First Home Super Saver scheme – how does it work?

By Katrina Haskew | 10/04/2022

From 1 July 2022, if you’re a first home buyer you can release up to $50,000 (up from $30,000) from your voluntary super contributions to help you buy your first home. Under the scheme, voluntary concessional and non concessional contributions made on or after 1 July 2017 may be released from super to help you purchase your first home. 

Currently, you can release up to $15,000 of voluntary contributions from any one financial year, up to a total of $30,000 in contributions across all financial years, plus earnings on those voluntary contributions. Under the new rules, from 1 July 2022, you will be able to release up to $15,000 of voluntary contributions from any one financial year, up to a total of $50,000 contributions across all financial years, plus earnings.

To be eligible to participate in the FHSS scheme an individual must:

  • be 18 or over
  • have never owned property in Australia
  • not previously requested a release of super money under the FHSS scheme.

The FHSS scheme can only be used to buy a residential home in Australia however it cannot be used to buy a mobile home. If vacant land is purchased, a contract to build a home on it must be signed within 12 months although a 12-month automatic extension will be granted. You must also intend to live in the home, the scheme can’t be used to buy a residential investment property.

There are certain details around the withdrawal amount, associated earnings, tax on withdrawal and the release of the funds. To discuss your options, speak to us today.

Posted in Financial Planning, Investing In Property