Key Highlights

  • The concessional cap is $32,500 for 2026–27, up from $30,000.
  • The non-concessional cap is $130,000, up from $120,000.
  • The CGT cap amount is $1,935,000.

A new financial year has started, and with it a new set of contribution caps. For SMSF members and their trustees, contribution decisions turn on three things: the cap, the member's circumstances and the date the money actually lands in the fund.

This article reports on the ATO's published caps and guidance as accessed in October 2026. It is general information, not advice.

The 2026–27 caps

The ATO's contributions caps page, last updated on 11 September 2026, shows that 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, up from $120,000. The CGT cap amount is $1,935,000, compared with $1,865,000.

The page explains that people under 75 may be able to use the bring-forward rule, making non-concessional contributions of up to three times the annual cap in a single year. Exceeding the annual cap under that option gives automatic access to future-year caps. The amount and period depend on the person's total super balance on the day before the financial year in which the bring-forward is triggered; the page does not give those amounts, so members should check them directly.

The ATO says unused concessional cap can be carried forward if total super balance was under $500,000 at 30 June of the previous financial year. It also says the non-concessional cap is nil if the previous year-end total super balance is greater than or equal to the general transfer balance cap. The ATO's earlier newsroom item, published on 19 February 2026, explains that the general transfer balance cap rose to $2.1 million from 1 July 2026. The caps page, in its table, still refers to the general cap as $2 million from 1 July 2025; trustees should treat the $2.1 million figure as current for 2026–27, as per the newsroom item, and confirm with the ATO.

What an SMSF may accept

The ATO's page on accepting contributions, last updated on 19 March 2026, says an SMSF can only accept allowable contributions. Under 75, all types of other contributions can be accepted from 1 July 2022. For members turning 75, contributions must be received within 28 days after the end of the month the member turns 75. Mandated employer contributions can be accepted at any age. The fund must hold the member's TFN to accept member contributions; if not, a contribution must be returned within 30 days of the trustee becoming aware, unless the TFN is provided in time.

Trustees must also document each contribution's amount, type and components, allocate it to the member's account within 28 days after the end of the month in which it was received, and report all contributions accurately in the annual return.

Why timing matters

Caps apply to the financial year in which a contribution is made, so the date a contribution is received can decide which year's cap it counts against. The ATO's guidance ties the allocation deadline to the month in which a contribution is received, which makes the receipt date a key record. Trustees should keep bank records and contribution documentation that make the receipt date clear. Contributions made close to 30 June are the most sensitive, and the guidance here does not describe special rules for them; members should check with the ATO or a professional.

Payday Super and SuperStream changes

The ATO's SuperStream Contributions v3.0 item, published on 15 May 2026, says that from 1 July 2026 SMSFs must respond to member verification requests within 24 hours and be able to receive employer contributions through the New Payments Platform. A new Fund Validation Service replaces the current one from that date. The ATO says an administrator or software provider usually handles this and advises SMSFs to prepare. This affects SMSFs receiving contributions from unrelated employers.

Practical considerations

Trustees might check each member's total super balance and remaining cap space before accepting a large contribution, confirm that the member is eligible to contribute, keep a log of each contribution with date and type, and confirm the fund's administrator or software supports the new SuperStream requirements.

Hypothetical example

A hypothetical 62-year-old member who wants to contribute should first check whether their total super balance allows the full non-concessional cap, and whether bring-forward is available. This is hypothetical and is not advice.

Takeaway

The caps rose for 2026–27, but the rules around eligibility, acceptance and timing are as important as the dollar amounts. Trustees should document every contribution and check the ATO's current figures before acting. Members with complex positions should seek professional advice.