Government co-contributions
The co-contribution scheme means that for every dollar you put into super from your after-tax pay, the government may match it with up to 50 cents. Find out if you’re eligible.
What is the Government co-contribution scheme?
The co-contribution scheme is designed to help lower and some middle-income earners boost their retirement savings.
How it works
For every dollar you add to your super from your take-home pay, the government gives you another 50 cents up to a maximum of $500. Co-contributions are paid on a reducing scale, cutting out at a total income of $58,445.
To qualify for the maximum $500, you must earn a total income of no more than $43,445 in 2023/24 and have made an after-tax contribution of $1,000 into your super account.
The co-contribution will automatically be deposited into your legalsuper account once your income tax return is processed by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
Eligibility criteria
To receive the co-contribution, you must:
- have provided legalsuper with your Tax File Number (TFN);
- have made one or more eligible personal super contributions to your super account before the end of the financial year to allow legalsuper to process your payment and meet the 30 June cut-off date;
- earn a total income of less than $58,445;
- 10% or more of your total income must come from employment-related activities, carrying on a business, or a combination of both;
- lodge your income tax return for the financial year, completing the relevant section;
- be under 71 years of age at the end of the financial year;
- not exceed the non-concessional (after-tax) contributions cap;
- have had a total super balance less of less than $1.9 million as at 30 June; and
- not hold a temporary visa at any time during the financial year (unless you are a New Zealand citizen or it was a prescribed visa).
More information can be found on the ATO website.
