Government Co-contribution

Did you know that the Government may give you up to $1,000 if you put some extra money into your super? It's called the Government co-contribution scheme. It's designed to help people boost their super.

If you make a voluntary contribution to your super account after tax has been paid and you meet eligibility requirements, the government will match your contribution, dollar for dollar, up to $1,000.

Even if you're self-employed you could be eligible to receive a co-contribution.

Eligibility requirements

• At least 10% of your 'total income' must be from employment related activities;
• Your 'total income' must be less than $61,920 per year;
• You must make a personal (after tax) contribution to your Cbus account and not claim a deduction for all of it;
• You must lodge a tax return for the year of income;
• Have you supplied your Tax File Number (if not, supply it here)
• You must be a permanent resident of Australia ; and
• Be under 71 years of age.

Note: Employer or salary sacrifice contributions do not count as (after tax) contributions

What is total income?

It’s assessable income plus reportable fringe benefits plus any extra payments from your employer such as a car, child care allowance, extra super, etc. This should all  appear on your PAYG Payment Summary.

How much will I get?

Subject to eligibility, the Government will contribute $1 to your fund for every $1 personal (after tax) contribution you've made, up to $1,000. The co-contribution will be reduced once your total income exceeds $31,920 per year and cuts out completely once total income exceeds $61,920 per year. To find out how much Government co-contribution you are likely to receive, check out the Government co-contributor calculation below:

Step 1: Enter your total assessable income for the financial year into the calculator
Step 2: Click on 'calculate' to find out the maximum amount you could receive.

How to make a personal contribution?

There are a number of ways you can make a personal (after tax) contribution to Cbus:

You can make a single contribution before 30 June or a series of smaller contributions throughout the financial year through the payment methods listed above.

If you are a first time user of Member SuperSite, you can self register here.

How will I be paid the Government co-contribution

All you need to do is lodge your tax return to allow the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to calculate your co-contribution they will pay it directly into your super account.

The ATO generally pay the co-contribution between November and January each year and it will appear in your annual Cbus Record of Contributions and Member Statements but it will depend on when you lodge your tax return.

What if I’m self employed?

If you’re self employed remember not to claim a tax deduction on the contribution amount that you need to make to qualify for the Government co-contribution. However, you can claim a tax deduction of other eligible contributions you’ve made.

Talk to a Superannuation Adviser

We have a team of Superannuation Advisers who can talk to you over the phone about the Government co-contribution scheme or any other super-related topic.

For more information, contact our Service Centre on 1300 361 784. Our advisers are available to speak to you Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm (AEST).