Payday Super – Coming Soon!

From 1 July 2026, employers must pay super with every payday—no more quarterly catch-ups. With faster deadlines and tighter compliance, now’s the time to get your payroll, data, and cashflow ready.

Ready for Payday Super

From 1 July 2026, employers will shift from quarterly super payments to Payday Super, requiring contributions to be paid each pay cycle and received by funds within seven business days. While the super rate remains at 12%, the rules will broaden how earnings are calculated—making it more important than ever to be prepared.

What to Do Before 1 July

• Review payroll systems and software: Make sure your system can calculate Qualifying Earnings and trigger super each pay run. (This includes ordinary time earnings, commissions, bonuses, allowances, salary sacrifice, and some contractor payments.)

• Update employee super details: Confirm fund names, USIs, and member numbers are accurate to prevent rejected or delayed payments.

• Test clearing houses and fund portals: If you’re using the Small Business Super Clearing House, plan your switch now—it won’t support Payday Super.

• Plan cashflow: Prepare for more frequent super payments and put processes in place to quickly fix any rejected contributions within the 7-day window.

Benefits for Employees and Businesses

• Faster compounding, bigger balances: Paying super on payday means contributions are invested sooner, helping grow retirement savings over time.

• Lower risk of unpaid super: More frequent payments make it easier to spot issues early and reduce the chance of missed contributions.

• Stronger compliance: Staying up to date with payments helps minimise exposure to super guarantee charges and ATO penalties.

  
  

Risks and How to Manage Them

• Cashflow pressure: More frequent payments can strain working capital. Plan ahead with forecasting, building reserves, or arranging short-term funding.

• Payment rejections and delays: Incorrect details can lead to penalties. Reduce risk with accurate data checks, fast error resolution, and regular reconciliations.

• System readiness: Unprepared payroll or clearing systems can create manual work and errors. Confirm your providers are ready and seek advice if needed.

Final Note

Payday Super is both a compliance requirement and a people-first reform. Start preparing now—review your systems, confirm employee super details, and update your cashflow planning to ensure a smooth transition by 1 July 2026.

For official guidance and checklists, visit Payday Super on the ATO's webiste.

If you need assistance, contact the team at Appleby Accountants on 07 3876 6211 or email manager@applebyaccountants.com.