Key takeaways
- Around 1 in 4 Australian workers are underpaid super, worth about $6 billion a year, according to reporting on 22 October 2026.
- Since 1 July 2026, Payday Super means your employer must pay your super with each pay, not once a quarter.
- Your fund should receive it within 7 business days of payday (20 business days for a new employee's first payment).
- The super guarantee rate is 12% of your ordinary time earnings. Compare your payslips with your super account regularly.
- If super is missing, ask your employer first, then report it to the ATO. Employers who pay late face the super guarantee charge, which isn't tax deductible.
Super is your money, even though your employer pays it. Yet new reporting shows that around one in four workers aren't getting all the super they're owed. The good news is that Payday Super, which started on 1 July 2026, makes missing payments much easier to spot. Here's how to check yours in a few minutes, and what to do if something's wrong.
What the latest figures show
On 22 October 2026, the ABC reported that about one in four Australian workers are underpaid super by their employers, adding up to around $6 billion a year. Independent reports suggest only a small share of that is ever recovered.
Payday Super is changing the picture. Research from the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) found the number of super payments going into accounts each month roughly doubled after 1 July 2026, as around 7 million workers moved from quarterly payments to weekly or fortnightly ones. More frequent payments mean gaps show up in weeks, not months.
How much super you should be getting
| Rule | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Super guarantee rate | 12% of your ordinary time earnings (your normal pay, not most overtime) |
| When it's paid | With every pay, since 1 July 2026 |
| When your fund should receive it | Within 7 business days of payday |
| New employees | Up to 20 business days for the first payment to a new fund |
| Who's covered | Most employees, including casuals and part-timers, however little they earn. Under-18s need to work more than 30 hours a week. |
Some contractors are also entitled to super if they're paid mainly for their labour. See our guide to employees and contractors if you're not sure.
How to check your super in 5 minutes
- Look at your payslip. It should show the super amount and the fund it's paid to.
- Log in to your super fund through its app or website and look at your recent contributions.
- Match them up. Each pay should have a matching contribution within about 7 business days.
- Check myGov. In ATO online services, under Super, you can see contributions your fund has reported.
- Do it regularly. A quick check once a month is enough to catch problems early.
Our free Payday Super calculator shows how much super should be paid each pay, so you know what to look for.
What to do if super is missing
- Check the simple things first. Make sure your employer has your correct fund details. A wrong member number can delay payments.
- Ask your employer. Many problems are payroll errors that can be fixed quickly. Keep a note of the conversation.
- Report it to the ATO. If it isn't fixed, lodge an unpaid super enquiry through ATO online services in myGov. The ATO can chase the employer and pass recovered amounts to your fund.
- Keep your records. Payslips, bank statements and fund statements are your evidence.
- Other options. The Fair Work Ombudsman notes that most employees can also take action under the Fair Work Act to recover unpaid super.
For employers: getting Payday Super right
- Pay with every pay run and allow for processing time, so contributions reach funds within 7 business days.
- The ATO's free clearing house closed on 1 July 2026. Make sure your payroll software or a commercial clearing house is set up.
- Late payments cost more. Missed or late super attracts the super guarantee charge, which adds interest and penalties and isn't tax deductible.
- Directors can be personally liable. The ATO can issue a director penalty notice for unpaid super.
- The ATO's first-year approach (PCG 2026/1) focuses on higher-risk employers, but businesses that try to do the right thing still need to fix problems quickly.
Your super checklist
- Find your super amount on your latest payslip.
- Confirm a matching contribution in your fund within 7 business days.
- Check your contributions in myGov once a month.
- Make sure your employer has your correct fund details.
- Raise any gap with your employer, then report it to the ATO if it isn't fixed.
- Employers: review your payroll and clearing house set-up for Payday Super.
Supertax helps employees check what they're owed, and helps small businesses in Werribee and Melbourne's west set up payroll that meets Payday Super. See our payroll pricing, or book a free 15-minute consultation. Consultations are available in English, Punjabi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ), Hindi (हिंदी), Urdu (اردو) and Gujarati (ગુજરાતી).
This article contains general information only and does not take your personal circumstances into account. Speak with a registered tax agent or licensed adviser before acting.
Worried about your super?
Talk to Supertax about checking what you're owed, or setting up Payday Super for your business.
