Payday super is now law and, from 1 July 2026, employers must pay super at the same time as wages. Contributions your employer makes will generally need to reach your fund within seven business days of each payday.
Here’s what to look out for so your retirement savings stay on track.
Until 30 June 2026, employers are generally only required to pay superannuation guarantee contributions quarterly, although some already pay more frequently. From 1 July 2026, the quarterly payment cycle is replaced by a payday-based obligation.
Payday super doesn’t change how often you’re paid wages. Payday frequency is still set by employment contracts, awards or enterprise agreements. What changes is when your super must be paid. If you’re paid weekly, super is paid weekly. If you’re paid fortnightly, super is paid fortnightly.
In the lead-up to 1 July, your employer may ask you to confirm your super fund details. This gives them a chance to update their records and reduces the risk of contributions being sent to the wrong place once the new rules begin. If you’ve changed super funds recently, or are thinking about it, now’s the time to make sure your employer has the correct fund details on file.
The first time you’re paid after 1 July 2026, you should see super listed on your payslip alongside your wages. Shortly after, check your super fund account to confirm the contribution has been received and allocated.
Employers generally need pay contributions in time for them to be received by your fund within seven business days of payday. However, funds may have their own processing time before amounts appear in your member account.
A few simple habits will help you stay across your entitlements:
check that each payslip shows a super amount;
log in to your super fund and confirm contributions are arriving regularly;
compare the amount received against the amount shown on your payslip; and
watch for any unexplained gaps between pay cycles.
If you decide to change super funds, tell your employer promptly. A delay in passing on new fund details could lead to a contribution being missed, delayed or sent to an old account by mistake.
An extended timeframe may apply for the first contribution to a new fund, but updating your employer quickly helps avoid unnecessary delays.
If super isn’t showing on your payslip, or hasn’t landed in your fund, start by speaking with your employer. Useful questions include:
which fund the contribution was sent to;
If you don’t get a clear answer, or the issue isn’t resolved, you can raise it with the ATO.
Under payday super, the ATO will have earlier visibility of unpaid or late super. This means issues can be identified and corrected sooner, helping employers avoid penalties and employees receive their super faster.
Source: www.ato.gov.au/about-ato/using-our-website/easier-to-read-information/payday-super-easier-to-read