Countdown on for payday super

In October, the federal government introduced legislation into parliament for one of the biggest changes to the superannuation system in decades – payday super. 

It‘s not yet law, but it’s one step closer.  

If it goes ahead, from 1 July 2026, you’ll need to: 

• pay super guarantee (SG) contributions at the same time as salary and wages
• make sure money reaches the super fund no more than 7 business days later.  

So, what does this mean for you, your employees, and the super industry as a whole? 

 

You’ll need to pay super faster and more often 

Under the proposed changes: 

• Contributions must reach super funds no later than 7 business days after every payday.
• Funds must allocate contributions to member accounts within three business days (down from 20).
• A new penalty framework will apply for late payments.
• You’ll have 20 days after a new employee’s first payday to make their first SG contribution. 

Payday super will speed up super payments, boosting efficiency and helping your employees grow their retirement savings sooner. More frequent contributions will make super a visible, tangible part of every pay. So, it will be easier for employees to keep track of their super. 

How is the super industry preparing for payday super? 

Many people in the super industry see payday super as a positive change. Its aim is to help workers retire with more by making sure contributions are paid and invested sooner.  

We’re working with other super funds, payroll providers, clearing houses, and gateway networks to align systems and standards.  

SuperStream updates 

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is making major updates to the SuperStream network to support payday super. Let’s look at some of the changes they’re working on. 

Payments 

SuperStream will accept payments through the New Payments Platform (NPP). It’s a faster alternative to older payment systems.  

Messaging 

There’ll be better two-way messaging between employers and super funds. This will help you spot and fix data errors faster. Here’s what this includes:  

• SuperStream Member Verification Request: This lets you check an employee’s super fund details before you make a payment. Doing this is crucial to helping avoid delays to your SG contributions. 
• Messaging Implementation Guide (MIG): The ATO has also refreshed its MIG. This makes sure all contributions and related data follow the same standard. That should lead to fewer rejected payments, faster reconciliation, and more confidence that super goes to the right place at the right time. 

 

What we’re doing for a smooth switch 

Payday super will be a big change for many businesses. That’s why we’re investing in our tech, systems and processes to make it seamless for you when it starts. 

Let’s look at what we’re doing now to get you ready for 1 July 2026. 

Quicker processing  

Our systems are being updated so we’re ready for contributions more often.

'We’re already set up to get weekly and fortnightly super payments using real-time payment technology like the NPP,’ said Mat Gilroy, General Manager for Commercial Platforms at Australian Retirement Trust. 

‘The challenge now is scaling that capability for millions of transactions each year.’

Catching errors early  

With more frequent payments, getting the data right matters more than ever.  

So, we’re strengthening data validation and aligning our systems with the ATO’s new MIG standards.

Giving you faster feedback  

Deeper feedback reporting through SuperStream is on the way. You’ll get faster confirmation when your payments go through. Or if something’s not quite right, you’ll get quick alerts so you can fix it.

'These improvements mean less errors, less admin and more confidence when you pay super,’ Mat added. 

 

Support every step of the way 

Payday super isn’t just a tech project. It’s about making compliance easier for all employers.  

Switching from quarterly to weekly, fortnightly or even monthly payments is a seismic shift for many. So, we’re expanding our support to give you the hands-on help you need. 

You’ll have access to even more education and guidance through our webinars, FAQs, and online payday super hub.  

‘Our role is to take the complexity out of the process,’ Mat said. 

‘We’ll do that through technology, education and hands-on support. That way, employers can focus on running their businesses.’ 

How you can prep for payday super 

There’s still time before the new rules take effect. But our General Manager for Commercial Relationships, Patrick Twomey, said early preparation is critical. 

Patrick suggested starting by focusing on people, processes, and data. 

• Raise awareness: Make sure your payroll, finance, and management teams understand what’s coming. 
• Review data quality: Clean up employee and super fund data now. This will help avoid rejected payments under the new 3-day allocation window. 
• Check your payroll systems and cash flow: Moving from quarterly to more frequent payments will affect how you manage cash. 
• Strengthen governance: Document your payment processes. Make sure you can show how you comply once the new rules apply. 

Patrick also said not to leave it to the last minute.  

‘If you’re ready, you can shift from quarterly to payday contributions now and test the process,’ he said. 

'This’ll help your team to feel confident before the deadline on 1 July 2026.’