How to maximise the amount in your super before the new 30 June 2017 tax rules are implemented

Depending on your account balance, this may be your last chance to make a significant contribution to your super account. In this article we look at an innovative financing product that may assist you to make a large contribution before 1 July 2017.

As a part of the superannuation reforms that were announced in the 2016 budget, a non-concessional contribution cap comes into effect on 1 July 2017.  From that date, individuals with total super of $1.6 million or more will no longer be eligible to make any further non-concessional contributions. 

What does this mean? 

Post 30 June 2017 the only contributions members with total super over $1.6 million will be able to make are concessional contributions, eg salary sacrifice.  Those with total super of less than $1.6 million will only be able to make non-concessional contributions to the extent these contributions do not take their total super above $1.6 million.

Australian investment house Gresham has responded to these upcoming changes by developing an innovative financing product that may help you contribute $540,000 to your superannuation account before the 1 July 2017 changes are implemented.

Based on their assumptions this product could provide a tax benefit of up to ~$260k to ~500k net of fees¹ over a 15 to 20 year period.   

For more information on the product and on how to apply visit www.gresham.com.au/gss

¹Remember this is a forecast only, it may be affected by departures from our assumptions or other uncertainties and the forecast may be materially different to the results actually achieved and is dependent on individual circumstances.

The ~$260k to ~$500k is based on the following assumptions:

1. Individual/SMSF: Individual Marginal Tax Rate: 49%, SMSF Tax Rate: 15%, Annual Investable Amount: $125,407, Current Super Balance: $1,600,000, Assumed SMSF Return: 7.5%
2. Loan: Annual Interest Rate: 6.0%, Loan Amount: $540,000, Upfront Fee $3,000, Loan Term: 5 years, Annual Loan Payment (P+I): $125,407
3. Gross Investment Return on Assets Acquired: 6.0%, Establishment Fee: $17,000 plus GST, Annual Management Fee: 0.85% plus GST
4. ~$260k based on 15 years in top tax bracket
5. ~$500k based on 20 years in top tax bracket

Important: The above provides you with information to help you consider your superannuation options.  It does not constitute advice in relation to your super arrangements nor contain a recommendation to contribute to superannuation.  Any advice on the GSS product has been prepared without taking into account of a client’s objectives, financial situation or needs.  For that reason should before acting on any advice, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. 

Before making any decision whether to acquire the product, it is important that you read the Information Memorandum for the GSS product and understand the detailed loan and unit structure.