Transfer your Australian Superannuation
Are you considering transferring your superannuation savings to New Zealand? This guide can help you make an informed decision about whether or not to transfer these retirement savings to New Zealand.
You’ve worked hard for your retirement, and you deserve to enjoy the savings you have built up over the course of your working life. Ideally those funds will be in one place, that is easy to access, and that gives you full visibility and control.
The good news is that if you have permanently moved or are moving from Australia to New Zealand, you can transfer your savings from your Australian super fund to the Kiwi equivalent: a KiwiSaver account.
Why transfer Australian Superannuation to KiwiSaver?
There are a number of benefits to transferring your Australian Superannuation to an AMP KiwiSaver Scheme account:
- Easy access: If you are moving or have moved from Australia to New Zealand, your retirement funds will be easier to access if they move with you.
- Full visibility: Gain a clearer picture of the savings you have and how to budget in order to enjoy your retirement.
- Greater control: When you reach retirement age, managing your savings is easier when all your funds are in one place.
- Less admin: Save yourself the extra paperwork that comes with managing two accounts by consolidating into one.
- Tax free: Neither New Zealand* or Australia will tax you on any lump sum transfer from a participating Australian superannuation fund to a KiwiSaver scheme account.
CONSOLIDATE YOUR SAVINGS TODAY
*Where a transfer occurs for a transitional resident and within 48 months following them becoming a NZ tax resident, they may qualify for an exemption from tax. We recommend you seek independent professional tax and financial advice to discuss your tax situation.
How to transfer Australian Superannuation to KiwiSaver
The Australian and New Zealand governments have an agreement in place that allows KiwiSaver savings and compulsory Australian superannuation savings to be transferred across the Tasman.
You may be able to take advantage of this agreement if you have been living and working in Australia and decide to return to New Zealand permanently, or if you are an Australian who has permanently emigrated to New Zealand; and your savings are held by a participating Australian superannuation fund/s or the Australian Tax Office (ATO) as ATO-held unclaimed superannuation money (USM).
You can consolidate your retirement savings by following these steps:
1. Contact AMP
Book an appointment with one of our Client Advisers for expert advice on how best to consolidate your Australian super into your KiwiSaver. We’ll also provide you with the compliance letter that is required by your Australian provider/s.
2. Identify your Australian provider/s
If you aren’t sure which Australian superannuation fund/s you are with, the Australian Tax Office (ATO) can help. You can either call ATO at +61262161111 or if you have a myGov account which is also linked to ATO, you can login and check your super details there.
3. Complete a transfer application
Once you’ve identified your Australian provider/s, contact them to provide you all the relevant super transfer forms to complete (including statutory declaration) and the documentation you may require. If your savings are with the ATO as USM the ATO website has good information. At AMP we’re always on hand to review their requests or send through any details or documents you need.
4. We'll do the rest
Documentation supplied, you can leave the rest to us! Once the transfer has been approved, we will let you know as soon as your Australian super savings have been applied to your AMP KiwiSaver Scheme account. In total the process usually takes around two months.
Why choose an AMP KiwiSaver Scheme account?
There are a few good reasons why so many New Zealanders choose AMP as their KiwiSaver scheme provider. With the AMP KiwiSaver Scheme, you are investing in:
Good fees, healthy returns
Our competitive fees are paired with an index investing approach designed to deliver value, performance and investment returns over the long-term.
Sustainable investments
Our investment philosophy puts sustainable investing at its core, and considers the impact our investments have on the world around us.
Help when you need it
From consolidating your retirement savings to helping you select the right fund, our team of KiwiSaver experts is always on hand.
Other considerations before transferring your Super to KiwiSaver
Apart from specific investment considerations, there are some other key points you should consider when determining whether or not to transfer your Australian Super to a KiwiSaver scheme.
Once savings are transferred, generally the rules of the host country will apply. However, there are a few conditions that these savings must comply with such as:
- Super savings transferred from Australia may be able be to be accessed before KiwiSaver savings, because the typical age at which Super savings may be accessed is 60, if the individual satisfies the definition of retirement under the relevant Australian superannuation legislation.
- These savings cannot be used for the purchase of a first home, unlike some other contributions made to your KiwiSaver account.
- These savings cannot be transferred to a third country.
It is important to note that these Trans-Tasman retirement savings portability rules apply only to original lump sum transfers and not to any subsequent investment earnings on those transfer amounts.
What next?
If you have moved or are currently moving from Australia to New Zealand, and think that consolidating your retirement savings is the right choice for you with the help of AMP, the process of transferring your money can be surprisingly simple.
It’s important to carefully consider whether to transfer your Australian superannuation savings to a KiwiSaver scheme. We recommend booking a call with one of our authorised advisers to weigh up the advantages and any disadvantages of doing so.
Superannuation transfer FAQs
Investments in ‘complying superannuation funds’ regulated by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) are eligible to be transferred to a KiwiSaver provider under the Trans-Tasman retirement savings portability rules.
Generally, the following kinds of Australian complying superannuation schemes can be transferred to a New Zealand KiwiSaver scheme, with no limits on the amount transferred:
- MySuper
- Retail funds
- Industry funds
- Corporate funds
- Eligible rollover funds
Amounts from self-managed super funds, unfunded public sector superannuation schemes and defined benefit funds may not be able to be transferred.
You can search for your super account using the SuperSeeker tool on the Australian Taxation Office website, and you can find out whether your superannuation fund complies with Trans-Tasman retirement savings portability rules on superfundlookup.gov.au
If you believe you have superannuation in Australia, you can search for your retirement savings by going to the Australian Tax Office (ATO) website and using the online tool ‘SuperSeeker’. For help making a transfer, book an appointment with an adviser.
Neither New Zealand* or Australia will tax you on any transfers of lump sums from your Australian Super fund to a KiwiSaver scheme.
There are however differences between Australian and New Zealand tax rules that apply to retirement savings once the funds are in either country, such as the PIR charged by NZ Inland Revenue. You may want to consider these taxes before making the decision to transfer your superannuation savings across the Tasman, as well as the exchange rate from Australian to New Zealand dollars that may apply.
We recommend you seek independent professional tax and financial advice if you're unsure about your tax situation.
*On the basis the transfer occurs within the taxpayer’s transitional residency period of 48 months following them becoming a NZ tax resident, transitional tax residents can qualify for exemption from tax. We recommend you seek independent professional tax and financial advice to discuss your tax situation.
Regrettably, any retirement savings that you transfer from Australia to your KiwiSaver account will not be qualified to receive New Zealand KiwiSaver Government Contributions.
Whilst KiwiSaver allows for withdrawal of funds for the purchase of a first home, the amount of any Australian superannuation funds transferred to your KiwiSaver account unfortunately can't be used for this purpose. You can, however, utilise your personal KiwiSaver contributions, your employer's contributions, and any investment returns for purchase of a first home.
AMP KiwiSaver Scheme members who permanently emigrate to Australia may have the option to transfer their KiwiSaver savings to a compliant Australian superannuation fund. For assistance with making a transfer, please contact your Adviser or call us at 0800 267 549.
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Transferring US 401K savings to New Zealand
If you're permanently emigrating from the US and have a 401K retirement savings account, you might be wondering if you can transfer those funds into a KiwiSaver account. While a direct mechanism for this transfer may not exist, there could be potential pathways to help you consolidate your retirement savings after considering any tax implications or potential penalties. Our expert advisers can provide the most accurate, up-to-date information and guidance for your unique situation.
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Transferring retirement funds from a different country
Emigrating from a country other than Australia, the USA, or the UK? No worries, it's still possible to consolidate your international retirement savings in New Zealand. Whether you've moved from Europe, Asia, Africa, or any other part of the globe, we're here to assist you with the intricacies of retirement fund transfers. Connect with one of our expert advisers today for personalised guidance on managing your international retirement savings transition and to explore your options.