2018 High Income Threshold and Superannuation Contributions Base

From 1 July 2018, the high income threshold and maximum superannuation contributions base will increase.

High Income Threshold

On 1 July 2018, the high income threshold will increase from $142,000 to $145,400.

The high income threshold is important for the following reasons:

  1. Employees who are not covered by a modern award or subject to an enterprise agreement and who receive annual earnings above the high income threshold are unable to make an unfair dismissal claim.
  2. The maximum amount of compensation payable for a successful unfair dismissal claim is capped at the lower of:
    • half the amount of remuneration received by the dismissed employee in the 26 weeks immediately before the dismissal; or
    • half the amount of the high income threshold, which is $72,700 after 1 July 2018.

In determining whether an employee earns more than the high income threshold, what is included is the employee’s wage and other amounts applied or dealt with as salary sacrifice amounts and the value of non-monetary benefits received by the employee. What is not included are payments which are not set in advance such as commissions, bonuses and overtime and compulsory superannuation contributions.

Superannuation Contributions Base

From 1 July 2018, the maximum superannuation contributions base increases to $54,030 per quarter. An employer is required to contribute 9.5% of an employee’s ordinary time earnings to a superannuation fund nominated by the employee but only up to the maximum superannuation contributions base.

If you require more information about employment law matters, contact Addisons’ employment law team.


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© ADDISONS. No part of this document may in any form or by any means be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted without prior written consent. This document is for general information only and cannot be relied upon as legal advice.

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.
© ADDISONS. No part of this document may in any form or by any means be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted without prior written consent. This document is for general information only and cannot be relied upon as legal advice.