What is super
Superannuation, or 'super', is money your employer pays toward your retirement. Your employer pays this into a super fund.
You can choose your own super fund if you want. If you do, you need to tell your employer which one to use. If you don't choose a super fund, your employer will choose a fund for you.
For more information see Your superannuation basics.
Get help with your super
Phone the Indigenous Helpline, which is a service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
We can help you:
- find your super
- update your details
- lodge forms.
If speaking on the phone is hard, you can give a family member or carer permission to speak with us for you, by adding them as an authorised contact.
When you call us, we'll ask questions to confirm it's you so that we keep your information safe.
Read our Talking to the ATO about your tax and super guideExternal Link to learn:
- how to contact us
- what information you may need when you call
- how we confirm your identity
- how to authorise someone to speak for you.
You can also meet with our staff if we visit your community. For more information see our Tax Help Program.
Super from your employer
If you work for an employer, they must pay at least 12% of your qualifying earnings into your super account. Your employer pays your super on top of your wages. If you're self-employed or run a business, different rules may apply.
From 1 July 2026, the Payday Super changes mean super must reach your fund within 7 business days of payday (unless an exception applies).
You can check your super fund account to see if your employer has paid your super. Your super fund will usually have the most up-to-date information about your super account balance.
ATO online services through myGov show the latest information reported to us by your super fund.
Keeping track of your super
It is important to keep track of your super for you and your family. If you've ever changed your name, address or job, you may have lost track of some of your super.
Doing a Super health check helps you stay on top of your super. It includes 5 simple checks to help you:
- manage your super
- understand what you're entitled to
- make better choices for your future.
Most checks can be done online in minutes.
You can do a Super health check at any time. It's a good habit to do it each year when you prepare your tax return.
What is lost super
Your super fund needs your current details to stay in touch. If your contact details are out of date and they can't contact you, your super may be marked as lost.
This can also happen if no money has been paid into your super account for a while.
There is $21.51 billion in lost and unclaimed ATO-held super across Australia, and some of it may belong to you.
Example: Finding and reclaiming lost super
Amanda lives and works in remote regional Queensland. When ATO staff visited her community to provide free tax and super help, Amanda went along to meet them.
The ATO staff helped Amanda check for lost super using her ATO online account. Amanda found she had $500,000 of lost super in a super account she had forgotten about.
To reclaim her lost super, Amanda contacted the super fund to update her details. Now she can keep track of her super and make sure it keeps growing, so she can use it when she stops working.
End of example
What is ATO-held super
The ATO may hold some of your super to keep it safe until it can be paid into your super account. This is called ATO-held super.
This can happen if you've lost track of your super, or if we receive super payments for you from a super fund, employer or the government.
You can check if you have ATO-held super and move it to your super account using ATO online services through myGov.
In some cases, if your ATO‑held super balance is under $200, you may be able to withdraw it tax‑free.
How to check your super
Check your super balance or check for lost and unclaimed super:
- online using ATO online services
- by phoning the Indigenous Helpline.
Paying more super yourself
You can add your own money to your super fund so you have more money when you stop working (retire). This is called making personal contributions.
Most people under 75 years old can claim a tax deduction for personal super contributions if they meet eligibility criteria.
If you’re on a low income, you may be eligible for government contributions of up to $500. You don’t need to apply for these payments. If you’re eligible and your super fund has your tax file number, we’ll pay it into your super account automatically.
The amount of tax on your contributions depends on whether they are before-tax (concessional) or after-tax (non-concessional). There are limits on how much you can contribute before-tax and after-tax each year.
For more information see Growing your super.
Accessing your super
You can access your super when you retire. There are also some special circumstances when you may be able to access it sooner.
Retirement
You can access your super when you:
- reach your preservation age and retire
- turn 65 years old
- meet other rules that allow you to access your super.
You may be able to receive your super as:
- a lump sum – a one-off payment of some or all of your super
- an income stream – regular payments from your super fund
- a combination of both.
Check with your super fund to find out what options are available.
The option you choose can affect the tax you pay and how much money you have during retirement.
If your super isn't enough to support you in retirement, you may be able to get Australian Government support, such as the Age PensionExternal Link.
Early access
You can only access your super early in some special cases, such as:
- terminal medical condition
- severe financial hardship
- the first home super saver scheme
- compassionate grounds for a situation affecting you or your dependant.
You can apply through ATO online services in myGov for:
- early access on compassionate grounds
- the first home super saver scheme.
For severe financial hardship or a terminal medical condition, contact your super fund directly.
For more information see Withdrawing and using your super and Early access to your super.
Superannuation death benefit
When someone passes, the money left in their super account is usually paid to another person. This is called a superannuation death benefit.
The money may be paid to:
- a person they nominated with their super fund (sometimes called a beneficiary)
- a dependant, such as their spouse, de facto partner, child, or someone in an interdependent relationship with them
- their legal personal representative, who manages their estate.
You can tell your super fund who you would like to receive your super when you pass away. Each fund has different rules about nominations, so check with your super fund for more information.
If someone passes, their beneficiary, dependant or legal personal representative should contact the super fund to claim the death benefit.
For more information see Superannuation death benefits.