Can I use the calculator tool?
Anyone can use the calculator tool to determine if they are eligible for SG.
Only those deemed eligible for SG can continue with the process, to determine if they have received their correct entitlements.
The minimum super your employer must pay is an amount equal to the super guarantee rate, currently 9% of your ordinary time earnings.
Ordinary time earnings is usually the amount you are paid for your ordinary hours of work. It includes things like over-award payments, commissions and shift loadings, but doesn't include overtime payments.
The calculator tool can only reveal a shortfall based on the minimum rate of SG contributions for periods after 1 July 2005. For any period prior to this date, you will need to contact us on 13 10 20.
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For information about how to lodge with us, refer to Unpaid super.
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Only those who have not received their correct entitlements can continue to prepare an enquiry and lodge electronically with us.
What information do I need before I start using the calculator tool?
It is recommended you have the information listed below before you start the calculator tool:
Salary/wages
We recommend you have your payslips so you can accurately provide how much you have been paid during your enquiry period. You will need to enter the gross salary or wage amounts you received per quarter.
If you didn't receive a payslip, you can use the Gross pay estimator to estimate your group pay amounts based on your net pay for a particular pay period.
Super contributions paid by your employer
We recommend you have your statements from your super fund so you can accurately provide how much money has been paid into your super fund during your enquiry period. You will need to enter the amount per quarter.
Your tax file number (TFN)
You can locate this from your last payment summary from your employer.
Your employer's Australian business number (ABN)
You should be able to locate your employer's ABN from your last payment summary or payslip, or through business letterhead stationery. We also provide a link to a website within the calculator tool if you are not sure of your employer's ABN.
What are the benefits of using the calculator tool?
The benefits of the calculator tool are that it can provide you with:
- a summary advising of your eligibility for SG
- a decision as to whether you have received the correct or incorrect amount of SG per quarter you have enquired about
- a report you can take to your employer if you want to resolve the issue personally
- the ability to lodge an enquiry electronically
- the opportunity to enter the details at a time suitable to you outside of office hours.
Tips
- Have all your information ready and at hand before starting the calculator tool (refer to What information do I need before I start using the calculator tool?).
- Save your progress once you reach the following screens, to prevent data loss
- SG eligibility report
- SG entitlement report
- Unpaid superannuation enquiry tool.
- Keep a record of your reference number and password. You only have seven days to return to an incomplete enquiry - however, if you need more time, resuming and clicking Save again will give you another seven days.
- Don't understand something? Key terms within the calculator tool are written in blue text and link to a help file - clicking on the term will take you to this help file.
- After submitting your enquiry, read Unpaid super to learn about what happens next.
Why can't I enter the current quarter?
You cannot enquire about the current quarter, as your employer still has time to make this payment.
Employers are required to make super contributions to your super fund by the quarterly cut-off date. If they are late in paying your contributions, they have until the due date to lodge a superannuation guarantee charge (SGC) statement with us.
You can lodge your enquiry after the due date has passed.
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The following table shows you the SG cut-off and due dates. You can lodge an enquiry for a quarter after the due date for that quarter has passed.
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Quarter
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Cut-off date for contributions to be paid to super fund
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Due date for lodgment of the SGC statement to the ATO
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1 July - 30 September
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28 October
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28 November
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1 October - 31 December
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28 January
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28 February
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1 January - 31 March
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28 April
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28 May
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1 April - 30 June
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28 July
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28 August
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Note: If the quarterly cut-off or due date falls on a weekend or public holiday, the quarterly cut-off or due date is the following working day.
How long should it take to move to the next screen?
Once you have clicked on the Continue button, it normally takes under 15 seconds for you to receive the next screen. If you discover it is taking a long time to move, or appears to be frozen, we recommend you click on the Continue button again.
Can I save information that I've entered in the calculator tool?
The information entered into the calculator tool can only be saved at three screens. These are:
SG eligibility report
You will not have the ability to amend your saved data, so you need to ensure the information is correct before you save.
SG entitlement report
You will have the ability to amend the information you have saved, if you realise you have made an error.
Unpaid superannuation enquiry tool
You will have the ability to amend the information you have saved, if you realise you have made an error.
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We recommend that you save the calculator tool once you reach each of these screens, otherwise you may lose any data you have entered into the calculator tool.
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Can I resume a saved application?
You can only use the Resume button if you have previously saved information entered into the calculator tool.
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You must keep a record of your reference number and password. You only have seven days to return to an incomplete enquiry - however, you can Resume and then click Save again, which will give you another seven days.
If you lose your reference number or cannot remember your password, you will need to restart your enquiry. We are unable to help you retrieve the data you have entered.
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Can I pause while using the tool?
The calculator tool can expire your session/time out if you do not enter any details for a period of time. We recommend you save your enquiry, where possible, and limit the time when you don't enter any data to half an hour. If you do receive an error message, refer to the error messages to determine what action you can take.
Do I need to print a report?
You can choose to print a copy of the report, but it is not mandatory to print the report and show it to your employer. You can also save a PDF copy of the report to your computer.
We recommend you print the PDF version of the report because it loads more quickly. If you need to print the HTML version of the report, you should save your enquiry first.
How do I lodge an enquiry with the ATO?
Once you have clicked on the Submit button, you will be provided with a confirmation number confirming your submission was successful.
To find out how we will proceed with your enquiry, visit our Unpaid super website.
When can I submit an enquiry with the ATO?
You can submit an enquiry with the ATO at any time during the day or night - however, there will be times when the ATO website is unavailable; refer to System upgrades and downtime for details.
There may be other times when you will not be able to submit an enquiry to the ATO due to unplanned outages or system issues - however, you may still be able to use the tool up to the submission stage.
We recommend you always save your enquiry before you submit. Should you encounter problems while submitting, you can try resuming and submitting again later.
How long should it take to submit an enquiry?
Once you have clicked on the Submit button, it normally takes under a minute for you to receive a confirmation message. If you do receive an error message, refer to the error messages to determine what action you can take.
What if I need to contact the ATO after I have lodged?
To find out how we will proceed with your enquiry, visit our Unpaid super website. If you still need to contact us, you will need to establish your identity.
As you work through the screens in the tool, you will be asked for information that it needs to determine your eligibility for super guarantee payments and whether they have been paid correctly. The accuracy of the calculator tool depends on the accuracy of the information you provide.
Employee personal details and employer name
Enter your first given name, date of birth, and employer's trading name. Ensure that this information is correct before clicking the Continue button - you will not be able to edit these fields once you have continued.
Employee SG period and applicable quarters
Ensure that you have entered the full and correct period of your enquiry before clicking the Continue button - you will not be able to edit your period of enquiry once you have saved.
Refer to Why can't I enter the current quarter? if you receive the following message:
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STOP
The period you have entered includes a period in the current quarter. Your employer may still be able to pay super for this quarter. Please enter an earlier date.
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Employee for SG purposes
If you are unsure if you are classified as an employee or a contractor, we recommend you use the questionnaire link to help you at this question.
Work of a domestic or private nature
You should only answer 'yes' if you work personally for the individual who pays you - for example, as a gardener or nanny.
If you are unsure, we suggest you select 'no'.
More than 30 hours work per week
You only need to answer this question for the quarters where you were paid $450 or more (before tax).
If you work more than 30 hours in some weeks, and 30 hours or less in other weeks, during the quarter, we suggest that you select the answer that equals the higher number.
Other eligibility questions
You should only answer 'yes' if you are aware you fit into the category described.
If you are unsure, we suggest you select 'no'.
Why am I receiving a report telling me that I'm not eligible for SG?
There are a number of reasons why you may not be eligible for superannuation guarantee, such as answering:
- 'no' to being paid more than $450
- 'yes' to being paid under the Community Development Employment Program
- 'yes' to being paid as a non-resident for work done outside Australia
- 'yes' to being paid as a non-resident for work done in the Joint Petroleum Development Area - within the meaning of the Petroleum (Timor Sea Treaty) Act 2003
- 'yes' to being paid as a foreign executive holding certain visas
- 'yes' to being paid as a resident for work done outside Australia by a non-resident employer
- 'no' to working more than 30 hours per week
- 'no' to being paid for work of a domestic or private nature and you are a contractor.
Choice of super fund
For details about being an eligible employee for choice of super fund, follow the link displayed on the screen.
Payments to super funds
For details about 'complying super fund' or 'nominated super fund', follow the link displayed on the screen.
You should be able to access the amount paid to your super fund from your super fund statement or by accessing your super fund account online.
You may enter an approximate amount - however, be aware that any shortfall determined will also be an approximate amount. Consider this before providing a copy of the report to your employer and lodging an enquiry with us.
Salary sacrifice to super
For details about salary sacrifice, follow the link displayed on the screen.
Total salary or wages
For more details about payment types of salary or wages, follow the link displayed on the screen.
If you don't know your gross total salary or wages amount, you may like to use the Gross pay estimator to estimate your gross pay amounts based on your net pay for a particular pay period.
You could also enter an approximate amount - however, be aware that any shortfall determined will also be an approximate amount. Consider this before providing a copy of the report to your employer and lodging an enquiry with us.
Amount that SG contributions are calculated on
You should only amend the excluded or included types of payments if you're aware it is part of your award or agreement.
Employer details
You should be able to locate your employer's ABN from:
- your last payment summary
- a payslip
- your employer's business letterhead
- ABN Lookup.
If you do not know the exact date you started working for your employer, enter an approximate date.
Permission
You can choose not to give us permission to use your name in discussions with your employer.
However, it may limit our actions in dealing with your employer and may impact on our ability to take any action to resolve your enquiry.
Unpaid super enquiry tool
We recommend you print a copy of the report for your records before you click on the Submit button - you will not be able to print the report once you have submitted your enquiry.
Error messages
Error message
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Recommendation
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Warning: Page has expired
The page you requested was created using information you submitted in a form. The page is no longer available. As a security precaution, Internet Explorer does not automatically resubmit your information for you.
To resubmit your information and view this web page, click the refresh button.
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Click the Refresh button on your browser. Alternatively, you can click the Back button on your browser - this should take you back to the calculator tool.
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Server Error in '/' Application
The resource cannot be found.
Description: HTTP 404. The resource you are looking for (or one of its dependencies) could have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable. Review the following URL and make sure that it is spelled correctly.
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Click the Back button on your browser - this should take you back to the calculator tool.
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Your session has expired
Click HERE to start a new session
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If you have already saved your information and have a record of your reference number and password, click on the HERE hyperlink on the screen - this will direct you back to the Start screen where you can Resume your request.
If you are yet to save any of your information, we suggest you try the Back button on your browser - this may take you back to the calculator tool; if not, you will need to enter all your information again.
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Unexpected internal error (Error Number: 810.44 or 927.99)
Try again. If the problem happens again, close all browsers, open a fresh browser, logon and try again.
If the problem persists, contact the ATO Technical Helpdesk on:
Phone: 1300 139 373
Email: technical.help@ato.gov.au
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Click the Back button on your browser, then click the Refresh button on your browser - this should take you back to the calculator tool.
The phone number and email address will not be able to assist you with this calculator tool.
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Application error
An error has occurred in the application. Press back on the browser or try again later.
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Click the Refresh button on your browser - this should take you back to the calculator tool.
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Why did I get a message about a system upgrade or downtime?
The Employee SG calculator tool may be unavailable at times due to scheduled system maintenance. We apologise for any inconvenience.
You can refer to System maintenance and issues for more information. If the portals are listed as unavailable, this calculator may also be affected.
There may be other times when you will not be able to submit an enquiry to the ATO, due to unplanned outages or system issues - however, you may still be able to use the tool up to the submission stage.
We recommend you always save your enquiry before you submit. Should you encounter problems while submitting, you can try resuming and submitting again later.
Last Modified: Monday, 20 May 2013