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 FocusOn
- Transition to Retirement Income Streams (TRIS)
A TRIS is available to anyone who has reached their preservation age.
Currently a member aged 55 or over can access their superannuation benefits
while still working via a TRIS. If you were born before 1 July 1960 your
preservation age is 55 and rises to 60 for those born after 1 July 1964. A TRIS
may enable you to take full advantage of the $50,000 transitional contribution
cap available up to 30 June 2012.
What is a TRIS?
A TRIS is a non-commutable income stream that provides access to a member’s
superannuation money prior to retirement.
A commutation is the process of converting a pension to a lump sum. A
non-commutable income stream is one which when it ceases is not able to be paid
as a lump sum. It must instead revert back to accumulation phase. The current
pension rules require a minimum pension payment of 4% of the account balance and
a maximum of 10% annually.
What are the benefits of having a TRIS?
A TRIS can be used to supplement your income if you wish to reduce your
working hours. Alternatively, you may wish to continue working full time and
salary sacrifice more heavily into superannuation while supplementing your
income with pension payments from a TRIS.
An advantage to commencing a TRIS is that the income and capital gains earned
by the fund’s assets that support the pension account are exempt from tax.
Can I choose to stop a TRIS?
A member can stop a TRIS at any time and revert back to accumulation phase.
Can I continue to make contributions to the same fund?
New contributions into the same fund can still be made. They continue to
attract 15% contributions tax and are held in a separate taxable accumulation
account for the member. The income and capital gains earned by the fund’s assets
that support the accumulation account are not exempt from tax.
Where both a pension account and an accumulation account are present in a
fund an annual Actuarial Certificate is required to establish the proportion of
the fund’s income that is exempt.
Do all superannuation funds offer a TRIS?
It is not compulsory for a fund to offer a non-commutable income stream. You
will need to check with your current fund to determine if they offer a TRIS. A
Self Managed Superannuation Fund (SMSF) can offer a TRIS if permitted to do so
by its Trust Deed.
What tax will I pay on the pension withdrawals?
If you have reached your preservation age and are less than 60 years old, the
taxable component of your pension withdrawal will be included in your individual
tax return and will be taxed at your marginal tax rate. If the income is paid
from a taxed source you will be eligible for a tax offset equal to 15% of the
taxable component.
Any pension you receive after age 60 from a taxed source will be tax free in
your hands.
Examples of the effect a TRIS has on tax payable and net superannuation
balances for year ended 30 June 2011
Annual Full Time Salary $110,000, superannuation fund balance $500,000 and
100% taxable.
Aim: To maintain same disposable income.
| Example 1 |
Member under 60, reduces work hours to four
days per week and supplements income with a TRIS. TRIS commenced with
$440,000 of member balance. |
| Example 2 |
Member is over 60, reduces work hours to four
days per week and supplements income with TRIS. TRIS commenced with $335,000
of member balance. |
| Example 3 |
Member under 60, Salary Sacrifices and
supplements income with a TRIS. |
| Example 4 |
Member over 60, Salary Sacrifices and
supplements income with TRIS. |
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Full
salary |
Example 1
TRIS under 60 |
Example 2
TRIS over 60 |
Example 3
TRIS &salary sacrifice
under 60 |
Example 4
TRIS &salary sacrifice
Over 60 |
| Income comparison |
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| Salary |
110,000 |
88,000 |
88,000 |
110,000 |
110,000 |
| Less Salary Sacrifice |
0 |
0 |
0 |
40,100 |
40,100 |
| Plus Pension |
0 |
17,686 |
13,530 |
32,238 |
25,369 |
| Less Income
Tax/Medicare/Rebate |
30,300 |
25,986 |
21,830 |
22,438 |
15,569 |
| Disposable Income |
79,700 |
79,700 |
79,700 |
79,700 |
79,700 |
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| Tax comparison |
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| Income Tax/ Medicare/Rebate |
30,300 |
25,986 |
21,830 |
22,438 |
15,569 |
| Plus Contributions Tax |
1,485 |
1,188 |
1,188 |
7,500 |
7,500
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| Plus Earnings Tax in Super |
3,050 |
400 |
1,030 |
255 |
255 |
| Total Tax |
35,835 |
27,574 |
24,048 |
30,193 |
23,324 |
| Tax Saving |
|
7,261 |
10,787 |
4,642 |
11,511 |
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| Super balance comparison |
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| Contributions |
9,900 |
7,920 |
7,920 |
50,000 |
50,000 |
| Less Contributions Tax |
1,485 |
1,188 |
1,188 |
7,500 |
7,500 |
| Less Pension Withdrawals |
0 |
17,686 |
13,530 |
32,238 |
25,685 |
| Add Earnings – 4% |
20,337 |
19,564 |
19,728 |
20,410 |
20,685 |
| Less Tax on Super
Earnings |
3,050 |
400 |
1,030 |
255 |
255 |
| Annual Movement in Super |
25,702 |
8,208 |
11,900 |
30,417 |
37,561 |
Published : June 2010
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