New year, same goal? Let’s finally tick ‘salary sacrifice setup’ off your list!
5 February 2026
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If setting up salary sacrifice for your super was your new year resolution again this year, you’re probably not alone. Life is busy and super often feels like that reliable friend who’s happy to wait. But, if you’re serious about boosting your super, starting sooner rather than later can make a big difference.
The good news? It’s easier than you think, and we can show you how.
So, what’s salary sacrifice anyway?
If you’ve made your way to this article intrigued yet unsure what salary sacrifice is, here’s a simple explanation:
Salary sacrifice is an arrangement with your employer.
You agree to put some of your before-tax salary straight into your super instead of receiving it as after-tax pay.
Why do people do it? Because it’s an easy way to commit to growing your super, has the potential to give you significant tax savings (especially for middle-to-high income earners) and lowers your taxable income. Salary sacrifice contributions are generally taxed at 15% (upon withdrawal from Triple S), instead of your usual income tax rate. If you are on a low income salary sacrifice may not be a beneficial tax effective strategy for you.
Why start now? Because time is your secret weapon. Money that’s invested adds up over time thanks to compounding investment returns. So, the sooner you start the greater the potential to turn a small sum into a bigger sum in retirement.
To see the difference it can make for you, have a play with our online Contributions Calculator. Once you’ve entered a few details, including your super balance, you can adjust the salary sacrifice amount to see what impact it has on your balance over time.
Why salary sacrifice with Super SA?
If you’re a Triple S member, you’ve got some rare perks. To begin with, unlike most other funds, there’s no annual cap on salary sacrifice contributions – just a lifetime cap of $1.865 million1. This means you can contribute more when you’re ready, without worrying about hitting an annual limit.
Another unique benefit? Contributions to Triple S aren’t taxed upfront. Instead, they’re taxed when you withdraw, so your money can grow untaxed for longer.
Don’t buy into the myths
Salary sacrifice sounds technical, but it’s actually straightforward. Let’s clear up a few common misconceptions:
Myth 1: You need to sacrifice at least 50%
Not true! You get to choose the amount or percentage you salary sacrifice. Start with an amount that you can afford.
Myth 2: It’s complicated to set up and difficult to cancel
Nope. It’s as simple as filling out a form and handing it to your HR team. After that, payroll takes care of the rest. If you need to change or cancel the agreement, just fill out the same form and your HR team can process it for you.
Myth 3: My employer is contributing so I don’t have to
If your balance is made up of your employer contributions alone, it may not be enough to reach your goals. Salary sacrificing is about planning ahead to fund the retirement you dream of. To see how much super you’ll have at retirement and how making extra payments could boost your balance, try our Super projection calculator.
Things to consider before salary sacrificing
Consider you financial goals. How will you survive on less money in your take home pay? Remember you generally can’t access it until retirement or you meet certain conditions. It’s a good idea to talk with a financial adviser or your accountant before putting salary sacrifice in place.
Ready to tick it off your list?
Salary sacrificing can be a super-effective way to boost your super balance. It’s also quick and easy to set up. Here’s the three-step process:
Step 1: Fill in the Salary Sacrifice form
You’ll need to include employer details and employee number(s) on the form, which you can find on your payslips.
When deciding how much to salary sacrifice, you can set a dollar amount or a percentage of your salary each pay. Whatever works best for you.
Keep in mind that any arrangement you set in place will continue until you cancel it (or leave your employment, including changing departments in the SA public sector).
Step 2: Give the completed form to your employer or HR delegate
If you’re not sure who to give the form, just ask your immediate manager. They’ll know where it needs to go.
Step 3: Your employer or HR delegate will complete the employer declaration
After you’ve handed over the form, they’ll fill in Section 5 and send it to payroll. Shared Services or Payroll will process it and adjust your salary as per your instructions.
Want to learn more?
Head to our Salary sacrifice page for more details or get in touch with us. We’d be happy to help.
1A lifetime untaxed plan cap currently $1.865m for the 2025/26 financial year applies. This cap includes salary sacrifice, employer contributions and investment earnings. Refer to the Triple S Product Disclosure Statement for further information. If you also receive concessional contributions in a taxed fund, any concessional contributions made to Triple S will be counted towards your annual concessional contributions cap.
