Useful next calculations
Rates and sources, 2026–27
ATO concessional contributions cap from 1 July 2026, including employer super guarantee and salary sacrifice.
| Band or figure | Rate |
|---|---|
| Concessional cap 2026–27 | $32,500 |
| Super guarantee | 12% |
Source: ATO — maximum contribution base (cap from 1 July 2026). Source checked for 2026–27.
When to use this calculator
- Before choosing between saving, investing or changing a contribution.
- When you want to compare cautious, base and optimistic return assumptions.
- When you need a projection before making a longer-term decision.
- When you want to see whether starting earlier or contributing more changes the outcome more.
A worked example
These are the example figures the calculator opens with.
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual Gross Salary (A$) | A$100,000 |
| Annual Salary Sacrifice Amount (A$) | A$10,000 |
| Marginal Tax Rate | 15% ($18,201–$45,000) |
| Current Super Balance (A$) | A$0 |
For those figures the calculator returns:
- Annual tax saving: A$200.00
- Income tax saved: A$1,500.00
- Contributions tax: A$1,500.00
- Take-home reduction: A$8,300.00
- Extra super at retirement: A$537,616.82
How to read your results
Annual Tax Saving
Review this figure alongside gross income and the local tax rules that apply to you. It is a planning estimate, not a filing result.
Income Tax Saved
Review this figure alongside gross income and the local tax rules that apply to you. It is a planning estimate, not a filing result.
Contributions Tax
Review this figure alongside gross income and the local tax rules that apply to you. It is a planning estimate, not a filing result.
Common mistakes
- Using an assumption that is not supported by a current local quote, bill, statement or official source.
- Treating a generic estimate as a lender, provider, payroll or tax authority decision.
- Mixing monthly and annual inputs without converting them consistently.
- Testing only one scenario instead of checking how a cautious assumption changes the result.
What to do next
- Run a second scenario with a cautious assumption so you can see the downside clearly.
- Compare the result with the related calculators below before making a decision.
- Check current local rules, eligibility and provider terms before applying or committing money.
- Keep a record of the assumptions so you can update the estimate when a quote, bill or pay figure changes.
Questions people ask
Salary sacrifice into super means asking your employer to redirect a portion of your pre-tax salary directly into your superannuation fund as concessional (before-tax) contributions. Instead of paying your marginal income tax rate on that amount, the money is taxed at just 15% as a super contribution. This gap between your marginal rate and the 15% contributions tax is your effective tax saving, making it one of the most powerful legal tax minimisation strategies available to Australian workers.