Super Not Showing on Your Payslip in Australia? Here's What to Check

The most common reason. Your employer's payroll system has not been set up to include superannuation on your payslip template. The super may be accruing correctly but simply not printing on the payslip output. Ask your employer or payroll team to update the template.

Super only has to be paid to the fund quarterly (within 28 days of each quarter end: 28 Oct, 28 Jan, 28 Apr, 28 Jul). Some employers confuse payment date with payslip disclosure. Your payslip should always show super accrued per period, even if the cash hasn't left yet.

Some employers — particularly small businesses with cash flow difficulties — stop paying super but continue paying wages. They may remove super from payslips to avoid detection. This is a serious compliance breach. The ATO can audit up to 5 years of unpaid super.

If you are classified as a contractor but perform work like an employee — same hours, same tools, directed by the employer — you may still be entitled to super under the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992. The ATO uses a multi-factor test to assess this.

Prior to 1 July 2022, employees needed to earn at least $450 per month from a single employer to be eligible for super. This threshold was removed. If you are a casual or part-time worker who was historically told you were not entitled to super, this rule no longer applies.

Sole traders and some contractors do not receive PAYG payslips with standard super lines. If you generate your own invoices or income statements, the super disclosure requirements differ. See our guides for sole trader and contractor payslips.

Save copies of all payslips (especially those missing super), bank statements showing your salary credits, any employment contracts, and any written communication with your employer about super. This evidence supports any ATO investigation.

Many super issues are genuine payroll errors that employers will fix quickly once identified. Send a written request (email preferred for record-keeping) asking your employer to confirm: the super fund name and member number, the contribution rate, and dates and amounts of recent contributions. Give them 14 days.

If your employer is paying super but simply not showing it on your payslip, this is a Fair Work Act breach — a separate matter from the ATO. You can file a complaint with the Fair Work Ombudsman at fairwork.gov.au. Employers can face penalties for payslip non-compliance.

If you have been significantly underpaid over a long period, consider consulting a financial adviser or employment lawyer. The ATO recovers the contributions, but the lost compounding growth in your fund is harder to recover. A professional can help you understand whether you have grounds for additional claims.

Paying super on the wrong earnings base

Super must be calculated on 'ordinary time earnings' — base salary plus regular allowances. Some employers mistakenly exclude overtime, loading, or allowances that form part of ordinary earnings, leading to systematic underpayment.

Using the wrong SG rate

As the SG rate increases annually (11% → 11.5% → 12%), some payroll systems are not updated in time. An employer still calculating at 10% in 2024-25 is underpaying super by 1.5 percentage points — approximately $1,125/year on a $75,000 salary.

Not paying super during annual leave

Super must be paid on all ordinary time earnings, including while an employee is on paid annual leave, personal leave, and public holidays. Only genuine unpaid leave is excluded. Employers who stop super during leave periods are non-compliant.

Delaying super past the quarterly deadline

Super must be received by the fund by the 28th day after each quarter end. A payment made on 30 October (2 days late) triggers an SGC liability, even if the amount is correct. Late super is legally treated as unpaid super.

Not making super for contractors who meet the employee test

Under the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992, workers engaged under a contract that is wholly or principally for their labour are entitled to super, even if they have an ABN. Many employers incorrectly exclude ABN contractors from super.

Failing to onboard employees into a compliant fund

If an employee has not provided their super fund details, employers must pay to a Stapled Super Fund (identified by the ATO) or a default fund. Holding onto super payments until an employee provides fund details is non-compliant.