Transition to Retirement Pension

Superannuation can be used to start an account based pension once a person retires (or meets another condition of release). This allows income to be received as a series of regular payments (usually monthly, quarterly, half yearly, or yearly).

If over preservation age but still working, the person may not have full access to superannuation but may be able to start an account based pension under the Transition to Retirement (TTR) rules. A TTR pension may also be referred to as a Transition to Retirement Income Stream, or TRIS.

Once a person reaches 65, or informs their super fund that they have met a condition of release before turning 65, their TTR pension becomes a ‘TTR pension in retirement’. This means their pension is subject to the same conditions that apply to an account based pension.

Income Payments

The person can select how much income to receive each financial year. This allows flexibility to meet individual needs. The only rules for how much pension must be taken are:

• An income payment must be made at least once each financial year.

• A minimum level of income must be paid each year based on a percentage of the account balance at commencement and each 1 July. If the income stream commences part-way through a financial year, or is commuted before the end of a financial year, the minimum income payment is pro-rated for that year.

For a TTR pension, the maximum income is 10% of the account balance and no lump sum withdrawals can be made.

The pension will cease when the account balance reduces to nil or the person requests the money be rolled back to accumulation phase or another pension account. The pension can be commuted (stopped) at any time with the money rolled back to accumulation. Withdrawals cannot be made in cash unless a condition of release has been met.

Taxation of Income from a TTR Pension

Every withdrawal (income or lump sum or death benefit) from a pension is split into taxable and tax-free components in the same ratio that applied when the pension commenced. The tax on each component depends on the person’s age as shown in the table below.

* Plus, Medicare Levy

Earnings added to a pension account are taxed at the same rate as applies to the accumulation phase of superannuation.

Why not speak to Humble Goode Financial if you need help with your transition to retirement pension journey to make sure you are in the right order. Book a meeting or give us a call on (08) 7477 8252 to see how we can assist you.

General Advice Warning:

The information on this website is intended to be general in nature and is not personal financial product advice. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any information, you should consider the appropriateness of the information provided and the nature of the relevant financial product having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. In particular, you should seek independent financial advice and read the relevant product disclosure statement (PDS) or other offer document prior to making an investment decision in relation to a financial product.