Since 1 July 2026, super must be paid with wages and reach the fund within 7 business days of payday. If you employ anyone on the Central Coast – whether that is one apprentice or a small team – here is what you actually need to know, in plain English.

1. What is Payday Super?

Payday Super is the rule that requires employers to pay their employees super with wages, rather than quarterly. It comes from the Treasury Laws Amendment (Payday Superannuation) Act 2025, which received Royal Assent in November 2025, with the ATO releasing its compliance guidance in January 2026.

2. When do the new rules start?

The rules have applied since 1 July 2026. If you have not already, now is a good time to review your payroll process.

3. How quickly must you pay super now?

Under the rules, super contributions generally need to reach your employee’s fund within 7 business days of each payday. If it is a new employee’s first payment, you get a slightly longer window of 20 business days. Quarterly super has ended.

4. What happens if you are late?

Missing the payment window can trigger the Superannuation Guarantee Charge, along with interest and administrative fees – and if it happens repeatedly, penalties can increase. The ATO has said it will take a practical approach in the first year while businesses adjust, but it is worth getting your process right early rather than relying on leniency.

5. How should you prepare your business?

Start by checking how your current payroll software handles super payments, and whether your pay run and super payment can realistically happen on the same day. If you are still using manual spreadsheets or a clearing house with a slow turnaround, now is the time to move to a system built for faster payments.

6. What if you use a bookkeeper or BAS agent?

This is exactly the kind of change we handle for our clients as part of ongoing payroll support – checking your software is set up correctly, your pay cycle works with the new timing, and nothing slips through the cracks. If you would like us to check your payroll is ready for Payday Super, get in touch and we will walk through it with you.