Employer Contributions
The super guarantee
Everything you need to know about super contributions
- Superannuation is an extra 10% on top of your salary paid by your employer
- Employers are legally required to pay eligible employees
- You’re eligible for super if you earn over $450 in a month*
- Super must be paid at least 4 times a year by the due dates
Note: If you’re under 18, you must also work more than 30 hours in a week to be eligible for employer super contributions
*Employers are required to pay 10% of an eligible employee’s ordinary time earnings as super.
The 10% super guarantee
Employers are legally required to make superannuation payments to all eligible employees, into a complying superannuation fund. These payments are called the super guarantee.
The superannuation guarantee is 10% of your ordinary time earnings, which means overtime hours are not included.
Super guarantee payments sometimes appear on your payslip as ‘SG payment’
‘Stapling’ your super
Stapling means your existing super fund will automatically follow you when you change jobs.
Depending on your situation, stapling will affect you differently;
- A.If you already have a super fundEach time you start a new job, your employer can look up your account with the ATO and assign the super fund that has been stapled to you.
- ●If you only have one fund, the ATO will choose that fund to be your stapled fund.
- ●If you have more than one fund, the ATO will determine your stapled fund based on a set of rules.
The best way to know which fund your super is being paid into, is to provide your employer with your pre-filled super nomination form. - B.If it’s your first job and you don’t have a super fundYou will first need to join a super fund, then ask your employer to pay into this fund. If you don’t nominate a fund by the SG deadline, your employer will create a new account with their default fund.
- C.If you recently joined a new super fundYou will need to tell your employer the details of your new fund. You can hand in a pre-filled super nomination form or complete the ATO choice form.
FAQ
How much super should I be paid?
From 1 July 2021, the super guarantee is 10% of your ordinary time earnings (overtime is excluded).
The super guarantee is expected to increase to 12% by the 2025/26 financial year.
For example: If you are over 18 and earn $1,000 in a month, your super guarantee contribution will be $100. This is paid into your super account by your employer.
When do I get paid super?
Employers can determine the frequency of when they make super guarantee payments. However, it is mandatory that they make payments at least once a quarter.
The SG deadlines are:
| Work period | Super guarantee pay day | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | ||
| 1 July - 30 Sept | 28 Oct | |||||||
| 1 Oct - 31 Dec | ||||||||
| 1 Jan - 31 Mar | ||||||||
| 1 Apr - 30 June | ||||||||
| Work period | Super guarantee pay day | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | ||
| 1 July - 30 Sept | 28 Oct | |||||||
| 1 Oct - 31 Dec | 28 Jan | |||||||
| 1 Jan - 31 Mar | 28 Apr | |||||||
| 1 Apr - 30 June | 28 July | |||||||
For example, if you worked between 1 July and 30 September and were eligible for super, your employer has until the 28 October to make your super guarantee payment into your super fund account.
The payment can take 1-2 business days to process, so allow a few days to pass before you check your transaction history.
As each employer could be different, you ask how frequently they make their SG payments.
Professional Super members receive a notification each time a SG payment is received into their account. This means they can keep on top of their super and follow up with their employer if a payment has been missed.
Why do I see super on my payslip and not in my account?
Employers are required to set aside the super you’ve earned – this is the amount you see on your payslip. Just because it’s on your payslip does not necessarily mean it’s been paid. Your employer can wait until the quarterly deadline to make the payment.
For example, if your weekly payslip for the 20 July shows $200 for super, your employer can hold onto this money until the 28 October to make the actual payment into your super account. So, you will only see this in your super account after the payment has been made.
How can I check if I’ve been paid super?
Your employer must list the amount they have set aside for your super on your payslip. However, this does not mean your super has been paid into your super fund.
To check if your super has been paid, login to your super account and view your transactions.
What can I do if my employer is not paying me super?
If you are eligible for super and your employer does not make super payments, they are breaking the law.
Here’s the steps you can take;
- 1Double check that you are eligible for super. Use the ATO’s tool.
- 2Login and check your super account. For Professional Super members, you’ll find this under Transactions.
- 3Ask your employer to explain how your super is being calculated and when they process super payments.
- 4Check that your employer is paying your super into the correct super fund. If you have nominated Professional Super, you can give them your pre-filled super form.
If you cannot come to a resolution or your employer has not paid you super, you can report them to the ATO.
Can I nominate any super fund for my super guarantee?
Most Australians have the right to choose their super fund, there are exceptions in certain industries linked to specific awards. The FairWork Ombudsman has information about super and industry awards here.
Speak to your employer about nominating your super fund. You can nominate a fund by providing your employer with a super choice form. For Professional Super members, you can email yourself a pre-filled super choice form by logging in and going to “Tell Your Employer”.
Can I make my own super payments into my account?
Yes. You can make contributions to your super account at any time, whether you are working or not.
If you aren’t currently working or if you are self-employed, you can still open a super account to make personal contributions.
Read more about personal contributions.
Can I still open a super account if I’m not eligible to receive employer contributions?
Yes. You can open a super account and make personal contributions even if you are not eligible for employer contributions.
You can also open a super account when you’re looking for a job so you’re prepared for your first day of work.
I’ve just joined Professional Super, how do I make this my ‘stapled’ super fund?
That’s easy! Use the ‘Tell your employer’ feature or provide the pre-filled form included in your welcome email. Your employer should make your next SG payments to your Professional Super account. Make sure to check your next payslip and log into your account to check your transactions.
You can also consider using the ‘Find or combine my super’ feature to consolidate your super into Professional Super. Combining all your super into Professional Super will mean that your Professional Super account will be ‘stapled’ to you for future jobs.
How do I tell my employer Professional Super is my super fund?
Login to your account and use the ‘Tell your employer’ feature or provide the pre-filled form included in your welcome email. The form has all the details your employer needs to pay your super into Professional Super. You can choose to email them this form or print it off and hand it in.
Learning
This is general information only and does not take account of your individual investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on it, consider if the information is appropriate and whether you need to speak to an accredited professional.
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