Payday Super — What changes on 1 July 2026?
From 1 July 2026, the way Australian businesses pay superannuation is changing. Under the new Payday Super rules, employers must pay super contributions on or near each payday — not quarterly. Here's what you need to know.
What is Payday Super?
Currently, employers must pay super guarantee contributions quarterly — within 28 days of the end of each quarter. Under Payday Super, this shifts to being paid at the same time as regular wages, or within a short window of each pay run.
The goal is to ensure employees receive their super sooner and to reduce the gap between earning wages and having super contributions invested.
Who does it affect?
Payday Super applies to all employers who have employees entitled to super guarantee contributions. This includes:
- Pty Ltd companies with staff
- Sole traders who employ others
- Partnerships and trusts with employees
If you're a sole trader with no employees, Payday Super doesn't apply to you (though you may still choose to make voluntary super contributions for yourself).
Key dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 July 2026 | Payday Super comes into effect |
| Each payday | Super must be paid on or near the same day employees receive their wages |
What do you need to do?
To be compliant from day one, you'll need to:
- Review your payroll system — Ensure it supports paying super with each pay run, not just quarterly
- Connect to your super fund(s) — Set up electronic clearing house or direct fund connectivity so contributions can be processed in real-time
- Update your pay schedule — Align super contribution processing with your pay cycle
- Communicate with employees — Let your team know they'll see super contributions landing more frequently
Penalties for non-compliance
Failing to pay super on time can result in the Super Guarantee Charge (SGC), which includes the unpaid super amount, interest charges, and an administration fee. Under Payday Super, the ATO is expected to enforce these penalties more rigorously given the shorter payment window.
How our platform helps
If you register a company through our platform on or after 1 July 2026, we automatically recognise that Payday Super applies to your business:
Payday Super Compliant badge
Your application is flagged as Payday Super compliant, and a badge appears on your summary to confirm awareness.
7-day critical task
A "Payday Super — 7-Day Sync Required" task is added to your Phase 1 compliance roadmap, marked as critical.
SMS & in-app alerts
You receive an immediate in-app notification and an SMS (if a phone number is on file) reminding you to set up compliant payroll within 7 days.
Follow-up reminder
On Day 5, you get a reminder notification: "2 days left to complete your Payday Super setup."
Frequently asked questions
Does this affect companies registered before 1 July 2026?
Yes — all employers must comply from 1 July 2026, regardless of when the company was registered. However, our platform currently flags the compliance task automatically for companies registered on or after the effective date.
What if I don't have employees yet?
Payday Super only applies when you have employees. If you register now but don't hire until later, you'll need to set up compliant super payments before your first employee's payday.
Can I still pay super quarterly?
No. From 1 July 2026, quarterly super payments will no longer satisfy the super guarantee requirements. You must pay on or near each payday.
Registering after 1 July 2026?
Our platform automatically adds Payday Super to your compliance roadmap so you don't miss a thing.
Start your registration →