Hi, I have been trying to understand exactly how the First Home Super Saver Scheme actually works.
Do I have to make the contributions myself? How would I do that?
Does the money go into a separate section of my super?
Can I use the super I already have for the FHSS Scheme?
How do I get my employer to increase the contributions?
When I do my tax return next year, can I have that money added to it?
Hi @melaniefk,
You’ve asked us a lot of questions, so we've categorised the responses to the questions you've asked:
Do I have to make the contributions myself? How would I do that? And How do I get my employer to increase the contributions?
You can make voluntary concessional (before-tax) and voluntary non-concessional (after-tax) contributions into your super fund and you can also use these contributions for the First Home Super Saver (FHSS) scheme to help save for your first home. Super guarantee contributions made by your employer, cannot be used under the FHSS scheme.
Check that you are eligible for FHSS before you start making contributions.
You can make either type of the following contributions, or a combination of:
■ Salary sacrifice contributions are pre-tax contributions made under an agreement between an employer and an employee, where the employee agrees to forgo part of their salary or wages and have them contributed to their super instead. You need to talk to your employer about whether you can make this type of contribution.
■ Personal voluntary super contributions can be made directly by you to your super fund or from your after tax pay by your employer. You can contact your super fund to find out how to do this and you may wish to speak to your employer about making contributions directly from your after-tax pay.
■ Remember to ask your employer how often they make salary sacrifice or after tax contributions from your pay to your super fund. This is important as contributions count for the FHSS scheme on the date they are deposited into your super account (this can be several weeks or months after they appear on your payslip).
Does the money go into a separate section of my super?
No, the contributions you make will go into your existing super account.
Can I use the super I already have for the FHSS Scheme?
If you've made salary sacrifice and personal voluntary contributions into your super fund from 1 July 2017, you may already have eligible contributions. Please remember, SG contributions made by your employer, and spouse contributions cannot be released under the FHSS scheme.
When requesting a FHSS determination (which tells you the maximum amount you can release under FHSS) the form will pre-fill contributions based on information provided to us by your fund. It is important that you double check to ensure this information is correct e.g. by comparing any pre-filled information to your super fund statements.
When I do my tax return next year, can I have that money added to it?
In answering this question, we assume you are asking if you can contribute your tax refund to your super fund so that you can use this amount for the purposes of the FHSS scheme. After completing your tax return, if you receive a tax refund, you can contribute the refund amount to your super account as a non-concessional (after tax) contribution and this will count towards the FHSS maximum release amount – speak to your fund about how to make this contribution. Or if you're wanting to claim a personal super deduction you can view this from here.
More Information:
You can find out more about the first home super saver by visiting our webpage. Or our handy FHSS fact sheet. You should also consider whether you need to seek financial advice, to ensure the FHSS scheme is right for you.
Hi @melanierfk
Please bear with us, we’re checking in with our FHSS team to make sure we get the right information for you, we’ll get back to you soon.
Thanks for understanding, we do appreciate it.
Hi @melaniefk,
You’ve asked us a lot of questions, so we've categorised the responses to the questions you've asked:
Do I have to make the contributions myself? How would I do that? And How do I get my employer to increase the contributions?
You can make voluntary concessional (before-tax) and voluntary non-concessional (after-tax) contributions into your super fund and you can also use these contributions for the First Home Super Saver (FHSS) scheme to help save for your first home. Super guarantee contributions made by your employer, cannot be used under the FHSS scheme.
Check that you are eligible for FHSS before you start making contributions.
You can make either type of the following contributions, or a combination of:
■ Salary sacrifice contributions are pre-tax contributions made under an agreement between an employer and an employee, where the employee agrees to forgo part of their salary or wages and have them contributed to their super instead. You need to talk to your employer about whether you can make this type of contribution.
■ Personal voluntary super contributions can be made directly by you to your super fund or from your after tax pay by your employer. You can contact your super fund to find out how to do this and you may wish to speak to your employer about making contributions directly from your after-tax pay.
■ Remember to ask your employer how often they make salary sacrifice or after tax contributions from your pay to your super fund. This is important as contributions count for the FHSS scheme on the date they are deposited into your super account (this can be several weeks or months after they appear on your payslip).
Does the money go into a separate section of my super?
No, the contributions you make will go into your existing super account.
Can I use the super I already have for the FHSS Scheme?
If you've made salary sacrifice and personal voluntary contributions into your super fund from 1 July 2017, you may already have eligible contributions. Please remember, SG contributions made by your employer, and spouse contributions cannot be released under the FHSS scheme.
When requesting a FHSS determination (which tells you the maximum amount you can release under FHSS) the form will pre-fill contributions based on information provided to us by your fund. It is important that you double check to ensure this information is correct e.g. by comparing any pre-filled information to your super fund statements.
When I do my tax return next year, can I have that money added to it?
In answering this question, we assume you are asking if you can contribute your tax refund to your super fund so that you can use this amount for the purposes of the FHSS scheme. After completing your tax return, if you receive a tax refund, you can contribute the refund amount to your super account as a non-concessional (after tax) contribution and this will count towards the FHSS maximum release amount – speak to your fund about how to make this contribution. Or if you're wanting to claim a personal super deduction you can view this from here.
More Information:
You can find out more about the first home super saver by visiting our webpage. Or our handy FHSS fact sheet. You should also consider whether you need to seek financial advice, to ensure the FHSS scheme is right for you.
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