From 1 July 2026, employers will need to pay superannuation contributions at (or very close to) the same time as they pay wages. Draft legislation released in March 2025 sets a seven-day deadline after each pay-day for super to hit an employee’s fund, replacing the current quarterly cycle. The measure is not yet law, but Treasury and the ATO have confirmed the start date and published detailed design features, so preparation should start now.
What does the draft law require?
- Contributions must be received by the fund within 7 calendar days of each salary payment. Because most clearing houses take up to five days to process, aim to submit the SG payment on the same day you run payroll to stay compliant.
- Single earnings base. SG is calculated on ordinary-time earnings only.
- Tougher penalties for lateness. Miss the deadline and you face the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) charge plus an “uplift” penalty that increases the longer the shortfall remains unreported.
What employers should do between now and 1 July 2026
- Review payroll calendars and cash-flow models
- Weekly or fortnightly pay cycles will soon require weekly/fortnightly super outflows. Build this into cash-flow forecasts.
- Upgrade systems early
- Confirm your payroll platform can automatically trigger SG payments after each pay event. Most major providers are rolling out “payday super” modules this year.
- Clean your data
- Inaccurate employee fund details are the biggest cause of contributions bouncing back. Re-confirm stapled fund data and TFNs during 2025 staff reviews.
How Walker Wayland NSW can help
- Health-check your payroll file for SG data issues.
- Provide a cash-flow impact analysis and funding strategies.
If you need tailored advice, reach out to your Walker Wayland NSW adviser or contact us via our contact page.
