•         Mercer recommends overhaul of distribution of tax concessions for fairer, financially sustainable system
•        Proposed changes address inherent bias towards high-income earners, increases benefits for lower-income earners and women
  
•        All retirees would be required to draw down their super after age 75
  
•        Primary carers of young children to receive $4,200 super bonus under suggested system
  

Australia, February 24, 2022 – Mercer has called for sweeping changes to the superannuation tax system to improve the benefits for lower-income earners and reduce the gender pension gap. The recommendations include a $4,200 government superannuation contribution for primary carers following the birth of a child, and require all individuals over the age of 75 to draw down on their super assets.

Senior Partner at Mercer, Dr David Knox, said the changes would address inequality in a system that has an inherent bias towards high-income earners.

“We know that the biggest beneficiaries of the current super tax concessions are in fact those that need it the least – high-income earners. And while there has been no shortage of commentary that lower-income earners need greater concessions, we must find a way for reforms to be financially sustainable and place no added financial strain on the federal budget,” Dr Knox said.

“The level of concessions in super isn’t what needs to change. The distribution of it, however, is,” he said.

The suggested tax system for super would:

•         Provide a concession of 15-20 per cent on all concessional contributions, subject to current annual limits.
  Among several measures, this would be achieved by increasing the maximum income to receive the Low Income Super Tax Offset (LISTO), increasing the LISTO payment, and introducing an additional LISTO payment equal to 15 per cent of concessional contributions for individuals with taxable incomes up to the tax-free threshold.
  
  
•         Apply a tax rate of 15 per cent (10 per cent on realised capital gains) on all investment income received by super funds.
  That is, remove the current tax exemption in the pension phase and apply a 15 per cent tax on investment income in both accumulation and pension phases.
  
  
•         Require all accumulated benefits to be gradually withdrawn during retirement, providing tax-free income. 
  All individuals with balances over $5 million will be required to reduce their balance to this figure. Those over the age of 75 will be required to draw down their super assets at a minimum rate equal to the minimum draw down rules that apply to account-based super income streams.

“Currently, there is no requirement for individuals to draw down their super assets during retirement, outside of what’s placed in a tax-exempt pension product, capped at $1.7 million. This means that most of the investment income from these assets is subject to just 15 per cent tax. That’s less than the lowest personal income tax rate,” said Dr Knox.

The suggested $4,200 super baby contribution for primary carers acts as a ‘carer’s credit’, recognising that many women spend a significant period out of the paid workforce caring for children. It equates to 10.5 per cent (the Superannuation Guarantee rate in 2022-23) of the minimum annual wage (currently $40,175). For an individual who cared for two children at the age of 30, this would lead to an increase in their retirement benefit of approximately $25,000.

“Almost every year, the super tax system is tinkered with, and still, issues of inequity persist,” Dr Knox said.

“It’s time to fix the problems for a fairer and simpler system, once and for all, and strengthen community confidence in superannuation for the long term,” he said.

Read Mercer’s Fixing Super Tax Concessions paper.

-ENDS-

Note:

• The value of concessions is calculated as the difference between an individual’s marginal tax rate and the 15% tax on concessional contributions paid at these income levels.
  
  
•  The value of the concessions for incomes between $120,000 and $200,000 will reduce from 2024-25 assuming the legislated Stage 3 tax cuts proceed.