank account. With 30 June 2026 falling on a Tuesday, we recommend all 'catch-up' payments be cleared by Friday, 26 June to account for banking delays and clearing house processing times.

• Notice of Intent: If you make a personal contribution to claim a deduction, you must lodge a 'Notice of Intent to Claim' with your fund and receive an acknowledgment before you lodge your tax return. Without this paperwork, the deduction is invalid.

• Employer SG Increases: Remember that the Super Guarantee (SG) rate remains at 12% for 2026-27. This mandatory employer payment eats into your $32,500 cap first—salary sacrifice is only for the 'gap' that remains.

General Advice Warning & Disclaimer The information provided on this website is general in nature and does not constitute personal financial, investment, or taxation advice. It has been prepared without taking into account your personal objectives, financial situation, or needs. Before acting on any information on this website, you should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to your objectives, financial situation, and needs.

Aspley Jandera recommends that you seek independent professional advice from a qualified tax agent or financial adviser before making any financial decisions. Taxation law is complex and subject to change. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information at the time of publication (April 2026), Aspley Jandera and its directors accept no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on the information contained herein.