NSW Small Businesses
Generate Fair Work–compliant payslips for your team without expensive payroll software. Trusted by NSW SMEs across retail, hospitality, and trades.
Fair Work Act 2009 compliant · NSW minimum wage 2026 ($24.10/hr) · 12% super · Free preview · Download PDF from $4.99 · No signup
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STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE
Follow these five steps to generate a Fair Work–compliant payslip for any NSW employee. Each field maps directly to the requirements in Fair Work Regulations 2009, Reg 3.46.
Add your NSW business name and ABN. Both are mandatory on every payslip under Fair Work Regulations 2009, Reg 3.46. Use your registered ABN exactly as it appears on the ABR.
Enter the employee full name, employment type (full-time, part-time, casual, or contractor), and the applicable hourly or annual salary rate.
Select the pay period start and end dates, then add gross earnings, allowances, and any overtime or bonus amounts as separate line items.
Enter PAYG tax withheld and superannuation (12% from 1 July 2025). Add casual loading (25%) or public holiday penalty rates as separate line items when applicable.
Review the live payslip preview for accuracy. Download a print-ready, Fair Work–compliant PDF from $4.99 — no account or subscription required.
NSW PAYSLIP REQUIREMENTS
In New South Wales, payslips are governed by the Fair Work Act 2009 (s536) and Fair Work Regulations 2009 (Reg 3.46). All employers under the national workplace relations system must issue a payslip to every employee within one working day of each pay day — even if the employee is on annual leave, sick leave, or any other form of paid or unpaid leave.
This obligation applies to full-time, part-time, casual, and fixed-term contract employees. Failing to comply can result in penalties of up to $16,500 per contravention for an individual and $82,500 for a body corporate. The Fair Work Ombudsman actively audits payslip compliance, particularly in hospitality, retail, and construction.
NSW-specific payslip requirements include public holiday penalty rates (typically 250% under most Modern Awards), casual loading (25%), and overtime rates — all of which must appear as distinct line items. From 1 July 2025, the superannuation guarantee rate rose to 12%; the dollar amount and fund name are mandatory disclosures on every payslip.
View official Fair Work payslip guidance ↗Every NSW payslip must include all of the following:
PAYROLL REFERENCE
PAYG (Pay As You Go) tax withheld must appear on every NSW payslip. The amount withheld is calculated based on the employee's income bracket and whether they have claimed the tax-free threshold. The table below shows the 2025–26 ATO individual income tax rates. Use the ATO's Tax Withheld Calculator for the exact weekly/fortnightly withholding amount.
| Taxable Income (Annual) | Tax Rate | Approx. Weekly Gross |
|---|---|---|
| $0 – $18,200 | 0% | $0 |
| $18,201 – $45,000 | 19% | $1–$865 |
| $45,001 – $120,000 | 32.5% | $866–$2,307 |
| $120,001 – $180,000 | 37% | $2,308–$3,461 |
| $180,001+ | 45% | $3,462+ |
⚠️ Rates above exclude the 2% Medicare Levy. Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) applies below $66,667. Always use the ATO's official withholding tables for exact figures.
MODERN AWARD REFERENCE
The national minimum wage ($24.10/hr) only applies to employees not covered by a Modern Award or Enterprise Agreement. Most NSW workers in retail, hospitality, construction, and professional services are covered by an Award that sets higher minimum rates. Award rates below are indicative for the lowest classification level; always verify at fairwork.gov.au.
| Modern Award | Classification | Min. Rate (FY2025–26) |
|---|---|---|
| General Retail Industry Award | Level 1 (Retail Employee) | $25.41/hr |
| Hospitality Industry (General) Award | Level 1 (Food & Beverage Attendant) | $24.68/hr |
| Clerks — Private Sector Award | Level 1 (Clerical) | $25.09/hr |
| Building & Construction Award | CW/ECW 1 | $28.55/hr |
| Fast Food Industry Award | Level 1 | $24.45/hr |
| Health Professionals Award | Grade 1 (Physiotherapist) | $38.94/hr |
⚠️ Rates shown are base weekday rates for the lowest classification. Penalty rates, casual loading, and allowances apply on top. Always verify the current rate for your Award and classification at fairwork.gov.au.
PAYROLL PLANNING
When NSW employees work on public holidays, employers must pay penalty ratesas set by the employee's Modern Award or Enterprise Agreement. The most common rate is double time and a half (250%) of the ordinary rate under most NSW Awards. These payments must appear as a separate line item on the payslip. If an employee does not work on a public holiday, they are entitled to their ordinary pay with no deduction.
⚠️ Always verify at nsw.gov.au/about-nsw/public-holidays ↗
USE CASES
Generate Fair Work–compliant payslips for your team without expensive payroll software. Trusted by NSW SMEs across retail, hospitality, and trades.
Automatically shows 25% casual loading as a separate line item — exactly as required under Fair Work Regulations 2009.
ABN-based payslips and income statements for contractors operating across New South Wales in any industry.
Issue legally structured payslips to your employees as an NSW sole trader or micro-business — no payroll system required.
Stay Fair Work–compliant from your very first hire, without investing in a full payroll platform before you need one.
Quickly produce corrected or supplementary payslips for NSW employees during audits, disputes, or onboarding.
LEGAL CONTEXT
Under the Fair Work Act 2009 (s536) and Fair Work Regulations 2009 (Reg 3.46), all national system employers in NSW are legally required to provide payslips to their employees. Non-compliance can result in penalties of up to $16,500 per contravention for an individual and $82,500 for a body corporate.
Payslips must be issued within one working day of each pay day under s536 of the Fair Work Act 2009 — even if the employee is on annual or sick leave.
Payslips can be issued electronically (email, employee portal) or on paper. Both are legally acceptable under the Fair Work Act 2009 provided the employee can access and keep a copy.
Failing to provide a payslip, or providing one with false information, can result in civil penalties of up to $16,500 per contravention for an individual and $82,500 for a body corporate.
The super guarantee rate is 12% from 1 July 2025 (up from 11.5% in FY2024–25). The dollar amount and fund name must appear on every payslip — failure to disclose is a separate ATO compliance breach.
⚠️ This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal, tax, or payroll advice. Always consult a qualified accountant or employment lawyer for advice specific to your situation.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes. All NSW employers covered under the national workplace relations system must provide a payslip within one working day of each pay day under the Fair Work Act 2009 (s536). This applies to full-time, part-time, and casual employees regardless of industry.
A compliant NSW payslip must show: employer name and ABN, employee full name, date of payment, pay period start and end dates, gross pay, net pay, PAYG tax withheld, superannuation contributions with fund name, and any loadings or penalty rates — including casual loading (25%) and public holiday penalty rates — each as a separate line item.
The national minimum wage applicable in NSW from 1 July 2025 is $24.10 per hour ($915.90 per 38-hour week before tax). Many NSW workers are covered by Modern Awards which set higher rates. Always verify against your Award at fairwork.gov.au.
Yes. Casual employees in NSW must receive payslips the same as permanent staff. Payslips must clearly show the 25% casual loading as a separate line item, as required by the Fair Work Regulations 2009.
Employees who work on a NSW public holiday are generally entitled to double time and a half (250% of their ordinary rate) depending on their Modern Award. This loading must appear as a separate line item. If the employee is absent on a public holiday, they receive their ordinary pay with no deduction.
The superannuation guarantee rate is 12% from 1 July 2025 (increased from 11.5% in FY2024–25). The employer must show the dollar contribution amount and the super fund name on every payslip. Failure to pay or disclose super is a separate compliance risk under the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act.
Under the Fair Work Act 2009, failing to provide a payslip — or providing one with false information — can result in civil penalties of up to $16,500 per contravention for an individual and $82,500 for a body corporate. The Fair Work Ombudsman actively investigates and prosecutes payslip violations.
Yes. Electronic payslips delivered by email or an employee self-service portal are fully compliant under the Fair Work Act 2009, provided the employee can access, read, and retain a copy. Paper payslips are equally valid.
Yes. OfficeDraft supports all worker types including ABN-based contractors, sole traders, and casual employees across NSW. All pay components are fully customisable.
No. OfficeDraft does not store or transmit your payroll data. All payslip information is processed locally in your browser session and is not retained on any server after you close the page.
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