What’s changing?

The Australian Government is changing how often employers must pay superannuation guarantee (super) contributions.

Currently, employers are required to pay super into an employee’s nominated account at least once every three months. If super isn’t paid on time, additional charges apply, and late payments may also breach the Fair Work Act or an applicable award or enterprise agreement.

From 1 July 2026, new Payday Super rules will apply. Employers will need to pay super at the same time as salary or wages, so that contributions reach an employee’s nominated super account within seven business days of being paid.

There are some limited exceptions. For example, the first super contribution for a new employee must be paid within 20 business days of their salary or wages being paid.

Have you checked your super balance lately?

Almost half of all working Australians don’t regularly check their super balance¹. With Payday Super just around the corner — and the ATO returning $1.1 billion in unpaid super to individual accounts in 2024–25² — there’s never been a better time to check in on your super.

Most people notice when their pay hits their bank account. If the amount isn’t what they expected, questions are asked.

Your super deserves the same attention. It’s still part of your pay — just paid into a different account, for later. And for many Australians, it’s about to become easier to track.

How Payday Super helps your super grow

Under the new Payday Super rules, employers will be required to pay super at the same frequency as regular paydays.

While some employers already do this, many currently pay super quarterly. For those employers, Payday Super means super guarantee contributions will be made more frequently.

Paying super with each payday not only makes it easier to track, it can also help your super compound more effectively over time compared with quarterly payments.

Why checking your super matters more than you think

Although most super is paid correctly, mistakes can and do happen². Research shows that 44% of Australians don’t regularly check their super balance¹, which means unpaid or incorrect super can go unnoticed.

In the 2024–25 financial year alone, the ATO recovered $1.1 billion in unpaid super and returned it to nearly one million Australians².

The only way to know if your super is being paid correctly — and on time — is to check it.

How to check your super is being paid correctly

For the current financial year, the super guarantee (SG) rate is 12%. This means your employer must pay 12% of your ordinary time earnings (OTE) into your super fund.

Super must be paid at least quarterly until 1 July 2026, when Payday Super takes effect.

Ordinary time earnings are what you earn for your ordinary hours of work.

From 1 July 2026, the SG payable will be 12% of qualifying earnings, which for most employees will be the same as ordinary time earnings.

The SG rate has increased gradually over time. To help calculate what you should be receiving, the ATO offers an online Super Guarantee estimator.

What to do if you think your super hasn’t been paid

If you believe there’s a mistake, the best first step is to speak with your employer.

You can also follow up unpaid super from current or past employers through the ATO’s super review and audit processes.