
Super rules for employers
We can help you feel confident in your role and responsibilities when it comes to paying super.
Latest update: We’re merging with AustralianSuper
There are some key changes that employers will need to make before and after we merge with AustralianSuper on 3 June 2022.
The Superannuation Guarantee (SG)
The minimum SG contribution that you’re generally required to pay is 10% of an employee’s ordinary time earnings. When you make these payments on time you can claim them as a tax deduction.
This compulsory contribution is paid directly to each employee's nominated super fund, or default fund, on their behalf.
When do you have to pay?
You must make payments at least quarterly. If you make a payment on time (see the deadlines below) it can be claimed as a tax deduction.
If you miss the deadline, you’ll need to lodge an SG statement and pay the SG charge imposed by the ATO.
SG contribution deadlines
Quarter | SG contributions Due date |
---|---|
1 July - 30 September | 28 October |
1 October - 31 December | 28 January |
1 January - 31 March | 28 April |
1 April - 30 June | 28 July |
Want to use QuickSuper?
SG payments can be made easily through QuickSuper, our free online clearing house. Learn more about the benefits here.
If you’re an existing employer, all you need to do is request access. If you’re a new employer, you’ll need to register first.
Do you need to pay super?
You must generally pay super on top of wages if:
- your employee is 18 years or older and earns more than $450 (before tax) in a calendar month
- your employee is under 18 and earns more than $450 (before tax) in a calendar month but also works more than 30 hours per week.
It doesn't matter if your employee is here on a work visa, works casually, part-time or full-time. If they meet the criteria above, you’re generally required to pay super.
If you’re not sure, call the ATO on 13 10 20 for more information.
How do I make an employer SG contribution?
- BPAY: 3 business days after the date of transaction
- EFT: 1 business day after the date of transaction.
How do I pay super when an employee chooses to make an additional contribution?
What does 'ordinary time earnings' (OTE) mean?
- shift and casual loadings
- directors' fees
- commissions
- performance bonuses
- paid annual, sick and long service leave
- over-award payments
- allowances.
- parental leave
- overtime which is generally not included, even if someone regularly works overtime as part of their job.
Employee tax file numbers (TFN)
When an employee gives you their TFN, by law you must pass it on to their super fund. This needs to happen:
- on the day that you make the first Superannuation Guarantee (SG) payment for that employee, or
- within 14 days of receiving their TFN.
If you don’t pass an employee’s TFN to their super fund, that employee will need to pay much higher tax on their contributions, and you’ll incur a financial penalty from the ATO. Penalties also apply if you engage a third party who fails to pass on a member's TFN.
Reporting contributions to employees
However, even if you're not obliged to, you might find that reporting can deliver other advantages like building employee relations or minimising employee contribution queries.
Choice of fund (Stapling)
Under stapling requirements, when a new employee starts a job, you must provide them with a Standard Choice Form and pay eligible super contributions into their chosen super fund (if they nominate one).
If the employee does not nominate a fund using the form, you'll need to check with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to see if your employee has a stapled super fund.
You can pay into your default fund, or another fund that meets the choice of fund rules if:
- your employee doesn’t choose a super fund, and
- the ATO hase advised you that the employee does not have a stapled super fund.
- temporary residents
- covered by an enterprise agreement or workplace determination made before 1 January 2021.
Encouraging choice of super fund
- helping them to understand the super standard choice form
- reminding them of the benefits of choosing their own super fund and keeping track of their super
- Directing them to the YourSuper comparison tool
What is Single Touch Payroll?
Learn more
What is SuperStream?
Onboarding new starters
You need to offer your eligible new employees a choice of super fund and pay their super into the account they tell you. Most employees are eligible to choose what fund their super goes into. They can choose a super account they already have, or choose your default fund.
If your employee doesn’t choose a super fund, you will need to log into the Australian Taxation Office’s (ATO) online services to request their stapled super fund details.
If the ATO provides a stapled super fund result for your employee, you must pay your employee’s super guarantee contributions to the stapled super fund.
Other factors to consider
There may be rules pertaining to individuals who can’t choose their own fund who are employed under:
- a state industrial award
- a preserved state agreement
- a federal industrial agreement such as an Australian workplace agreement (AWA)
- a pre-reform AWA, a pre-reform certified agreement or a collective agreement
- an old industrial relations agreement or an individual transitional employment agreement (ITEA)
- a workplace determination or enterprise agreement (these are defined terms in federal industrial relations law).
Employees who are in certain types of defined benefit funds or who have already reached a certain level in a defined benefit fund are also not eligible. Some federal and state public sector employees are similarly excluded.
You will need to seek legal advice when determining if any of the above restrictions impact your employee’s ability to exercise their choice of fund.
What do I do if an employee doesn't choose their own fund?
If the ATO has advised you that the employee does not have a stapled super fund, you must select a default fund for them that meets the choice of fund rules, submit all their Super Guarantee (SG) contributions into this fund, and notify the employee.
This default fund must be an authorised MySuper product.
What are my requirements from 1 November 2021?
To meet your obligations, you’ll need to:
- provide new employees with a Standard Choice Form within 28 days of their start date or within 28 days of the employee requesting a choice form.
- You can pay into your default fund, or another fund that meets the choice of fund rules if your employee doesn’t choose a super fund, and the ATO have advised you they don’t have a stapled super fund.
- have full access to the ATO’s online services, or have the ‘Employee Commencement Form’ permission in ATO online services to request a stapled super fund if the employee does not provide you with details of their choice of fund.
- pay SG contributions into an employee’s stapled or elected fund within two months of being notified of their fund choice.
- keep records for at least five years of an employee’s fund choices and payment obligations.
Resources
View all resources View all resourcesChoose LUCRF Super (standard choice form)
Notice of compliance
