Work Test

In order to contribute to an SMSF, a Member over a certain age might have to meet the work test. An age restriction does not apply to your SMSF accepting mandated employer contributions.

For a contribution to be made to your SMSF when you are between the ages of 67-74 (the age restriction was 65-74 for 2019-2020 Financial Year and earlier income years), a Member will need to meet the requirements for the work test, which requires the Member to be gainfully employed.

Being gainfully employed means working for at least 40 hours during a consecutive 30-day period. This test has to be met each financial year in order to make contributions (both concessional and non-concessional) into your SMSF. Unpaid work is not considered as being “gainfully employed”.

Simplified Work Test

From 1 July 2021, Members aged 67 to 74 with a total Superannuation balance below $300,000 will be able to make voluntary contributions it they met the Work Test in the previous year, as long as all of the conditions outlined below are satisfied:

• The Member satisfied the Work Test in the previous financial year.
• The Member had a total Superannuation balance of less than $300,000 at the end of the previous financial year.
• No non-concessional contributions have been made under the Work Test Exemption in the previous financial year.

The Simplified Work Test has been authorised in the 2021 Federal Budget. To access the 2021 Budget, please click on the button below:

Other considerations when utilising the Simplified Work Test:

• Total Superannuation balances will be assessed for eligibility at the start of the financial year following the year in which they last met the Work Test.
• Once the Work Test Exemption criteria are met, the Member balance in Super must be under $300,000 at the start of the financial year but it’s okay to go over during the year. Meanwhile, the existing annual concessional and non-concessional caps ($25,000 and $100,000 respectively) will continue to apply.
• Once the Work Test Exemption criteria are met, the bring-forward rule for non-concessional contributions can be utilised.
• The Work Test Exemption is also used in conjunction with the new rolling 5-year carry forward of unused concessional contribution cap space subject to the relevant conditions being satisfied.

Example:

Nichole (68 years old) retires from full-time work on 1 June 2020. Her total superannuation balance is $150,000 at the end of the 2019-20 financial year. Nichole had not reached her concessional contribution cap over the past 2 years, having contributed only $18,000 in 2018-19 and $12,000 in 2019-20.

This simplified version of Work Test rules is effective from 1 July 2019. Members of an SMSF can use the templates provided below to assist with informing any relevant party that they have met the work test requirements.

For further guidance on the work test provisions, please see here for ATO guidance.