The amount of super you are entitled to receive from your employer is set out by law. Your employer should be paying a percentage of your earnings into your super account. Unfortunately though, there are some employers who aren't doing the right thing: either not paying your super entitlements when they should, not paying the correct amount and some aren't paying their employee super at all.
So it's worth checking to make sure you're being paid the right amount when it should be paid.
Who is eligible to receive super contributions?
Full time, part time and casual employees are all entitled to receive super guarantee contributions if:
aged 18 years and older AND
receiving at least $450 gross (before tax) in a month
If you are aged under 18, you must work more than 30 hours per week
If you're a contractor paid wholly or principally for your labour, and your contract is directly between you and your employer, you’re also considered an employee for super purposes and entitled to super guarantee contributions under these same rules.
How much super your employer must pay?
Your employer must pay the superannuation guarantee - at least 9.5% of your 'ordinary time earnings' into your super account. Ordinary time earnings are generally what you earn for the ordinary hours of work, including:over-award payments, commissions, allowances, bonuses, paid leave (annual and sick). So no super on overtime.
When must super be paid?
Super guarantee payments must be made by your employer and received by your super fund by the quarterly due dates, which are 28 days after the end of each quarter. Some employers pay more frequently but as long as the dates below are followed, your employer has met the legal timing requirement.
July - September - Due 28 October
October - December - Due 28 January
January - March - Due 28 April
April - June - Due 28 July
Where must super be paid to?
Super guarantee payments must be made to a complying super fund or retirement savings accounts (RSAs). Most employees can choose the super fund they want their employer contributions paid into. If you’re eligible to choose a fund you can do so using the Superannuation standard choice form, which your employer may give you when you start employment which can be completed by paper form or through ATO online services via myGov through the Employment menu. If you don’t choose a super fund, your employer will choose one for you.
Check how much super you're getting
To see how much super your employer is paying you, check your:
payslips - this will show the calculated super based on your ordinary wage but know that this doesn’t always mean money has been deposited into your super account.
myGov account - Check STP income statements - similar to your payslips, will show the calculated amount OR under the Super menu, you may be able to see some details of actual contributions
super account — check your super statements - online or by calling your fund
As your accountant, if you need help with checking your super, I can review information available through myGov and can also review any of the above information.
If your employer is not paying your super
If you think you're not getting paid the right amount, talk to your employer. Sometimes there is a simple explanation but if you’re not satisfied with what they say and they aren't paying your super, you can report this to the ATO by lodging an online unpaid super enquiry.
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