Key Highlights

•  The concessional cap is $32,500 for 2026–27, up from $30,000, and the non-concessional cap is $130,000, up from $120,000.

•  The bring-forward amount depends on total super balance at 30 June 2026, from up to $390,000 under $1.84 million to nil at $2.1 million or more.

•  In an SMSF, the date money reaches the fund's bank account generally determines which year a contribution counts towards.

Contribution caps are among the most frequently checked numbers in superannuation, and for 2026–27 several of them have moved. Indexation has lifted both the concessional and non-concessional caps, and the general transfer balance cap that governs access to non-concessional contributions has also risen. For SMSF trustees, who often record contributions directly and advise family members on timing, knowing the current figures is essential.

The figures below are drawn from the ATO's key superannuation rates and thresholds and its non-concessional contributions cap guidance, updated in 2026.

The headline caps for 2026–27

According to the ATO:

  • the concessional contributions cap is $32,500 for 2026–27, up from $30,000 in 2025–26;
  • the non-concessional contributions cap is $130,000 for 2026–27, up from $120,000 in 2025–26; and
  • the super guarantee rate remains 12 per cent.

Concessional contributions generally include employer contributions, salary sacrifice and personal contributions for which a tax deduction is claimed. Non-concessional contributions are generally after-tax contributions for which no deduction is claimed.

The bring-forward rule and total super balance bands

Members under 75 may be able to bring forward up to three years of non-concessional contributions, depending on their total super balance at 30 June of the previous financial year. The ATO's table for 2026–27, based on balances at 30 June 2026, is:

  • less than $1.84 million: up to $390,000 over three years;
  • $1.84 million to less than $1.97 million: up to $260,000 over two years;
  • $1.97 million to less than $2.1 million: $130,000, with no bring-forward; and
  • $2.1 million or more: nil.

The ATO says indexation does not apply during a bring-forward period, so a member who triggered the rule in an earlier year continues to work from the cap that applied in the trigger year. The nil-cap test also applies in the second and third years of a bring-forward period.

Timing matters in an SMSF

In a large fund, a contribution is usually recorded when the fund receives it. The same principle applies in an SMSF, which means the date money reaches the fund's bank account, not the date a member decides to contribute, generally determines which year it counts towards. A contribution made by transfer on 30 June but received on 1 July may fall into the next financial year and count against that year's cap.

Trustees should also remember that SMSFs have their own acceptance rules. Contributions must be allocated to members correctly, and contributions from members aged 75 and over are subject to restrictions. Since Payday Super began on 1 July 2026, employer contributions arrive more frequently, which makes regular reconciliation more important.

If a cap is exceeded

For excess non-concessional contributions, the ATO issues a determination. The member then has 60 days to choose whether to release the excess plus 85 per cent of associated earnings, which are taxed at the member's marginal rate with a 15 per cent non-refundable offset, or to leave the excess in the fund and pay tax on it at the top marginal rate plus Medicare levy. If no election is made within 60 days, the release option applies. The ATO cautions members not to ask their fund to release money until they have received the determination and made a choice.

Practical considerations for trustees

  • Check each member's total super balance at 30 June 2026 before planning non-concessional contributions.
  • Confirm whether a bring-forward period was triggered in 2024–25 or 2025–26.
  • Make large contributions well before 30 June to avoid timing problems.
  • Keep evidence of the date each contribution was received.
  • For deductible personal contributions, make sure the notice of intent process is completed and acknowledged before the member lodges their return.

Hypothetical example

A hypothetical 62-year-old member had a total super balance of $1.9 million at 30 June 2026 and has not previously triggered the bring-forward rule. Under the ATO's 2026–27 table, she could contribute up to $260,000 in non-concessional contributions over two years. If her balance had been $2.15 million, her non-concessional cap for 2026–27 would be nil.

Takeaway

Higher caps for 2026–27 create extra room for many members, but eligibility still depends on total super balance and contribution timing. SMSF trustees should check balances at 30 June 2026, confirm any existing bring-forward period and document when contributions are received.