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How employers can avoid the super guarantee charge

If you don’t pay the right amount, on time and to the correct fund, you may need to pay the super guarantee charge (SGC).

Published 16 June 2026

The redesigned SGC will apply when super contributions are not received by the super fund within 7 business days after payday (unless longer applies, for example for new employees).

Make sure you check your employees’ super funds will receive your payments on time.

Under Payday Super, the SGC is calculated based on qualifying earnings. The SGC is a charge on the employer for failing to pay super guarantee contributions for their employees in full, on time and to the right fund. It includes the total of any unpaid super, notional earnings, the administrative uplift amount, and the choice loading (if any). The ATO calculates the charge and sends an assessment to the employer.

The SGC is tax deductible.

We have a video and factsheetThis link will download a file available on our payday super resources webpage which explain the key changes.

We've also released a practical compliance guideline to outline our approach to compliance during the first year of Payday Super. Under this compliance guideline, you won't be the focus of ATO compliance action as long as you:

  • make your payments for each payday on time
  • fix any errors as soon as possible.

Keep up to date

We have tailored communication channels for small, medium, large and multinational businesses to keep you up to date with updates and changes you need to know.

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