Payday Super is here. Is your business ready?
Since 1 July 2026, the way Australian employers pay super has changed. The old quarterly model is gone. Super now follows every pay run, and the ATO can see much more of what you are doing.
If you run a Melbourne business with employees, this guide covers what changed, what it costs you in cash flow, and what to do this month.
What is Payday Super?
Payday Super means you pay super guarantee (SG) contributions each time you pay wages, instead of once a quarter. The contribution must reach your employee’s super fund, with enough information for the fund to allocate it, within 7 business days of payday.
What changed on 1 July 2026?
- Super is tied to each payday, not to the quarter.
- Contributions must be received by the fund within 7 business days (20 business days for a new employee’s first payment).
- SG is calculated on qualifying earnings.
- You report qualifying earnings and super liability through Single Touch Payroll.
- The ATO’s Small Business Superannuation Clearing House is closed.
- The SG rate stays at 12%.
Why the 7 days matters
Payment time counts. If you pay on day 7, the money may not reach the fund in time. The ATO recommends paying on payday itself so there is room for processing delays and corrections. If contributions are late or short, you may face the Superannuation Guarantee Charge.
What Melbourne employers should do now
- Check your payroll software. Confirm it reports qualifying earnings and super liability through STP.
- Pick a payment method. If you used the ATO clearing house, move to another SuperStream-compliant clearing house or your payroll software’s built-in option.
- Clean up employee fund details. Wrong or missing fund details are the most common reason payments bounce.
- Build a super calendar. For every pay run, mark payday plus 7 business days. Allow for Melbourne public holidays such as Melbourne Cup Day and Christmas.
- Update your cash flow forecast. Super is now a regular fortnightly or weekly outflow, not a quarterly lump sum.
- Fix errors quickly. Rejected payments need to be corrected and resent fast.
Cash flow: the part most people miss
Under the old system you could hold super money for up to a quarter. Now it leaves your account every pay cycle. Businesses on tight cash flow should plan for this early, and if you outsource payroll or bookkeeping, talk to your provider about it.
How PremierOne can help
As a Melbourne CPA practice, we help small businesses with payroll setup, STP reporting, super compliance and cash flow planning. If you are not sure your payroll is set up correctly for Payday Super, book a free 15-minute consultation with our Principal Accountant.