From 1 January 2023, those 55 and over can make a ‘downsizer’ contribution to superannuation.
What's a 'downsizer' contribution?
If you are aged 55 years or older, you can contribute $300,000 from the proceeds of the sale of your home to your superannuation fund. Downsizer contributions are excluded from the existing age test, work test, and the transfer balance threshold (but are limited by your transfer balance cap). For couples, both members of a couple can take advantage of the concession for the same home. That is, if you and your spouse meet the other criteria, both of you can contribute up to $300,000 ($600,000 per couple). This is the case even if one of you did not have an ownership interest in the property that was sold (assuming they meet the other criteria).
Let’s look at the eligibility criteria:
·
You are 55 years or older (from
1 January 2023) at the time of making the contribution.
·
The home was owned by you or
your spouse for 10 years or more prior to the sale – the ownership period is
generally calculated from the date of settlement of purchase to the date of
settlement of sale.
·
The home is in Australia and is
not a caravan, houseboat, or other mobile home.
·
The proceeds (capital gain or
loss) from the sale of the home are either exempt or partially exempt from
capital gains tax (CGT) under the main residence exemption, or would be
entitled to such an exemption if the home was a post-CGT asset rather than a
pre-CGT asset (acquired before 20 September 1985). Check with us if you are
uncertain.
·
You provide your super fund
with the Downsizer
contribution into super form (NAT 75073) either before or at the
time of making the downsizer contribution.
·
The downsizer contribution is
made within 90 days of receiving the proceeds of sale, which is usually
at the date of settlement.
·
You have not previously made a
downsizer contribution to super from the sale of another home or from the part
sale of your home.
Do I have to buy another smaller home?
The name ‘downsizer’ is a bit of a misnomer. To access this measure you do not have to buy another home once you have sold your existing home, and you are not required to buy a smaller home - you could buy a larger and more expensive one.