The Government will make contributions into your super account if you do.

To encourage you to save for your retirement, the Australian Government will contribute $1.50 for each $1 you contribute (up to a maximum of $1,500 per year), if your assessable income is less than $28,980.

This co-contribution progressively reduces for incomes over $28,980 and phases out completely at $58,980.

This means that a person earning $27,000 who contributes $300 will get a $450 co-contribution, or $1,500 if they contribute $1,000. The Australian Tax Office (ATO) is responsible for administering the co-contributions scheme.

You can work out whether you are eligible by checking the table below or by using our Super co-contribution calculator or visit the ATO website for more information.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible you must...

 make personal superannuation contributions (not salary sacrificed) to a 'complying superannuation fund' - Catholic Super is a complying fund!

 have an assessable income and reportable fringe benefits less than $58,980 for the financial year

 earn 10% or more of your total annual income from eligible employment, carrying on a business (including self-employed) or a combination of both

 lodge an income tax return for the year

 be less that 71 years old at the end of the financial year

 be a permanent Australian resident.

How do you apply for the Government Co-Contribution?

The ATO will work out if you are entitled to a Government Co-Contribution using information from your tax return and your super fund. In order for them to do this, you must lodge an income tax return. If you are eligible, the ATO will then pay the co-contribution directly into your super account where it must remain until you retire (ie: it is treated as a 'preserved benefit').

Although you are not required to give your Tax File Number to us, we will not be able to accept your contribution without it and you will not be able to receive the co-contribution. The ATO will send you a letter with details about your co-contribution amount after it is deposited into your account. Unless you nominate a particular account to the ATO, your co-contribution will generally be paid into the super fund where you made your personal contribution.

How much is the super co-contribution?

The maximum amount you can receive is $1,500.

NOTE: Salary Sacrificing is NOT eligible.

Salary sacrifice contributions do not qualify as contributions for the Government Co-Contribution.

If you are salary sacrificing, you could make extra after-tax contributions and qualify for the Government Co-Contribution. You can do this by:

 making a lump sum after-tax voluntary contribution; or

 arranging with your employer to make additional after-tax voluntary contributions from your pay.