2020/2021 High Income Threshold and Superannuation Contribution Base

From 1 July 2020, the high income threshold and maximum superannuation contribution base will increase.

High Income Threshold

On 1 July 2020, the high income threshold will increase from $148,700 to $153,600.

The high income threshold is important for a number of reasons, including the following:

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.
   • The maximum amount of compensation payable for a successful unfair dismissal claim is capped at the lower of:
   • the amount of remuneration received by the employee (or the amount the employee was entitled to receive, whichever is higher) in the 26 weeks before the dismissal; or
2. half the amount of the high income threshold immediately before the dismissal (i.e. $76,800 if the dismissal occurs after 1 July 2020).

In determining whether an employee earns more than the high income threshold, what is included is the employee’s wage, 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, reimbursements and compulsory superannuation contributions.

Superannuation Contribution Base

From 1 July 2020, the maximum superannuation contribution base will increase to $57,090 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 contribution base.

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

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.