Did you know...
If your spouse earns less than $10,800, spouse contributions
can be tax-effective.
Robert Wilson
QSuper member since 2006
If you have a spouse, they too can take advantage of the benefits of QSuper membership.
What are spouse contributions?
A spouse contribution* is money you contribute into super for your spouse.
Why would I want to contribute to my spouse's account?
Sometimes factors such as interrupted work patterns and changes in occupation can make it difficult for one partner to accumulate enough super for retirement.
Are there any tax benefits?
Yes, making spouse contributions can have tax benefits. If your spouse earns an income^ of less than $10,800 per annum, the first $3,000 of any spouse contribution entitles you to an 18% tax offset ($540 maximum tax offset per year). And even if your spouse earns up to $13,800, you may still get a partial tax offset.
Who can open an account for their spouse?
Most QSuper members can open an account for their spouse and make contributions. Or your spouse could make contributions for you into your existing QSuper account. The only requirements are:
- your spouse must fit the spouse definition as prescribed by the Commonwealth Government (the definition of spouse is a legal or de facto husband and wife who live together), and
- the person whose account the money is going into must be under age 65 (or working at least 40 hours in a continuous 30 day period if over 65 but under 70).
What's the minimum amount required to open a QSuper account for my spouse?
An initial contribution of at least $500 is needed to open a QSuper account for your spouse, but after that contributions can be any amount. Your initial $500 can be from an existing super account that you roll over to QSuper.
Can my spouse contribute to their own account?
After you've opened a QSuper account for your spouse they can make contributions to their own account if they are:
- under age 65, or
- over age 65 and working at least 40 hours in a continuous 30-day period (after age 75 it's not possible to contribute any further amounts into super).
It's important to note that QSuper currently only accepts employer contributions from Queensland Government employers.
When can my spouse access their benefit?
For a spouse who's currently employed, or who has been employed in the past, benefits may be accessed upon permanent retirement after they reach their preservation age.
For a spouse who's never been employed, benefits must stay in a preserved super fund until age 65.