Boost your super balance and save on tax by contributing the cost of a daily coffee to your super.
It may be a long way off or only a few years away. But when it comes to retirement, many of you may imagine a time of travel, spending more time with friends and family, and enjoying leisure activities.
However far off your retirement is and whatever your goals may be, having enough money to make them a reality may take some planning.
In this article we’ll show you how the cost of just one cup of coffee a day can go a long way towards boosting your super for the future.
Make your super work harder
When you put a portion of your before-tax salary from each pay into your super it’s commonly known as salary sacrificing, a concessional contribution or a pre-tax contribution.
The beauty of this arrangement is four-fold.
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It can save you tax. Concessional super contributions are taxed at the concessional tax rate of 15% (or 30% if you earn $250,000 per year or more), which is lower than most people’s income tax rate.
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As the money comes directly out of your salary before your pay hits your bank account, you’re less likely to notice its absence.
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As some of your salary is going directly into super, you’ll lower your taxable income and that could save you from paying higher rates of tax.
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It can be set up quickly and easily by your payroll department, and then happens automatically each pay cycle, so once you set it up, there’s no need to do anything else (and you can vary the amount at any time).
Let’s look at Laura for example
Laura is 37, and earns $100,000 per annum before tax, excluding her 9.5% employer superannuation guarantee (SG) contribution.
She decides to give up one of her two small takeaway coffees each weekday for 48 weeks of the year, which at $3.50 per coffee gives her $840 after tax per year to invest, or $1,377 before tax per year. She decides to contribute this $1,377 into her super as a pre-tax or concessional contribution. Have a look at the table below to see how this works in more detail.
|
Does nothing |
Makes concessional |
|
|
Salary |
|
|
|
Salary (before tax) |
$100,000 |
$100,000 |
|
LESS pre-tax (concessional) contribution |
$0 |
$1,377 |
|
LESS income tax |
$26,632 |
$26,095 |
|
LESS cost of extra coffee |
$840 |
– |
|
Net income |
$72,528 |
$72,528 |
|
Super |
|
|
|
Employer SG (9.5% of salary) |
$9,500 |
$9,500 |
|
Pre-tax (concessional) contribution |
$0 |
$1,377 |
|
LESS 15% pre-tax contribution tax |
$1,425 |
$1,632 |
|
Super (after tax) |
$8,075 |
$9,245 |
As you can see, by giving up one coffee every work day over 48 working weeks (most people have around 4 weeks of holidays per year) at a total cost of $840, Laura has improved her super by $1,170 in the first year and paid less in income tax.
Start small, and as soon as possible
If you start early, the amount you choose to contribute to your super doesn’t have to be large to have a big impact – thanks to the power of compound interest. Many of us are familiar with the concept, where you earn interest on your principal investment and then earn interest on that interest as well.
When compound interest is working for you in your super it’s a powerful savings weapon. So the earlier you begin to add more to it, the better.
Consider your circumstances
Whether a before-tax contribution arrangement is right for you depends on your individual circumstances. When deciding whether to make additional contributions to your super and how much to contribute, you should consider your personal financial situation. You’ll also need to check that your employer allows additional before-tax super contributions.
As with all investments, there are risks associated with investing inside super. Before making an extra contribution, you should ensure you understand and are comfortable with the risks associated with your chosen investment option(s).
There are also limits around how much you can contribute from your before-tax salary, and exceeding these caps can result in financial penalties. Most people can currently contribute up to $25,000 per year, including their employer’s 9.5% SG contribution. For more information on caps and penalties, go to the ATO website.
There are other ways to give your super a boost, such as making after-tax contributions, to ensure you can retire the way that you want. For further assistance or information please contact us on PH: 0437 782 836
This article provides general information and hasn’t taken your circumstances into account. It’s important to consider your particular circumstances before deciding what’s right for you. Although the information is from sources considered reliable, we do not guarantee that it is accurate or complete. You should not rely upon it and should seek qualified advice before making any investment decision. Except where liability under any statute cannot be excluded, we do not accept any liability (whether under contract, tort or otherwise) for any resulting loss or damage of the reader or any other person.
