Contributions are made to a Superannuation Fund to increase the capital (value) of the Superannuation Fund.

Contributions can be made in a variety of ways, including:

Directly

1.    Transferring Funds (cash) into the SMSF;

2.    Transferring an asset, i.e., property and shares into the SMSF.  Also known as an in specie contribution;

3.    Increasing the value of an existing asset held by the SMSF;

Indirectly

4.    Paying an amount to a third party for the benefit of the SMSF;

5.    Forgiving a debt owed by the SMSF;

6.    Shifting value to an asset owned by the SMSF.

Refer Taxation Ruling 2010/1 (TR 2010/1)  

Regulation 1.03 of Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Regulation 1994 (SISR 1994) defines a contribution as follows:

1.    Payments of shortfall components to the fund; and

2.    Payments to the fund from the Superannuation Holding Accounts Special Account.

But does not include benefits that have been rolled over or transferred to the fund.