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Retirement income and tax

How your super or non-super income stream is taxed

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How much tax you pay on retirement income depends on your age and the type of income stream.

For most people, an income stream from superannuation will be tax-free from age 60.

If someone has died and you need information on tax paid on their super death benefit, see tax and super.

How super income streams are taxed 

Types of super income streams

Income from super can be an:

What is taxable and what is tax-free

The following rules apply to taxed super funds which include most funds. Different rules apply to untaxed super funds which include constitutionally protected funds and some public sector super schemes. Visit the ATO website for more information.

Part of your super money is taxable, made up of:

Part is tax-free, made up of:

If you're age 60 or over

Your entire benefit is tax-free.

If you're age 55 to 59

Your income payment has two parts:

If you're age 55 or younger

You can usually only access your super as an income stream if you experience permanent incapacity. If this happens, you'll be taxed the same as people aged 55 to 59.

If accessing super for a different reason, such as severe financial hardship, your income payment may have two parts:

Find out more about how super withdrawals are taxed.

Use our income tax calculator

Work out your marginal tax rate.

Tax on other types of super funds

Defined benefit super fund

If you're with a defined benefit super fund, you'll get a statement from your fund before becoming eligible for your benefit (super money). This will tell you how much of your benefit is taxable and how much is tax-free.

Untaxed super fund

Some super funds, such as constitutionally protected funds and some public sector super schemes, don't pay regular contributions tax on concessional contributions. These are known as 'untaxed funds'. If you're a member of an untaxed fund, you pay tax when you access your money. Check with your fund to find out more.

Self-managed super fund (SMSF)

If you're part of a self-managed super fund (SMSF), how you access your money depends on the 'trust deed' (rules).

Tax on transition to retirement income streams

With a transition to retirement (TTR) income stream, you can access your super while working. To get one of these pensions, you must be aged 60 or over.

You can take out up to 10% of the balance each financial year. You can't withdraw it as a lump sum.

You pay the same amount of tax as on other super income streams, according to your age.

Investment returns on TTR pensions are taxed at up to 15%, the same as a super accumulation fund.

Use our super and pension age calculator

Find out your preservation age.

Tax on non-super income streams

For income stream products (for example, an annuity) bought with money outside super, you get a fixed regular income (or a variable regular income for investment-linked income streams). Depending on the product, income is paid for a set period of time or for the rest of your life.

Part of your income from these products is taxable at your marginal tax rate. The other part is tax-free, which is linked to the money you paid to buy the income stream (capital) coming back to you with each income payment.

Get help if you need it

Find out more about tax on super on the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website.

Services Australia's Financial Information Service offers free seminars on topics such as retirement income and pension options.

For help with tax matters, see a tax professional or financial adviser.