There are just over 9 weeks to go until Payday Super launches, considered to be the biggest payment changes since the GST kicked in. From July 1, 2026, employers must pay their workers’ superannuation guarantee (SG) into their super funds at the same time they process payroll.
While the federal government claims this will make it easier to stay up to date with employees’ SG entitlements, we have been told that more frequent payments (be that monthly, fortnightly or weekly) will be an issue for businesses with irregular cash flow.
Please take the opportunity to respond to our Survey of Business Expectations due out on 27th April to provide our Policy and Advocacy team with your views.
SA Business Chamber and KPMG conducted a webinar on 19th March, and KPMG have kindly shared the slides used.
Further assistance can be found on the ATO website Payday Super page. Possibly the most helpful is the Checklist. From April, you should be:
Overwhelmingly, though, the advice is to ensure your business has the visibility and control to manage your cash flow with confidence. As margins tighten and pressure builds, real-time insights will become essential.
MYOB, for example, recommends businesses map current pay cycles to identify when superannuation contributions will be paid with wages. You should also review cash flow to incorporate obligations into weekly, fortnightly or monthly payroll runs rather than at quarter-end. Payroll systems should be checked to ensure contributions can be calculated and paid during each pay cycle without manual processes.
The ATO has stressed that businesses need to plan cash flow, understand any changes to their payroll systems and transition away from Small Business Superannuation Clearing House (SBSCH) well before July.
The ATO also reminds businesses that ‘Super is paid as often as you pay employees – if you were paying weekly, then your super payments will be weekly too’. Be aware that you cannot just change the payday frequency of your employees’ wages — the frequency of when businesses pay employees is set by the employment contract, awards or enterprise agreements. Changes can be made, and some payroll advisers suggest this be done by businesses with ‘lumpy cashflow’. If you need to make changes, speak to the SA Business Chamber Workplace Relations Consultants for advice.
Payment is only made once it is received by the employee’s fund, so make sure there is enough time to correct any errors and for contributions to reach the funds within the seven business days.
Finally, note that all SBSCH transaction history will need to be downloaded before 1st July. The ATO’s Small Business Superannuation Clearing House is closing on 1st July, and you’ll need to make alternative arrangements. Many employers already have super payment functionality in their current payroll software, so we encourage you to check this.
