Every year, 30 June sneaks up faster than anyone expects. And every year, a handful of avoidable mistakes — a contribution that lands a day late, a pension payment that falls short by a few hundred dollars — end up costing trustees real money in extra tax.
The good news? Most year-end jobs are simple once you know what to check. Here's our checklist for the 2025–26 year.
1. Check your contributions against the caps
There are two caps to keep in mind this year:
- Concessional (before-tax) contributions — $30,000. This covers employer contributions, salary sacrifice, and personal contributions you claim a tax deduction for. It's one combined cap across all your super funds, not per fund.
- Non-concessional (after-tax) contributions — $120,000. If you're eligible, the bring-forward rule may let you contribute up to $360,000 in one go by using up to three years of caps at once.
If your total super balance was under $500,000 at 30 June 2025, you may also be able to use unused concessional cap amounts from the past five years — a handy way to catch up if you've had quieter years. And eligibility for non-concessional contributions depends on your total super balance too, so it's worth checking where you stand before contributing.
If you're claiming a tax deduction for a personal contribution, don't forget the paperwork: you'll need to give your fund a notice of intent to claim and have it acknowledged before you lodge your personal tax return.
Timing tip: a contribution only counts for 2025–26 if the money has actually cleared into your fund's bank account by 30 June. Transfers started on the day can miss the cut-off — especially with 30 June falling on a Tuesday. Aim to have everything done by mid-June if you can.
Thinking of a large contribution? The caps rise on 1 July
From 1 July 2026, the concessional cap increases to $32,500 and the non-concessional cap to $130,000 (with the bring-forward maximum rising to $390,000). For some people, it makes sense to contribute before 30 June; for others, waiting a few weeks — or splitting amounts across the two years — works out better. It depends entirely on your situation, so this one is worth a conversation with your accountant or adviser.
2. Pay your minimum pension before 30 June
If your fund is paying an account-based pension, the minimum annual payment must leave the fund's bank account by 30 June. The minimum is a percentage of your pension balance at 1 July 2025 (or a pro-rata amount if the pension started during the year), based on your age:
| Age (at 1 July 2025) | Minimum payment |
|---|---|
| Under 65 | 4% |
| 65–74 | 5% |
| 75–79 | 6% |
| 80–84 | 7% |
| 85–89 | 9% |
| 90–94 | 11% |
| 95 or over | 14% |
This one matters more than most people realise. If the minimum isn't paid in full, the ATO treats the pension as having stopped for the whole year — and the fund loses its tax exemption on the earnings supporting that pension. That can be an expensive oversight, so check your payments now while there's still time to top up.
3. Tidy up the smaller opportunities
A few other things worth a quick look before year-end:
- Spouse contributions — if your spouse earns a low income, contributing to their super could earn you a tax offset of up to $540.
- Government co-contribution — lower-income earners who make an after-tax contribution may receive up to $500 from the government.
- Contribution splitting — you may be able to split last year's concessional contributions with your spouse, which can help balance your accounts over time.
4. Get your fund's records in order
Your fund's assets need to be valued at market value at 30 June. For listed shares that's easy; for property, collectables or unlisted investments, start gathering evidence now (a real estate agent's appraisal, recent comparable sales, and so on). Your auditor will ask for it.
It's also a good moment to review your investment strategy. It should reflect what the fund actually holds — and if you've bought or sold significant assets this year, it may need updating. Make sure any fund expenses are paid from the fund's bank account (not your personal one), and that all contributions and pension payments are properly documented.
Looking ahead to 1 July 2026
Two changes worth having on your radar for the new financial year: payday super begins, meaning employers will pay super at the same time as wages rather than quarterly; and the new Division 296 tax applies an extra tax on earnings for individuals with a total super balance above $3 million. If either could affect you or your fund's members, it's worth planning early.
The short version: check your contributions against the caps, make sure pension minimums are paid well before 30 June, gather your valuation evidence, and think about whether contributing this year or next works better for you.
