If eligible, older Aussies can put up to $300,000 into their super using the money from the sale of their main residence, regardless of caps and restrictions that otherwise apply.
If you’re aged 65 or over and are looking to boost your retirement savings, you may be able to make a tax-free contribution to your super of up to $300,000 using the proceeds from the sale of your main residence.
You may have also heard in the 2021-22 Federal Budget that the government is proposing to lower the age Australians can make downsizer contributions from 65 to 60 from 1 July 2022, but that’s yet to become law.
In the meantime, here are the potential advantages, rules and other things you’ll want to be aware of if you’re considering using the proceeds of the sale of your home to top up your super.
1. Downsizer contributions provide a way to top up your super balance
Older Aussies, who haven’t had the chance to save enough funds for retirement, may find that tax-free downsizer contributions provide a good opportunity to top up what they’ve saved to date.
2. No work test or age limits apply to downsizer contributions
To be able to make voluntary super contributions, usually people aged 67 to 74 need to satisfy (or be exempt from) a work test, where you have to work 40 hours over 30 consecutive days, while people aged 75 or over are generally ineligible to make any voluntary contributions to their super.
For downsizer contributions, these rules don’t apply.
3. Annual contribution caps also aren’t applicable
Annual concessional and non-concessional contributions caps don’t apply to downsizer contributions.
In fact, downsizer contributions can be made in addition to any concessional and non-concessional super contributions you may be eligible to make.
4. Downsizer contributions aren’t subject to the $1.7m total super balance restriction
While you can’t make non-concessional contributions into your super at all if your total super balance is $1.7 million or above as at 30 June of the previous financial year, this rule doesn’t apply to downsizer contributions.
5. There are no requirements to buy a new home
If you sell your main residence and make a downsizer contribution into your super, you’re not required to buy a new home with money you might make on the sale.
6. Both members of a couple can take advantage
For couples, both spouses can make the most of the downsizer contribution opportunity, which means up to $600,000 per couple can be contributed toward super.
Depending on your situation, other rules may apply, so do your research and make an appointment to see a financial adviser on tel: |PHONE| or alternatively make an appt directly online.
Source: AMP July 2021
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