Superannuation Transfer Balance Cap
There is a limit on the amount you can transfer from super (accumulation phase) to pension (retirement phase). This is called the Transfer Balance Cap.
What is the Transfer Balance Cap?
There is a limit on the amount you can transfer from super (accumulation phase) to pension (retirement phase). This is called the Transfer Balance Cap which is currently $1.7 million and will be indexed each year in line with CPI in increments of $100,000. An income cap of $106,250 pa applies to qualifying defined benefit income streams (see exceptions below).
This limits how much money can be transferred to a tax-free income stream in retirement. It also significantly impacts death benefit payments by income stream.
Any amount over the Transfer Balance Cap will need to be retained in super or cashed out. If kept in super, the balance will still receive the concessional tax treatment as per a normal super fund.
How does it work?
When you commence a retirement phase income stream (common example is an Account Based Pension) post 1 July 2017, the Transfer Balance Cap is $1.7 million. You will have your own transfer balance account that operates like a bank account. Credits and debits will occur in this personal transfer balance account as outlined in the table below. The account and associated debits and credits cease upon death. If the balance of the account exceeds the Transfer Balance Cap, an excess balance will be created.
Type of Income Stream | Credit Transfer Balance Cap | Date |
Account-based income streams | Purchase price | Commencement Date |
Transition to retirement income streams entering the retirement phase | Account balance | Date income stream eters retirement phase |
Capped defined benefit income streams | Special Value* | Commencement Date |
Deferred super income streams entering the retirement phase | Total value of super benefit payable or the sum of each consideration paid plus earnings | Date income stream enters retirement phase |
Non account-based, non-capped defined benefit income streams | Value at commencement | Commencement date |
Reversionary death benefit income streams (reverted post 1 July 2017) | Account balance at death, subject to income stream type (as above) | 12 months from date of death |
*The special value for complying lifetime income streams is the income stream payment multiplied by 16 and for complying life expectancy or term allocated pensions, it equals Annual entitlement multiplied by the term remaining.
Type of payment | Debit | Date |
Lump sum commutations | Transaction amount | Transaction date |
Structured settlement contributions | Transaction amount | Transaction date |
Replenishment debits such as family law payments | Transaction amount | Transaction date |
Non-commutable excess transfer balances | Balance that exceeds cap | Date balance cap exceeded |
Exceeding the Transfer Balance Cap
What happens?
If you transfer more than your personal Transfer Balance Cap into a retirement phase income stream, an ‘excess transfer balance’ will be created and includes:
- The amount exceeding your personal Transfer Balance Cap.
- The notional earnings on the excess amount. Excess transfer balance tax will be payable on the notional earnings (i.e. 15% for the first instance of an excess transfer balance and 30% for each breach thereafter).
The ATO may issue an excess transfer balance determination to ‘crystallise’ the amount that needs to be withdrawn. This limits the notional earnings to this determination amount.
What do I do?
The excess needs to be withdrawn from the income stream and either rolled back to super or paid as a lump sum withdrawal to cash. The sooner you do this the better, as the excess balance tax will be calculated and applied daily until the excess is transferred out.
If a determination is issued, the withdrawal needs to occur within 60 days of its issue or the ATO will send an automatic withdrawal notification to the super fund. Your super fund will then be required to pay out the amount as per the ATO’s instructions.
Modifications for capped defined benefit income streams
If you have one retirement phase income stream and it is a capped defined benefit income stream, no excess will be created. You cannot commute part of it, so it stays in retirement phase.
If you have a capped defined benefit income stream and an account-based pension, the excess will be modified to allow for the defined portion. For example, if you have a capped defined benefit income stream credit on the account for $1.7 million and you receive a death benefit account-based income stream for $250,000, your excess will be the $250,000 rather than the TBC of $1.7 million. The defined benefit income stream will remain intact.
What are the exceptions to these general rules?
- Proportional indexation of your personal Transfer Balance Cap: If you start a retirement phase income stream that is less than the dollar value of Transfer Balance Cap, any future indexation of the Transfer Balance Cap will be applied proportionately to your account. This ensures that your remaining portion, up to the Transfer Balance Cap, keeps pace with inflation (CPI). For example, you commence an account-based pension in 2019 with a value of $1.2 million. The unused portion is $400,000 (Transfer Balance Cap applicable in that year is $1.6 million). The Transfer Balance Cap has been indexed in July 2021 to $1.7 million. The increase is applied proportionately to the $400,000 and now you have $425,000 remaining.
- Capped defined benefit income streams: Modified rules apply to capped defined benefit income streams due to their non-commutable nature. The Transfer Balance Cap will represent either: a) The income stream payment multiplied by 16 for complying lifetime income streams, or b) The annual entitlement multiplied by the term remaining, for complying life expectancy or term allocated pensions. You should check with your super fund to see if your income stream meets the definition of a capped defined benefit income stream.
- Death benefit income streams for adults: Death benefit income streams paid to adult beneficiaries will create a transfer balance account for the beneficiary. The credit to this account is 12 months from the date of death if paid as a ‘reversionary’ income stream. Otherwise, the credit will be made to the beneficiaries account on the date of death. If an excess is created, it must be paid as a lump sum withdrawal to cash; it cannot be paid to super.
- Death benefit income streams for children: Death benefit payments can be made as an income stream to dependent children. The Transfer Balance Cap will be reflective of the deceased person’s account and will cease when the child turns 25 unless further disability provisions are met. If the child only receives a portion of the benefit, the Transfer Balance Cap will equal that portion only. If an excess is created, it must be paid as a lump sum withdrawal to cash; it cannot be paid into super.
Important Information Regarding This Information
This information is of a general nature. It does not consider your personal objectives, needs or situation. It does not represent legal, tax or personal advice and should not be taken as such. If it has been provided to you with a Statement of Advice (SoA), you should rely on the personal advice in the SoA.
Care has been taken to provide up to date and accurate information relating to the subject area however BR Advice Pty Ltd (ABN 30 612 056 523, AFSL 488655), Blue Rock Private Wealth Pty Ltd (ABN 95 166 927 055, AFSL 452733), Blue Rock Private Wealth (Melb) Pty Ltd (ABN 48 652 202 698, ASIC AFS No. 1298365) and their representatives make no representation as to its accuracy or completeness.
Published: September 2022.
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