Superannuation Strategies for the Self-Employed: A Comprehensive Guide

As the owner of a small business, it’s all too common to be swept up in the immediate challenges of your venture – pursuing sales, generating leads, and expanding your enterprise. Often, those who are self-employed focus on reinvesting their earnings into the business, rather than saving in superannuation. However, there are significant advantages to allocating a portion of your income to superannuation.

The Statistical Perspective

Currently, Australian self-employed individuals are not obliged to contribute to superannuation. The Australian Tax Office (ATO) statistics reveal that self-employed individuals, who represent around 10% of the workforce, contributed merely 5% to the total superannuation funds in 2014-15(1). Delving further, less than 10% of self-employed Australians chose to contribute to superannuation in a tax-effective manner in that year.

Defining ‘Self-Employed’

The ATO provides specific criteria to identify a self-employed person:

• Sole-traders or partners in a partnership are not mandated to contribute to their own superannuation.
• For contractors, superannuation contributions depend on their contractual terms or work arrangements. They may contribute themselves or receive contributions from the employer.
• Business owners regarded as employees by their companies must contribute to the superannuation guarantee, which stands at 11%.

For additional details, visit the ATO website.

The Importance of Contributing to Superannuation

While investing all your earnings back into the business might seem appealing, not every business yields a significant return upon retirement. Many self-employed individuals and businesses depend exclusively on their personal labour, without substantial business assets as a fallback. Superannuation serves as an effective tool for retirement planning in these situations.

Building a Retirement Fund

Contributing to superannuation aids in creating a retirement fund, ensuring financial security and a source of income post-retirement. Regularly saving a modest amount in superannuation can accumulate financial stability over time, allowing you to concentrate on business growth with the assurance of a developing income source.

Tax Advantages

Here’s an important aspect: self-employed individuals may be eligible for a complete tax deduction on super contributions.

If you’re self-employed, you can contribute up to $27,500 annually for the 2023-24 financial year. These contributions are taxed at a concessional rate of 15%, which is lower than marginal tax rates. Hence, these contributions not only enjoy a lower tax rate but can also be claimed as a tax deduction.

To claim a tax deduction, remember:

• Contributions must be made before June 30 to claim them for that financial year.
• You must inform your fund using a specific form before making a claim.
• The ATO website provides detailed information about claiming tax deductions for personal contributions as a self-employed individual.

The Power of Compounding

Superannuation is an efficient way to accumulate wealth due to its tax benefits. Over time, your contributions experience compounding growth, earning returns on both the initial amounts and the generated earnings. Starting early and consistently contributing, even small amounts, can significantly enhance your retirement savings.

Diversification Benefits

Many self-employed individuals regard their business as their retirement plan. However, by contributing to a tax-effective superannuation environment and adjusting investment strategies, you can diversify your investments, minimise risk, and simultaneously prepare for retirement.

Contributing to Superannuation as a Self-Employed Individual

Managing superannuation as a self-employed person is straightforward:

• First, establish a super account. Options include starting with a new provider, continuing with a fund from previous employment, or opting for a self-managed super fund.
• Next, make contributions to your super fund. If you earn a wage, consider regular transfers from your pre-tax income. If your income is from business revenue, consider transferring lump sums when cash flow allows.

With the various tax benefits, flexibility in contribution size and frequency, and the advantage of having an additional income source for retirement, superannuation contributions are a wise choice for self-employed individuals. To begin, consult your financial adviser.