Account-based pensions may either be retirement phase pensions or TtR pensions. The difference between the two types of pensions is primarily the way in which they are internally taxed:
Retirement phase pensions
This type of pension can be commenced when a super fund member has met a full condition of release and is not taxed on its earnings including capital gains.
Transition to retirement (TtR) pensions
TtR pensions can be commenced once a super fund member reaches preservation age, and these are taxed at up to 15% on the earnings, including capital gains.
Unlike the tax on earnings within a TtR pension, the tax treatment of income payments from a TtR pension to the account holder depends on their age:
In situations where a client has reached their preservation age but has not yet retired, a TtR pension can provide them with additional income. This was the original intention of the transition to retirement condition of release.
The below case study demonstrates how a client can use a TtR pension to receive additional income:
Jenny is single and aged 60. She works four days a week in day care and earns $43,000 per annum. After tax, her net income is $37,853. She is finding it difficult to afford her lifestyle and expenses. Jenny has $220,000 in her superannuation account.
Using a TtR pension, Jenny can receive additional income of up to $22,000 in this financial year, increasing her total net income to $59,853. This will be sufficient to meet her lifestyle expenses, however she should note that by drawing from her superannuation savings now, she will have less to rely on during her retirement.
There may still also be a benefit for clients to make pre-tax contributions into super and replace that income with TtR pension income. When using an income swap strategy, it’s important to remember that personal deductible and salary sacrifice contributions are taxed at 15% on the way into super, and possibly at 30% if your client has income* and low tax contributions exceeding $250,000 in a financial year.
It is also crucial to ensure that the client does not exceed their concessional contribution cap. Personal deductible contributions and salary sacrificed contributions count towards the client’s concessional contributions cap as do super guarantee (SG) contributions.
The following case studies illustrate the taxation consequences of clients making pre-tax contributions into super and drawing out income from a transition to retirement pension.
Marie, aged 59 has $280,000 in super, all taxable component. Marie earns $80,000 per annum. Her net income after tax is $61,933^. Marie salary sacrifices $19,100 (up to the general concessional cap of $27,500) into super and draws $15,541 from a TtR pension, giving her a net income of $61,933.
As a result of the strategy, Marie saves $694^ in tax which is reflected by a $709 increase to her overall super balance.
Item | Status quo | Income swap strategy |
---|---|---|
Salary | $80,000 | $80,000 |
Salary sacrifice | $0 | $19,100 |
TtR pension (taxable)) | $0 | $15,541 |
Taxable income | $80,000 | $76,441 |
Income tax (including Medicare) | $18,067 | $14,508 |
Net income^ | $61,933 | $61,933 |
Personal tax | $18,067 | $14,508 |
Tax inside super | $1,260 | $4,125 |
Total tax | $19,327 | $18,633 |
Tax benefit of strategy | $694 | |
Net contributions to super | $7,140 | $7,834 |
Super benefit of strategy | $694 |
Bill, aged 59 has $250,000 in super. Of this, $180,000 forms part of the tax-free component and $70,000 forms part of the taxable component. He earns $100,000 in salary. After tax his net income is $75,033^. Bill salary sacrifices $17,000 (up to the general concessional cap of $27,500) into super, uses his super to commence a TtR pension and draws $11,778 giving him a net income of $75,033.
As a result of the strategy, Bill saves $2,672,^ in tax which is reflected by a $2,672 increase to his overall super balance.
Item | Status quo | Income swap strategy |
---|---|---|
Salary | $100,000 | $100,000 |
Salary sacrifice | $0 | $17,000 |
TtR pension (taxable) | $0 | $3,298 |
Taxable income | $100,000 | $86,298 |
Income tax (including Medicare) | $24,967 | $19,745 |
TtR pension (tax-free) | $0 | $8,480 |
Net income^ | $75,033 | $75,033 |
Personal tax | $24,967 | $19,745 |
Tax inside super | $1,575 | $4,125 |
Total tax | $26,542 | $23,870 |
Tax benefit of strategy | $2,672 | |
Net contributions to super | $8,925 | $11,597 |
Super benefit of strategy | $2,672 |
Sean, aged 61 has $200,000 in super. He earns $75,000 in salary per annum. His after tax net income is $58,658^. Sean salary sacrifices $19,625 (up to the general concessional cap of $27,500), uses his super to commence a TtR pension and draws $12,685, giving him net income of $58,658.
As a result of the strategy, Sean’s tax reduces by $3,996^ which is reflected by a $3,996 increase to his overall super balance.
Item | Status quo | Income swap strategy |
---|---|---|
Salary | $75,000 | $75,000 |
Salary sacrifice | $0 | $19,625 |
Taxable income | $75,000 | $55,375 |
Income tax (including Medicare) | $16,342 | $9,402 |
TtR pension (tax-free) | $0 | $12,685 |
Net income^ | $58,658 | $58,658 |
Personal tax | $16,342 | $9,402 |
Tax inside super | $1,181 | $4,125 |
Total tax | $17,523 | $13,527 |
Tax benefit of strategy | $3,996 | |
Net contributions to super | $6,694 | $10,690 |
Super benefit of strategy | $3,996 |
Claire, aged 62 has $500,000 in super. She earns $260,000 in salary. Claire’s employer makes SG contributions of $25,292. Her after tax net income is $163,339^ including Division 293 tax (assuming she does not elect to release an amount from her super to pay this).
Claire salary sacrifices $2,208 (up to the general concessional cap of $27,500) into super and she rolls $40,000 into a TtR pension. Claire is taxed an extra 15% on her SG and salary sacrificed contributions (i.e. 30% in total) due to Division 293 tax.
She draws $2,673 from the TtR pension. This gives her a net income of $163,598. As a result of the strategy, Claire’s tax reduces by $668^. This is reflected by a $668 increase to her overall super balance.
Item | Status quo | Income swap strategy |
---|---|---|
Salary | $260,000 | $260,000 |
Salary sacrifice | $0 | $2,208 |
Taxable income | $260,000 | $257,792 |
Income tax (including Medicare) | $92,867 | $91,829 |
Division 293 tax | $3,794 | $4,125 |
TtR pension (tax-free) | $0 | $1,501 |
Net income^ | $163,339 | $163,339 |
Personal tax | $96,661 | $95,954 |
Tax inside super | $3,794 | $4,125 |
Total tax | $100,455 | $100,079 |
Tax benefit of strategy | $376 | |
Net contributions to super | $21,498 | $21,874 |
Super benefit of strategy | $376 |
For some clients, there may still be a legitimate reason for commencing a transition to retirement (TtR) pension after 1 July 2017. However, before doing so, the following should be considered:
^Based on 2022/23 tax rates including Medicare levy and takes into account client paying contributions tax of 15%
* Income includes:
- taxable income
- reportable fringe benefits
- total net investment losses, and
- low-tax contributions (i.e. concessional contributions less any excess contributions, plus contributions for defined benefit interests).
For any retirement planning queries, please contact a BDM.
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