The spouse contribution tax offset allows you to claim a tax offset of up to $540 per year if your spouse’s income is below $40,000 and you make a superannuation contribution on their behalf (married or de facto).
Since your spouse super contribution is not automatically prepopulated in your tax return, many eligible people forget to claim the tax offset in their tax returns. In the self-service online tax return, it’s also not obvious where to claim. To ensure you don’t miss out on this valuable benefit, read on to learn how to claim the spouse contribution tax offset.
If you’re a client of HPH and you are eligible, your adviser has likely already recommended a spouse contribution, so skip to the section on “how to claim”.
Are you eligible to claim the spouse contribution tax offset?
You are entitled to a tax offset of up to $540 for 2023–24 if:
- the sum of your spouse’s assessable income (excluding any assessable First home super saver released amount), total reportable fringe benefits amounts and reportable employer superannuation contributions was less than $40,000
- the contributions you made on behalf of your spouse were not deductible to you
- the person was your spouse when you made the contribution
- both you and your spouse were Australian residents when you made the contributions
- you and your spouse were not living separately and apart on a permanent basis when making the contributions
- your spouse did not have either:
- non-concessional contributions totalling more than their non-concessional contributions cap for 2023–24
- at 30 June 2023, a total superannuation balance of $1.7 million or more.
If the contributions were made to a superannuation fund, then it must have been a complying superannuation fund for the income year in which you made the contribution.
Who is a spouse?
Even if you are not legally married, you may still be in an eligible relationship. Your spouse also includes another person who:
- you were in a relationship with that was registered under a prescribed state or territory law
- although not legally married to you, lived with you on a genuine domestic basis in a relationship as a couple.
How to claim the spouse contribution tax offset in your tax return
If you have an accountant who prepares your tax returns, you simply need to notify them of the contribution that’s been made. As evidence of the contribution, include a copy of the receiving spouse’s superannuation statement when you provide your accountant with all your tax documentation.
If you are preparing your tax return yourself, the section in the tax return form where you claim the spouse contribution tax offset is section T3. Click here for the exact instructions from the ATO for completing this section.
Also, wondering how to claim the Government Co-contribution?
Your spouse may also have made a personal after-tax contribution to their own superannuation to be eligible for the Government superannuation co-contribution.
The good news is that you don’t need to claim for government contributions. If you’re eligible and your fund has your tax file number (TFN), the government will pay this to your superannuation account automatically after you submit your tax return.
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Information on this website is of a general nature only and has not taken into account your particular circumstances. Before making any decision to act, you should consider whether the strategies are suitable for your personal situation and needs.