Are you getting your full Super Contributions?

Disappointingly there are still employers that are reluctant or slow to pay the full super guarantee contributions on the wages when they pay their staff. More, many staff members are unsure what their entitlements are.

As with most things to do with superannuation, the rules are constantly changing. The Federal Government will from July 1, 2025, require all employers to pay their staff the SGC at the rate of 12 per cent based on an employee’s ordinary time earnings, up from 11.5 per cent.

This impacts on all staff including casual, part-time and full-time employees.

Another significant change will also come into effect on July 1, 2026. At the moment, employers are required to pay SG contributions on a quarterly basis. If they pay the contributions in line with the due dates, the ATO will allow these charges to be tax deductible.

If employers don’t, they will be hit with a surcharge instead.

However, from next year, employers will be required to pay the super entitlements of staff at the same time that they pay their normal wages, whether this is on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis.

This is an important step forward as many analysts believe it will help employees to keep track of their employee entitlements and whether they have been paid their full superannuation entitlements.

It will also mean more frequent contributions to super which in itself should lead to higher balances over an extended period of time, due to the snowballing effect of super entitlements, where there are earnings made on contributions.

If you have any concerns as to whether you are currently, or at any time in the past, been concerned as to whether you have received your full entitlements, the best course of action is to contact the Australian Tax Office directly.

They will make appropriate enquiries on your behalf without mentioning your name and force your employer to make good any missed contributions.