To join REI Super you will need to complete a Spouse Application Form.

The spouse account can be used for spouse contributions and other funds rolled into the account for ease of management.

Insurance

Spouse members are able to take out death cover as detailed on the Insurance Benefits Scale. The cost of insurance is deducted from the superannuation account balance.

Spouse contributions

To be eligible to contribute for your spouse you:

• can be any age
• must be an Australian resident
• must derive at least $1 of assessable income from any source (e.g. investment or employment)

The spouse of the REI Super member

• must be under age 65 when the contribution is made to REI Super
• must be an Australian resident
• is not required to have ever been gainfully employed

However if the spouse wishes to contribute personally to the Fund they must be in paid work or have been in paid work at some time during the previous two years.

Spouse of a person includes:

• another person (whether of the same sex or a different sex) with whom the person is in a relationship that is registered under a law of a State or Territory prescribed for the purposes of section 22B of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 as a kind of relationship prescribed for the purposes of that section; and
• another person who, although not legally married to the person, lives with the person on a genuine domestic basis in a relationship as a couple.

Contributions cannot be made on behalf of a spouse:

• who is age 65 or over
• who ceases to be a spouse (as defined above)
• if the REI Super member contributing ceases to be a member of the Fund
• as salary sacrifice contributions i.e. pre tax

Spouse contributions are

• non-concessional contributions (but will be preserved)
• tax free when withdrawn - but earnings or growth might be taxed
• not subject to 15% contribution tax

Spouse rebate

There is an annual tax rebate of up to $540 available on contributions made on behalf of a spouse. Details are as follows:

• If the spouse's assessable income plus the value of any fringe benefits reported on the spouse's group certificate is less than $10,800 p.a., the REI Super member can claim a tax rebate of 18% of after-tax super contributions up to $3,000 p.a. made on the spouse's behalf (with $540 being the maximum rebate payable)
• If the spouse's assessable income is more than $10,800 p.a. the amount of the spouse contributions eligible for the 18% rebate is reduced by one dollar for every dollar the spouse earns over $10,800 (cutting out the rebate if the spouse member's income is $13,800 or more)

Super splitting

The Government allows individuals to split their superannuation contributions with their spouse under certain circumstances. Contributions made on or after 1 January, 2006, are eligible to be split where funds choose to offer this service to its members. (REI Super members are able to split contributions). You can direct your 9% superannuation guarantee (SG) contributions into your spouse's account as well as any salary sacrificed contributions. The maximum amount able to be split is 85% of taxed splittable contributions.

More detailed information on superannuation contribution splitting is available at www.ato.gov.au/super.