Work out how much tax you save, how much extra lands in your super, and what it costs your take-home pay. Set your salary and the amount you want to sacrifice, and we'll flag it if you're heading past your concessional cap. Free, no signup.
Free, no signup2025-26 & 2026-27Concessional cap built in
Your details
Excluding super
$
$
Tax saved a year
$2,040
$10,200 lands in your super, and your take-home drops by $8,160.
Extra into superAfter 15% contributions tax$10,200
Take-home pay drop$8,160
Net tax saved$2,040
Concessional cap headroom$32,500 cap, less 12% employer super$8,500
General information, not personal financial advice. Assumes 12% employer super and 2% Medicare. Sacrificed super is locked until preservation age (around 60). Verify at ato.gov.au.
When you salary sacrifice, you agree with your employer to put part of your pre-tax salary into super instead of your bank account. That money is taxed at just 15% inside the fund, rather than your marginal rate plus the 2% Medicare levy. For most middle earners that’s a saving of 17 to 34 centson every dollar sacrificed. It also lowers your taxable income. The catch is that the money is locked away until your preservation age, around 60.
The concessional contributions cap
Before-tax contributions are capped at $30,000 for 2025-26 and $32,500 for 2026-27. Your employer’s 12% Super Guarantee counts toward this cap, so your real sacrifice room is the cap minus what your employer already pays in. Go over the cap and the excess is taxed at your marginal rate, undoing the benefit. If your total super balance is under $500,000, you may be able to carry forward unused cap from the past five years.
Frequently asked questions
Is salary sacrificing into super worth it?
Usually yes if your marginal tax rate is above 15%, because you swap your marginal rate for the 15% contributions tax on the money going in. The trade-off is that the money is locked away until your preservation age, around 60.
How much can I salary sacrifice into super?
Up to your concessional cap, which is $30,000 for 2025-26 and $32,500 for 2026-27, minus your employer's Super Guarantee. Unused cap from earlier years may carry forward if your total super balance is under $500,000.
How much tax will I save?
Roughly your marginal rate plus the 2% Medicare levy, minus the 15% contributions tax, on each dollar you sacrifice. On a $100,000 salary that's a saving of around 17 cents in the dollar. The calculator works out your exact figure.
Salary sacrifice vs after-tax contributions?
Salary sacrifice comes out before tax and is taxed at 15% going in. After-tax (non-concessional) contributions come from money already taxed at your marginal rate, but aren't taxed again inside the fund. Sacrifice tends to win for higher earners; after-tax contributions plus the government co-contribution can suit lower earners.
Does salary sacrificing into super reduce my HECS/HELP repayment?
No. Reportable super contributions are added back when working out your repayment income, so your compulsory HECS/HELP repayment is unchanged even though your taxable income falls.
Simon is the founder of Orbit Money, a tool that helps people track subscriptions and recurring spend. He builds Orbit's free money calculators and writes about personal finance for Australian and UK readers.
