Example 1 – Simple calculation4
Esther’s TSB at 30 June 2025 is $3.5 million. On 30 June 2026 her TSB has increased to $4 million. She makes no contributions or withdrawals during the 2025-26 financial year.
Step 1 – Calculate Superannuation earnings based on the change in TSB from one year to the next, with adjustments for withdrawals and contributions
Superannuation earnings = Adjusted TSBCurrent FY – TSBPrevious FY
= $4 million – $3.5 million
= $500,000
Step 2 – Calculate the proportion of earnings that corresponds to the TSB above $3 million
Proportion of earnings = (TSBCurrent FY – $3 million)/TSBCurrent FY
= ($4 million – $3 million)/$4 million
= 0.25
Step 3 – Calculate Taxable superannuation earnings
Taxable superannuation earnings= 15% x Superannuation earnings x Proportion of earnings
= $500,000 x 0.25
= $125,000
Step 4 – Calculate tax liability
Division 296 tax = 15% x Taxable superannuation earnings
= 15% x $125,000
= $18,750
Example 2 – Tax liability when there has been a withdrawal5
Carlos is 69 and retired. He has a TSB of $9 million on 30 June 2025, which grows to $10 million on 30 June 2026. He draws down $150,000 during the year and makes no additional contributions to the fund.
Step 1 – Calculate Superannuation earnings based on the change in TSB from one year to the next, with adjustments for withdrawals and contributions
Superannuation earnings = Adjusted TSBCurrent FY – TSBPrevious FY
= ($10 million + $150,000) – $9 million
= $1,150,000
Step 2 – Calculate the proportion of earnings that corresponds to the TSB above $3 million
Calculate the proportion of earnings that corresponds to the TSB above $3 million
Proportion of earnings = (TSBCurrent FY – $3 million)/TSBCurrent FY
= ($10 million – $3 million)/$10 million
= 0.7
Step 3 – Calculate Taxable superannuation earnings
Taxable superannuation earnings = Superannuation earnings x Proportion of earnings
= $1,150,000 x 0.7
= $805,000
Step 4 – Calculate tax liability
Division 296 tax = 15% x Taxable superannuation earnings
= 15% x $805,000
= $120,750
Example 3 – Tax liability when there has been a contribution6
Amanda is 48 and working full-time on a salary of $150,000. She has no other income. Amanda has a TSB of $4 million at 30 June 2025, which grows to $4.5 million at 30 June 2026. Amanda makes total concessional contributions to superannuation of $27,500. These contributions are taxed at 15 per cent. Her after-tax (net) contributions are $23,375 (85% x $27,500).
Step 1 – Calculate Superannuation earnings based on the change in TSB from one year to the next, with adjustments for withdrawals and contributions
Superannuation earnings = Adjusted TSBCurrent FY – TSBPrevious FY
= ($4.5 million – $23,375) - $4 million
= $476,625
Step 2 – Calculate the proportion of earnings that corresponds to the TSB above $3 million
Proportion of earnings = (TSBCurrent FY – $3 million)/TSBCurrent FY
= ($4.5 million – $3 million)/$4.5 million
= 0.333333
Step 3 – Calculate Taxable superannuation earnings
Taxable superannuation earnings = Superannuation earnings x Proportion of earnings
= $476,625 x 0.333333
= $158,874.84
Step 4 – Calculate tax liability
Division 296 tax = 15% x Taxable superannuation earnings
= 15% x $158,874.84
= $23,831
Example 4 – Tax liability when opening balance is below $3 million7
As noted earlier, if the previous year’s TSB is less than $3 million, then for the purposes of step 1, the previous year’s TSB will be substituted with $3 million to ensure that only the earnings above the threshold are captured.
Tim has an SMSF with a TSB on 30 June 2025 of $2.8 million. He makes $10,000 of concessional contributions to his superannuation fund over the 2025-26 financial year. After the 15 per cent contributions tax, Tim’s net contributions are $8,500. Tim has some strong investment returns in his SMSF and his TSB increases to $3.2 million by 30 June 2026.
Step 1 – Calculate Superannuation earnings based on the change in TSB from one year to the next, with adjustments for withdrawals and contributions
Superannuation earnings = Adjusted TSBCurrent FY – $3 million
= ($3.2 million – $8,500) – $3 million
= $191,500
Step 2 – Calculate the proportion of earnings that corresponds to the TSB above $3 million
Proportion of earnings = (TSBCurrent FY – $3 million)/TSBCurrent FY
= ($3.2 million – $3 million)/$3.2 million
= 0.066667
Step 3 – Calculate Taxable superannuation earnings
Taxable superannuation earnings = Superannuation earnings x Proportion of earnings
= $191,500 x 0.066667
= $12,766.73
Step 4 – Calculate tax liability
Division 296 tax = 15% x Taxable superannuation earnings
= 15% x $12,766.73
= $1,915
What happens if earnings are negative?
If the earnings amount calculated at step 1 is negative, the amount will be able to be used to offset positive earnings in future years. This will be done before the proportion at step 2 is calculated. These amounts will not expire and will be able to be used across multiple years. No distinction will be made between different types of earnings (e.g. capital gains versus income). Negative earnings will not be able to be used to offset positive income elsewhere (either at the fund or individual level).
Example 5 – Treatment of negative earnings8
2025-26 Financial Year
Returning to example 2, we will now assume that Carlos’ TSB falls from $9 million on 30 June 2025 to $8 million on 30 June 2026. He draws down $150,000 during the year and makes no additional contributions to the fund.
Step 1 – Calculate Superannuation earnings based on the change in TSB from one year to the next, with adjustments for withdrawals and contributions
Superannuation earnings = Adjusted TSBCurrent FY – TSBPrevious FY
= ($8 million + $150,000) – $9 million
= –$850,000
Carlos does not pay Division 296 tax and has Transferrable negative superannuation earnings (TNSE) for the 2025-26 year of $850,000.
2026-27 Financial Year
By 30 June 2027, Carlos’ TSB has recovered to $8.5 million and he has made a further $150,000 in withdrawals.
Carlos carries forward his loss of $850,000 from the previous financial year. He uses this to offset the $650,000 earnings from the 2026-27 financial year.
His Superannuation earnings are calculated under a modified calculation as follows.
Step 1 – Calculate earnings based on the change in TSB from one year to the next, with adjustments for withdrawals and contributions. Where there are Unapplied TNSE, a modified calculation applies.
Superannuation earnings (modified) = Adjusted TSBCurrent FY – TSBPrevious FY – Unapplied TNSE
= ($8.5 million + $150,000) – $8 million – $850,000
= –$200,000
Carlos does not pay Division 296 tax and has TNSE of $200,000 for the 2026-27 year which can reduce superannuation earnings in future income years.
Example 6 – Treatment of negative earnings where TSB in current year is less than $3 million9
2025-26 Financial Year
Jamal has a TSB on 30 June 2025 of $3.2 million. By 30 June 2026, his TSB has reduced to $2.8 million. He has made no contributions or withdrawals during the year.
Jamal will not have Taxable superannuation earnings in the 2025-26 year because his TSB at the end of the year is less than $3 million and his Superannuation earnings are less than nil.
However, as his TSB on 30 June 2025 is greater than $3 million and he has negative Superannuation earnings, Jamal will have Transferrable negative superannuation earnings (TNSE). Where the current year’s TSB is less than $3 million, the TSBCurrent FY is substituted with $3 million to ensure that only the negative earnings for the part of his TSB over $3 million are captured and transferred to future years.
Step 1 – Calculate Superannuation earnings based on the change in TSB from one year to the next, with adjustments for withdrawals and contributions
Superannuation earnings = $3 million – TSBPrevious FY
= $3 million – $3.2 million
= –$200,000
Jamal does not pay Division 296 tax and has TNSE for the 2025-26 year of $200,000.