Superannuation Employer Obligations 2024 Australia: Rates, STP Phase 2 & Deadlines
Complete guide to superannuation employer obligations for Australian small businesses in 2024 — super guarantee rates, STP Phase 2, payment deadlines, and consequences of non-compliance.
Superannuation Employer Obligations 2024 Australia
Superannuation employer obligations are among the most important compliance requirements for Australian businesses. Getting super wrong — even by a small amount — can result in penalties through the Superannuation Guarantee Charge (SGC).
This guide covers everything you need to know about super obligations in 2024, including the new 11.5% rate, STP Phase 2 reporting, and payment deadlines.
Super Guarantee Rate 2024
The super guarantee (SG) rate increased to 11.5% from 1 July 2024. The rate schedule toward 12% is:
| Period | Rate | |--------|------| | 2023–24 | 11% | | 2024–25 | 11.5% | | 2025 onward | 12% (legislated) |
The SG applies to ordinary time earnings (OTE) — the amount an employee earns for their ordinary hours, not including overtime, unless overtime is regularly worked.
Who Must Receive Super?
You must pay super for:
- Employees (full-time, part-time, and casual) aged 18 or over
- Employees under 18 who work more than 30 hours per week
- Contractors paid mainly for their labour (with some exceptions)
Since July 2022: There is no minimum income threshold. All eligible employees must receive super regardless of how much they earn.
Super Payment Deadlines
Super must be paid at least quarterly into employees' super funds by:
| Quarter | Period | Deadline | |---------|--------|----------| | Q1 | 1 July – 30 September | 28 October | | Q2 | 1 October – 31 December | 28 January | | Q3 | 1 January – 31 March | 28 April | | Q4 | 1 April – 30 June | 28 July |
Important: Super is paid when it's received by the fund, not when it leaves your account. Pay at least 3–5 business days before the deadline to ensure it clears on time.
Many employers pay super more frequently (monthly or each pay run). This is permitted and reduces the risk of missing deadlines.
How to Pay Super
SuperStream: All employer super contributions must be made via SuperStream — the government's electronic super payment system. SuperStream ensures contributions are routed correctly with the right employee and fund information.
Options for SuperStream compliance:
- Use payroll software with built-in SuperStream (Finsori, Xero, MYOB)
- Use a clearing house (e.g., ATO Small Business Clearing House for under 20 employees)
- Use a payroll service provider
Single Touch Payroll (STP) Phase 2
Since 1 January 2022 (with most software compliant by end of 2023), STP Phase 2 requires employers to report:
- Disaggregated income types — separate reporting of salary, allowances, bonuses, overtime
- Super liability — the super guarantee amount per employee per pay period
- Super fund details — fund name, ABN, and SPIN
STP Phase 2 reporting happens automatically when you process payroll in compliant software. The ATO receives the data in real time.
What Happens If You Don't Pay Super?
If you fail to pay super on time or in full, you must lodge a Superannuation Guarantee Charge (SGC) statement and pay the SGC, which includes:
- The unpaid super amount (calculated on total earnings, not just OTE)
- Interest of 10% per annum from the start of the relevant quarter
- Administration fee of $20 per employee per quarter
SGC amounts are not tax-deductible, unlike regular super contributions. This makes non-compliance significantly more expensive.
The ATO can also apply penalties up to 200% of the SGC amount for egregious non-compliance.
Salary Sacrifice and Choice of Fund
Salary sacrifice: Employees can sacrifice pre-tax salary into super, reducing their taxable income. Salary sacrifice contributions don't count toward your SG obligation.
Choice of fund: Employees can choose which super fund receives their contributions. If an employee doesn't make a choice, contributions go to the ATO's stapled fund (the employee's existing fund from previous employment).
Using Payroll Software
Payroll software automates super compliance:
- Calculates 11.5% SG on OTE automatically
- Tracks super liability by employee and quarter
- Processes payments via SuperStream
- Reports via STP Phase 2 to the ATO
- Generates PAYG payment summaries
Finsori includes full AU payroll with super and STP Phase 2 — no add-ons required.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is OTE (ordinary time earnings)? OTE is what employees earn for their standard hours. It includes base salary, commissions on regular hours, shift loadings, and allowances. It generally excludes overtime.
Do I pay super on bonuses? It depends. Bonuses paid for performance on ordinary hours count as OTE. One-off discretionary bonuses may not. When in doubt, include them.
What if my employee is a contractor? Contractors paid mainly for their labour (not results) may be entitled to super even without an employment contract. This is a common area of confusion — seek advice for individual cases.
Can I pay super more than quarterly? Yes. Many employers pay super monthly or even per pay run. The ATO requires a minimum of quarterly payments by the deadlines above.
How do I find an employee's stapled fund? Via ATO Online Services. You request the stapled fund for a new employee who hasn't chosen their own fund.
Also see: Single Touch Payroll Australia Guide · How to Lodge a BAS in Australia
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