Is your employer paying your super correctly?
From 1 July 2026, your super must be paid every payday β not quarterly β and must land in your fund within 7 business days. Grab your latest payslip and check in 30 seconds.
What counts towards your 12%?
Super is calculated on your qualifying earningsβ broadly your ordinary pay. Here's the quick breakdown:
β Super IS paid on
- Ordinary hours of work
- Most bonuses and commissions
- Shift loadings and casual loading
- Annual leave (while employed)
β Super is NOT paid on
- Overtime
- Expense allowances (e.g. meal allowance)
- Most termination payments
- Unpaid parental leave
Underpaid? Here's what to do
- 1
Check your fund, not just your payslip
Open your super fund's app or online account. Under Payday Super, contributions must arrive within 7 business days of each payday. A number on a payslip means nothing until it lands in your fund.
- 2
Raise it with your employer in writing
Payroll mistakes are common, especially in the first months of the new rules. Email payroll with your payslip and the 12% calculation from this page. Keep a copy.
- 3
Report unpaid super to the ATO
If it isn't fixed, lodge an unpaid super enquiry with the ATO online (search 'ATO report unpaid super'). The ATO now matches payroll data against fund data in near real-time, and can recover your super with interest on top.
Frequently asked questions
βΊWhat is Payday Super?
From 1 July 2026, Australian employers must pay superannuation at the same time as salary and wages, instead of quarterly. Contributions must arrive in your super fund within 7 business days of payday.
βΊHow much super should my employer pay in 2026?
The Super Guarantee rate is 12% of your qualifying earnings (roughly your ordinary earnings, excluding overtime and certain allowances). If you earn $2,000 in a pay period, your employer must contribute at least $240 to your super fund.
βΊDoes overtime count towards super?
No. Overtime payments are excluded from qualifying earnings, so your employer does not have to pay super on overtime. Expense allowances and most termination payments are also excluded.
βΊMy payslip shows super but nothing arrived in my fund. Is that legal?
Under Payday Super, contributions must be received by your fund within 7 business days of payday. A payslip line item alone is not enough β check your super fund's app or statement. If money consistently doesn't arrive, you can report unpaid super to the ATO.
βΊWhat can I do if my employer isn't paying my super?
First, compare your payslip against the 12% calculation and check your fund's transaction history. Then raise it with your employer or payroll in writing. If it isn't fixed, lodge an 'unpaid super' enquiry with the ATO online β they can investigate and recover it with interest.
βΊI'm on a working holiday or student visa. Do I still get super?
Yes. Employers must pay super for temporary visa holders at the same 12% rate. When you permanently leave Australia you may be able to claim your super back as a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP).