✅ Updated January 2026 — fees and returns verified

As a self-employed tradie, nobody is paying your super for you. Choosing the wrong fund — or not contributing at all — can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars by retirement. Here's how the major industry funds stack up.

📋 In This Article

  1. →Fund comparison table
  2. →How to make contributions
  3. →Tax deduction strategy
  4. →Our recommendation

Super Fund Comparison 2026

FundAdmin FeeInvestment Fee10yr Return (Balanced)InsuranceAppScore
AustralianSuper ⭐ Top PickAustralia's largest fund
 $1/week + 0.10% 0.56% p.a. 8.87% p.a. ✓ Included ✓ Good
9.0
HostplusLowest fees
 $1.50/week 0.02% p.a. 9.12% p.a. ✓ Included ◑ Basic
8.7
Aware SuperStrong insurance
 $1.30/week + 0.15% 0.60% p.a. 8.54% p.a. ✓ Strong ✓ Good
8.2
REST SuperGood for retail workers
 $1.50/week + 0.10% 0.55% p.a. 8.21% p.a. ✓ Included ◑ Basic
7.6
💡 Note: Past returns do not guarantee future performance. Fees shown are for the default balanced investment option. Source: fund product disclosure statements, January 2026. Always read the PDS before joining a fund.

How Self-Employed Tradies Make Super Contributions

  1. Join a fund — AustralianSuper and Hostplus both accept self-employed members
  2. Make contributions — transfer money directly from your bank to your super fund
  3. Lodge a Notice of Intent to Claim — submit this form to your fund before you lodge your tax return
  4. Claim on your tax return — your accountant does this in the deductions section

The Tax Deduction Strategy

This is the part most self-employed tradies miss. Concessional (before-tax) super contributions are taxed at only 15% inside the fund. If you're earning $90,000, your marginal rate is 32.5%. Every $10,000 you put in super saves you $1,750 in tax.

The annual concessional cap is $30,000 for 2025–26. If you had a balance under $500,000 and didn't use your full cap in prior years, you can carry forward unused amounts and make a larger one-off contribution in a good income year.

Our Recommendation

For most self-employed tradies: AustralianSuper. It has the best combination of low fees, strong long-term returns, and genuinely good member support. The mobile app is functional and contributions are straightforward.

If lowest fees are your priority: Hostplus. Marginally better 10-year returns, extremely low investment fees. The app and member experience is more basic but the fundamentals are strong.

## How Much Should You Contribute to Super Each Year? The ATO's concessional contribution cap for 2025–26 is **$30,000 per financial year**. This is the maximum you can contribute and claim a tax deduction on. However, most self-employed tradies contribute between $5,000–$15,000 annually, depending on cash flow and tax position. **Why contribute more than the compulsory 11.5%?** - Tax deduction reduces your taxable income at your marginal rate (often 37–45% for tradies) - A $10,000 contribution can save you $3,700–$4,500 in tax - Extra contributions compound over 20–30 years to retirement **Contribution strategy for tradies:** If you've had a strong year (turnover >$150k), aim to contribute $15,000–$20,000. In quieter years, contribute what you can afford—even $2,000–$5,000 adds up. Use accounting software like Xero or Dext to forecast your profit before end of financial year, then contribute before 30 June. ## Combining Super Strategy With Tax Planning Self-employed tradies often overlook super as part of their broader tax strategy. The smartest approach combines super contributions with legitimate deductions and business structure choices. **Track these deductibles alongside super:** - Vehicle running costs (88c/km in 2025–26) or actual expenses - Tools and equipment under $20,000 (instant write-off until 30 June 2026) - Home office running costs (pro-rata electricity, internet, rent) - Professional development and training - Insurance premiums (liability, income protection, business) Once you've claimed all available deductions and know your taxable profit, that's when you contribute to super. Your accountant should run the numbers—contributing too much beyond the $30k cap triggers a 47% tax penalty on excess amounts. **Pro tip:** Bundle your super contribution with your tax return lodgement. Some accountants will lodge your Notice of Intent to Claim at the same time as your return, ensuring the ATO processes both together.

⚠️ TIP: Don't forget income protection insurance. As a self-employed tradie, you have no employer covering sick leave or injury. BizCover offers affordable policies tailored to tradies—premiums are also tax-deductible.

## Frequently Asked Questions

Can I contribute to super if I'm under 18 or over 75?

Self-employed tradies under 18 cannot make personal contributions to super, but once you're 18, you can contribute unlimited amounts (subject to the $30,000 concessional cap). If you're over 75, you cannot make concessional contributions, but you can still make non-concessional contributions up to the annual limit.

What happens if I don't lodge a Notice of Intent to Claim?

Without a valid Notice of Intent to Claim, the ATO won't allow your super contribution as a tax deduction. You can still contribute to super, but you ## Tax Deductions That Boost Your Super Contribution Capacity Here's a reality many self-employed tradies miss: maximising your tax deductions doesn't just reduce what you owe the ATO — it directly increases your ability to contribute more to super. When you're running your own business, every dollar in tax savings is a dollar you can reinvest into your super. If you're paying 37% tax (plus Medicare levy), claiming a $5,000 deduction puts roughly $2,050 back in your pocket. That's real money you can salary sacrifice or contribute directly. **The tradies who build serious retirement savings do this deliberately:** they track deductions meticulously throughout the year, then use their tax refund (or end-of-year profit surplus) as their super contribution trigger. Common deductions self-employed tradies overlook: - **Vehicle expenses**: 88c per kilometre for work-related travel (logbook required for first 12 months, then deemed to decline at 5% annually) - **Tools and equipment**: Items under $30,000 can be immediately expensed until 30 June 2026 (check ATO rules for items over this threshold) - **Home office**: Actual occupancy method ($11/hour worked at home) or shortcut method (67c per hour) - **Professional development**: Courses, licences, certifications directly related to your trade - **Vehicle interest and loan repayments**: Only the work-related percentage - **Insurance**: Public liability, professional indemnity, income protection - **Phone and internet**: Work-related percentage only - **Subscriptions**: Industry memberships, software (e.g., Xero for accounting, Tradify for job management) - **Insurance premiums for income protection**: These reduce taxable income before super is calculated **Pro tip for maximum efficiency**: Use accounting software to categorise expenses in real-time. Most self-employed tradies discover $3,000–$8,000 in missed deductions when they audit their records mid-year. That's 3–8 grand you could've claimed.

📌 TIP: Claim insurance through BizCover and you'll get a tax-deductible receipt immediately. Don't let insurance be the deduction you forget — it's often $1,500–$3,000 annually for tradies.

--- ## Salary Sacrificing vs. Personal Contributions: Which Works Better for Tradies? This is where self-employed tradies get confused. You can't salary sacrifice if you don't have employees or a regular salary structure. But you *can* make personal contributions — and here's the strategic difference. **Salary Sacrifice (if you have employees or operate as a company director paying yourself a wage):** - Contributions come from pre-tax income - Reduces your taxable income dollar-for-dollar - Better for high-income earners (those paying 45% tax) - Limited to $27,500 per year (concessional cap) **Personal (Non-Concessional) Contributions:** - Made from after-tax money (no immediate tax benefit) - But you can contribute up to $110,000 per year - Better if you've had a bumper year and want to lock away surplus cash - Useful for catch-up contributions if you're behind on retirement savings **For most self-employed tradies, here's what works:** 1. **Claim maximum deductions** → reduces taxable income naturally 2. **Contribute 11.5% of profits as a personal contribution** → goes into super, reduces what you take as drawings 3. **If you have bumper years** → use non-concessional contributions to lock away extra cash before tax The ATO allows $30,000 in concessional contributions per financial year (including your employer's 11.5% SG if you operate as a company). Personal contributions don't count toward this cap but are capped at $110,000 annually. **Real example:** - Tradie earns $90,000 net profit after expenses - Claims $8,000 in missed deductions (reduces to $82,000 taxable) - Contributes $10,000 to super personally - Taxable income is now $72,000 - Tax saved at 37% + 2% Medicare levy: ~$3,800 - Net cost of super contribution: $6,200 (the other $3,800 came from tax savings) Compare this to someone who doesn't contribute: they pay $2,850 in extra tax and have no super. You're actually $4,050 ahead by contributing. --- ## Super Fund Contribution Strategy Comparison Not all contribution methods suit every tradie. Here's how to choose: | **Your Situation** | **Best Approach** | **Why It Works** | **Annual Cost to You** | |---|---|---|---| | Sole trader, variable income | Personal contributions + max deductions | Flexibility in contribution size, natural tax reduction | $3,000–$8,000 (tax savings offset cost) | | Consistent $80k+ annual income | Concessional contributions (11.5% minimum) | Structured, automatic, tax-effective | $9,200+ (part offset by tax deduction) | | Operating as company/PTY | Salary sacrifice + employee contributions | Maximum tax efficiency, professional structure | $6,000–$27,500 | | High-income years ($120k+) | Mix of concessional + non-concessional | Use both caps to lock away surplus | $13,800+ (tax-deductible portion) | | Behind on retirement savings | Catch-up non-concessional contributions | Can contribute $110,000 in a year to fast-track | Up to $110,000 (no deduction) | --- ## FAQs: Super Contributions for Self-Employed Tradies

Can I claim my super contributions as a tax deduction?

Only concessional contributions (up to $27,500 per year) are tax-deductible. These include salary sacrificed amounts or contributions made before-tax. Personal contributions made from after-tax income are not deductible — but they still go into your super tax-free. The real tax benefit comes from claiming business expenses first (vehicle, tools, insurance, etc.), which reduces your profit before you calculate your super contribution capacity.

What happens if I contribute more than the $27,500 concessional cap?

Excess concessional contributions are taxed at 47% plus interest. It's expensive and best avoided. However, you can contribute up to $110,000 in non-concessional contributions (after-tax money) without penalty. If you have a bumper year, use the non-concessional cap, not the concessional one. Check your fund's website for your current concessional contribution balance — many funds provide an online portal showing how much of your $27,500 you've used.

Is it better to contribute to super or pay down my business debt?

If your business debt has interest above 6%, paying it down usually makes more sense (guaranteed return). But super contributions have a tax benefit: at 37% + 2% tax, your contribution costs you only 61 cents per dollar contributed. That's a 39% return on your money before investment returns. Most tradies benefit from a mix: pay down high-interest debt, then maximise super contributions from remaining cash flow.

--- **Bottom line:** Self-employed tradies who build substantial retirement savings do three things consistently: (1) they claim every deduction available, (2) they contribute regularly — even if small — and (3) they use tax refunds and bumper years to make catch-up contributions. Your super won't grow itself. The time to start is now.
Category: 📈 Growth