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<\/p>\nMost Australians think about superannuation once a year: when their annual statement arrives.<\/p>\n
That is a costly mistake.<\/p>\n
30 June 2026 is less than four weeks away. That date is one of the most important financial deadlines of the year for anyone who wants to maximise their retirement savings.<\/p>\n
Here’s what you need to know before the clock runs out.<\/p>\n
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Image source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
The concessional contributions cap <\/p>\n
The concessional contributions cap<\/a> for FY2026 is $30,000, including employer contributions.<\/p>\n Concessional contributions are taxed at 15% inside super, compared to marginal tax rates of up to 45% outside it.<\/p>\n For a person earning $100,000 with $12,500 in employer super already contributed, there is room for an additional $17,500 in salary sacrifice contributions before 30 June.<\/p>\n Making those contributions before 30 June saves thousands of dollars in income tax immediately.<\/p>\n Payday super starts 1 July <\/p>\n From 1 July 2026, the payday super rules<\/a> take effect, requiring employers to pay superannuation at the same time as wages rather than quarterly.<\/p>\n That is good news for workers who have previously waited months for super contributions to arrive.<\/p>\n But it also means that any contributions your employer owes for the current quarter may now need to be reconciled before the new rules take effect.<\/p>\n Checking your super balance and confirming your employer contributions are up to date before 30 June is more important than ever this year.<\/p>\n Non-concessional contributions and the bring-forward rule <\/p>\n For investors who have already maxed their concessional cap, the non-concessional contributions cap for FY2026 is $120,000.<\/p>\n Investors under age 75 with a total super balance below $1.9 million may also be able to use the bring-forward rule. This allows up to $360,000 in non-concessional contributions over three years.<\/p>\n Non-concessional contributions, made from after-tax income, do not attract the 15% tax on entry. Once inside super, they grow in the same tax-advantaged environment as concessional contributions and are drawn down completely tax-free in retirement.<\/p>\n Why what you invest in inside super matters as much as how much you contribute <\/p>\n Getting money into super before 30 June is step one.<\/p>\n Investing it wisely inside super is step two, and it matters just as much over the long term.<\/p>\n The ASX 200 has returned approximately<\/a> 8.5% per annum including dividends since inception.<\/p>\n Inside a 15% tax environment, this figures translates into one of the best compounding engines available to Australian investors.<\/p>\n Fully franked ASX dividend shares are particularly effective inside super.<\/p>\n