Tax components of a superannuation account - explanation ?

 Author: PollyATO(Community Support)Community Support

1 June 2026

Hi @BruceGT,

You don't need to worry about the taxable component showing on your benefit quote. The proportion of taxable and tax-free components won't change when you convert your super into a pension income stream. These proportions stay the same regardless of how you access your super.

Here's how it works. Your super has two parts: a tax-free component and a taxable component.

The tax-free component generally comes from your after-tax (non-concessional) contributions. The taxable component comes from before-tax contributions like employer payments and any investment earnings the fund generated.

When you make a withdrawal or start a pension, your fund calculates the components based on the proportion that makes up your total balance. You can't choose to withdraw only the tax-free part unless your whole account is tax-free.

The good news is that because you're over 60 and retired, withdrawals from a taxed super fund are tax-free. This applies to both lump sums and income stream payments.

We can't provide a breakdown of what we have on record for your specific account. Your super fund holds this information and can give you the exact details of your taxable and tax-free components.

As @TaxTalk1234 mentioned, contact your super fund to get a detailed breakdown and to discuss how these components will apply when you start your pension. You might also want to read about super and planning for retirement on our website to understand how tax applies at age 60 and over.

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