How to start salary sacrificing

Salary sacrifice contributions are a simple way to grow your super. You can contribute to your GESB Super or West State Super account through your payroll if you’re currently working in the WA public sector.

If you’re a Gold State Super member and you would like to make salary sacrifice contributions over your maximum Average Contribution Rate, they need to be made to your GESB Super or West State Super account. If you don’t already have one of these accounts, we can automatically open a GESB Super account for your extra contributions.

To start making salary sacrifice contributions, you can either:

1. Learn about salary sacrificing

We recommend you read the information below to check that making salary sacrifice contributions is the right option for you:

2. Work out how much you would like to salary sacrifice

Before you complete the payroll deduction form, you need to know how much you’d like to contribute to your super through salary sacrifice. You can choose any amount that suits you.

If you’re not sure how much you’d like to contribute, try our Contributions calculator.

3. Access the form

First, click the link to access our online Payroll deduction form or download our PDF Payroll deduction form. You will need to print out the PDF form as you cannot type directly into it.

You can use either Payroll deduction form to make sacrifice contributions or after-tax contributions.

Simply follow the instructions in our online form to complete and submit your request online, or keep reading for help with completing the PDF form.

Please note, you can also cancel your existing contribution using either Payroll deduction form.

4. Provide your personal details

This image shows the ‘Step 1 - Your details’ section of the Payroll deduction form. In this section, you need to provide your personal details, including your last name, given names, date of birth, and your payroll number if you know it.

These details include your name, date of birth, and your payroll number if you know it. This will make it easier for your payroll department to process your request.

5. Enter the amount you would like to contribute

This image shows the ‘Step 2 – Contribution amount from your pay’ section of the Payroll deduction form. In this section, write the amount you would like to contribute from each pay. You need to enter the dollar amount or percentage of your pay that you would like to contribute in the top boxes for salary sacrifice contributions, or in the bottom boxes for after-tax contributions.

Here is where you need to write the amount you would like to contribute from each pay. You need to enter any dollar amount or the percentage of your pay that you would like to contribute in the top boxes for salary sacrifice contributions.

Please note, if you have an existing contribution, the amount you enter will replace your existing contribution.

Again, if you’re not sure how much you’d like to contribute, try our Retirement planning calculator.

6. Select your super account

This image shows the ‘Step 3 – Nominate your account’ section of the Payroll deduction form. In this section, you need to select the account where you would like your contribution deposited into, either GESB Super or West State Super.

In this step, you need to select GESB Super or West State Super depending on which account you have. If you’re not sure which account you have, check your last member statement, visit the Which super account do you have page or login to Member Online.

If you’re a Gold State Super member and don’t have one of those accounts yet, we’ll open a GESB Super account for you.

7. Confirm that you’re eligible to make salary sacrifice contributions

This image shows the ‘Step 4 – Eligibility to contribute’ section of the Payroll deduction form. In this section, you need to confirm that you are eligible to contribute, Under super laws, you must be under age 75 to be eligible to make contributions.

You can only contribute extra to your super when you are under the age of 75.

8. Read and sign the declaration

This image shows part of the ‘Step 5 - Declaration and signature’ section of the Payroll deduction form. In this section, you need to declare that you: 1. Understand the conditions that apply to contributions to your super account 2. Are currently employed in the WA public sector and; 3. Have received financial advice on your proposed salary packaging arrangements if you have chosen to salary sacrifice more than 50% of your total employment cost to super. You need to then sign and date your completed form.

When you sign the form, you’ll need to acknowledge that you understand the conditions that apply to your super account. All of this information is included in the Contributing to your super brochure.

You can contribute more than 50% of your salary to super through salary sacrifice, but the government requires you to talk to a financial adviser if you do this. This is to make sure that your salary sacrifice contributions won’t have a negative impact on your situation.

9. Give the form to your employer’s payroll department

Now that you’ve completed and signed your payroll deduction form, you need to lodge the form with your payroll department.

We cannot process salary sacrifice contributions as they are taken out of your pay. So you will need to hand the form to your employer to start salary sacrificing.

For most WA State Government employers, this is all you need to do. If you’re using a salary packaging provider for another salary packaging arrangement, check with your employer first. Some employers will ask you to go through that provider to make salary sacrifice contributions to your super.

Page last updated 10 October 2023

Thank you for printing this page. Remember to come back to gesb.wa.gov.au for the latest information as our content is updated regularly. This information is correct as at 19 April 2024.