Timing crucial in maximising super benefits

Taxable benefits are made up of concessional contributions and income added to a member's account. Concessional contributions are those that have resulted in a tax deduction and for most people will be the compulsory employer super guarantee contributions. They also include tax-deductible contributions made by individuals classed as self-employed.

The tax treatment of taxable benefits differs depending on when the benefits are received, how the benefits are paid, and who they are paid to. Anyone who is 60 or older pays no income tax on their taxable lump sum or pension benefits received. Taxable benefits paid out on the death of a member to non-dependants are taxed at 15 per cent.

When taxable benefits are paid as a lump sum to someone under 60 no tax is payable for the 2013 financial year up to maximum of $175,000. Lump sum payments in excess of this are taxed at 15 per cent.

Taxable benefits received as a pension for someone under 60 are taxed at the applicable marginal tax rate but receive a 15 per cent tax offset. Up until June 30, 2012 this meant most people under 60 receiving taxable super pension benefits paid no income tax where their taxable income did not exceed $37,000. On taxable income of between $37,000 and $80,000, tax was effectively paid at 15 per cent.

With new tax rates applying from July 1, 2012, someone under 60 receiving taxable super pension payments can pay tax, after taking account of the 15 per cent tax offset, of 4 per cent up to a total taxable income of $37,000, and 17.5 per cent on taxable income of between $37,000 and $80,000.

For most people tax-free super benefits are made up of only non-concessional super contributions. These are contributions made from tax-paid money and were once called undeducted contributions. A small number of people can also have tax-free super benefits made up of small business retirement exemption contributions.

The value of tax-free benefits can only increase with new contributions and are decreased by lump sum or pension payments. Tax-free super benefits are not taxable whether they are received as a lump sum or a pension, no matter the age of the person receiving them. Tax-free benefits paid to non-dependants upon the death of a member are also not taxable.

Once a pension is started in a super fund the percentage value of tax-free and taxable benefits are locked in for the life of that pension. Timing can therefore be important for making non-concessional contributions and starting a super pension.

When someone is eligible to receive either an account-based pension or a transition-to-retirement pension, and they also have the ability to make a large non-concessional contribution, it makes sense to commence the pension from taxable benefits first and then make the non-concessional contribution.

Once the non-concessional contribution has been made, another pension can be commenced from the tax-free benefits. Over time minimum payments would be taken from the 100 per cent tax-free pension with the balance coming from the taxable pension. This will mean tax payable by non-dependent beneficiaries upon the death of a member will be minimised.