If you earn over $80,000, salary sacrificing extra into super is one of the easiest tax-saving moves available — but most people don’t max out their cap or know about carry-forward.
See exactly how much you could save this year, your projected super balance at retirement, and whether Div 293 catches you on the way through.
Super Salary Sacrifice Optimiser
How much could you save in tax by maximising your concessional super contributions?
Your situation
Carry-forward (optional)
Three steps, thirty seconds
Enter salary & age
Your gross salary excluding super, employer SG rate (12% from 1 July 2025), and your age.
Add carry-forward (if applicable)
If your super balance at the last 30 June was below $500,000, any unused cap from the prior 5 years can be brought forward.
See your saving
Tax saved this year, net amount going into super, take-home impact, and projected balance at preservation age.
The mechanics of concessional super
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Concessional cap | $30,000 per year (FY26). Includes employer SG + salary sacrifice + personal deductible contributions. |
| Contributions tax | 15% paid by the fund on concessional contributions — much less than your marginal rate if you earn above ~$45k. |
| Carry-forward | If super balance <$500k at prior 30 June, unused cap from the last 5 years can be added on top. |
| Div 293 tax | Extra 15% on concessional contributions if income + concessional > $250k. Effective contributions tax becomes 30%. |
| Preservation | Generally locked away until age 60 (with limited early release conditions). Plan accordingly. |
| Excess contributions | Contributions above the cap are added to your assessable income and taxed at your marginal rate — no benefit. |
Questions we hear a lot
Why is salary sacrifice so tax-effective?
Because the contribution comes out of your pre-tax pay and is taxed at 15% in your super fund — instead of your marginal rate (up to 47%). If you’re in the 37% bracket, sacrificing $10k saves you $2,200 in tax this year ($3,700 saved − $1,500 contributions tax). That $8,500 goes into super to compound for decades.
What’s the catch?
Two things. First, the money is preserved until age 60 — you can’t access it for a house deposit or emergency. Second, contributions over the cap are penalised (added to your assessable income and taxed at your marginal rate). Stay under the cap and use carry-forward where eligible.
What’s carry-forward and how do I use it?
Since 2018-19, if your total super balance at the previous 30 June was below $500,000, you can use unused concessional cap from the last 5 years on top of the current year’s cap. So if you had $20k of unused cap and the current cap is $30k, you can contribute $50k in one year. Check your unused cap in your MyGov account.
What’s Div 293?
A 15% additional tax on concessional contributions for people whose income + concessional contributions exceeds $250,000. Effective contributions tax becomes 30% — still less than the 47% top marginal rate, but the benefit narrows. The tax is on the lesser of (a) concessional contributions or (b) the amount over $250k.
Where does my data go?
Nowhere. The tool runs entirely in your browser. No data is sent to Trinity, no signup, no email capture.
I’m self-employed — can I claim this?
Yes — personal deductible contributions work the same way (use the Notice of Intent to Claim form). Sole traders especially benefit because they don’t get employer SG. The $30k cap includes your personal deductible contributions.
Should I do this or pay down debt?
Depends on the debt rate and your marginal rate. Generally: super wins for high earners with low-rate debt (mortgage); debt wins for high-rate debt (credit cards) regardless. For nuanced advice, talk to a financial adviser — Trinity refers complex cases out.
