EOFY: A super quick check-in

Contribution caps (and why they exist)

Super comes with limits on how much can be added each year. These are called contribution caps.

Caps exist to help keep the system balanced and fair over the long term. They don’t affect how your super works day to day, provided you stay within the caps, but they do shape how different contributions are treated.

It’s helpful to be aware of how contribution caps work and how different types of contributions count towards them, particularly if you’re making additional contributions. You can check your balance and contributions by logging into the member portal.

If you have multiple super funds, you can also check your contribution caps through your myGov account, which brings together information across all of your super accounts.

Jump on the ATO website if you’d like to get into the details of how the caps may apply to you.

Voluntary contributions

People make contributions for different reasons to steadily build their balance or to take advantage of super’s concessional tax settings. Voluntary contributions give you the option to add more to your super, within limits, which can make a meaningful difference over time. If you’re curious, logging in to your member portal can be a simple way to see what’s gone into your super so far.

How to make BPAY® contributions to your super

Locate your BPAY® biller code and reference number. It is available in your member portal.

• Click ‘transactions’ in the tab on the top right
• Click the button ‘Make a contribution’ under ‘Grow your Super’ in the top right section
• Use the biller code and reference number under ‘Make personal contributions using BPAY®’ to make a payment from your bank

Important: After making a contribution, please wait until it appears in your online account before completing your Notice of Intent to Claim form.

Salary sacrifice, in plain terms

Salary sacrifice is when part of your pay is directed into super before it reaches your bank account.

Some people like the simplicity of setting this up regularly, others use it only in certain years, and many never use it. It’s just one option, not something everyone needs or wants to use.

The ATO has a straightforward overview explaining how salary sacrifice works.

The Notice of Intent (NOI) form – a common sticking point

This is an area that often causes confusion (based on inquiries we get to our Client Services team!), so it’s worth taking a moment.

If someone makes a personal contribution by adding their own after-tax money to super and wants to claim a tax deduction for that contribution, they need to let their fund know by submitting a Notice of Intent (NOI) form.

The NOI:

• let’s your fund know you plan to claim a tax deduction
• allows the contribution to be treated as a before-tax (concessional) contribution
• helps make sure your super and tax records stay aligned

Without an NOI, a personal contribution is treated as an after-tax contribution, even if you intended to claim a tax deduction. That’s why this step matters, and why it’s one of the most common questions people have about super.

There are some specific rules around submitting an NOI, you can learn more via the ATO website.

You can submit your NOI using this online form. If you need more time, you’re free to save your progress and come back to it later.

Just be sure to submit your NOI before lodging your tax return. Missing this step could mean you miss the cut-off for the previous financial year, something you can avoid with a quick final check before you hit submit.

Important: If you make a withdrawal or rollover before your Notice of Intent to Claim has been confirmed as processed on your account, your claim may be reduced or not accepted.

We recommend waiting until you receive confirmation that your Notice of Intent to Claim has been fully processed before making any withdrawals or rollovers.

Carry forward and bring forward contributions (accumulation phase only)

You might also hear about carry forward or bring forward contributions, particularly around EOFY. These are rules that can allow some members in the accumulation phase to contribute more to super, depending on their circumstances.

Carry forward contributions may allow eligible members to use any unused portions of their concessional contribution caps from previous years. This can be helpful if you haven’t used your full cap in the past and your balance and contribution history meet certain conditions.

Bring forward contributions work differently. They may allow some members to make larger non concessional (after tax) contributions by bringing forward future years’ caps into the current year, subject to eligibility rules.

These options don’t apply to everyone, and the rules and limits are different for each.

If you’d like to learn more, our guide on boosting your super with carry forward contributions explains how carry forward works.

You’re planning at the right time

Super is generally a long-term investment, by design. While this time of year naturally prompts reflection, it doesn’t need to come with pressure or urgency.

Often, simply understanding how your super works is the most valuable step, so when decisions do come up, they feel considered rather than rushed.

If you like keeping an eye on things, your member portal brings everything together in one place.

Investing with purpose, over time

Your super isn’t just about a future balance, it’s also about how your money is invested along the way.

With Australian Ethical, each contribution, whether regular or occasional, helps build your super over time while backing companies and solutions that aim to make a positive difference for people and the planet.

A simple check‑in like this can help you feel grounded about where your super is heading — now, and over the long term.