Most people know what superannuation is – money paid by an employer to their employees to provide for their retirement. Sometimes however, it can be unclear what your Superannuation obligations, as an employer, are.
First thing to do is identify if you need to be paying super, and if you’re paying them more than $450 in a calendar month, you owe them super. Super is not included in their wages, but paid on top of their wages, to an appropriate super fund.
The super guarantee is currently 9.5% of an employees normal time earnings. This includes full-time, part-time and casual workers.
Most payroll software can be set up to calculate this for you, and will not include super until the $450 threshold has been reached.
The superannuation contributions must be lodged and paid at least quarterly, with payments due by the 28th of the following month.
| Quarter | Period | Payment due date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 July – 30 September | 28 October |
| 2 | 1 October – 31 December | 28 January |
| 3 | 1 January – 31 March | 28 April |
| 4 | 1 April – 30 June | 28 July |
They can be lodged more frequently eg, monthly or fortnightly and some super funds will require that. Something to consider when selecting a super fund.
For more information, please visit the ATO website here
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