Redundancy, Taxation and Your Entitlements

Want to understand the taxation that you might need to pay in making a claim? This page provides information on the taxation of claims.

Member Example - Employee Termination Payment (ETP) Claim

Name: Mark
Age: 25
Occupation: Plumber

Illustration of a Plumber working on a basin

Mark has just resigned from his commercial construction job to take start working in the residential sector. He has $25,000 in his PPTEF Account and his employer notifies the PPTEF that his employment has ended due to resignation. As this is not a genuine redundancy, Mark is now eligible to claim the funds from his account at the nominal tax rate of 32%.


Member Example - Genuine Redundancy Claim

Name: Peter
Age: 42
Occupation: Sprinkler Fitter

Illustration of a Sprinkler Fitter working on a sprinkler system

The job Peter was working on has come to completion and unfortunately his position is no longer required and has been made redundant. Peter'€™s employer notifies PPTEF that his employment has ended and they declare '€˜Genuine Redundancy'€™ as the reason. Peter is now able to claim the $45,000 from his PPTEF account at a 0% Tax Rate for Genuine redundancy (Based on his years of service in the industry).


Member Example - Claiming Genuine Redundancy over the tax free limit

Name: Ahmad
Age: 55
Occupation: Gas Fitter

Illustration of a Gas Fitter working on a gas meter

After 15 years working for his last contributing employer, Ahmad has been made redundant. His employer has notified PPTEF that his employment has ended as a genuine redundancy. Ahmad is now eligible to claim the $175,000 in his PPTEF Account.

As Ahmad was born after 1 July 1964, he has not yet reached the preservation/retirement age.

The tax free limit for Ahmad'€™s claim is calculated as: Base amount + (service amount × years of service). The base amount and service amount are indexed annually. For FY2022/23, these are:

Base Amount: $11,591

Service amount: $5,797
Ahmad'€™s years of service: 15 years

Tax Free Limit = $11,591 + ($5,797 x 15)
= $11,591 + $86,955
= $98,546

Ahmad will be eligible to claim the tax free limit of $98,546. The remaining $76,454 of his claim will be taxed at 32%.


Claim Reasons and Applicable Tax Rates

Claim ReasonTax Applicable on Claim
Genuine RedundancyNil up to the tax-free threshold *
Termination32%, or 17% if reached the preservation age ^
Resignation32%, or 17% if reached the preservation age ^
Promotion "off the tools"32%, or 17% if reached the preservation age ^
Leaving Australia32%, or 17% if reached the preservation age ^

* Tax free thresholds set by the ATO. PPTEF recommends members seek independent financial advice when making a genuine redundancy claim. Tax rate applied to amounts above the tax-free threshold is 32% or 17% if reached preservation age.

^ The preservation age is set by the ATO and is a sliding scale based on date of birth. Please refer to the ATO website for information regarding the preservation age.

Page Last Updated: 19/01/2023

This page has been prepared in good faith and
we accept no liability for any errors or omissions.