KiwiSaver schemes and ATO-held super

How KiwiSaver schemes can help their members transfer ATO-held unclaimed super to New Zealand.

Last updated 10 April 2023

How it works

The Trans-Tasman retirement savings portability arrangement allows us to directly transfer ATO-held unclaimed super money (USM) of New Zealand residents to their nominated KiwiSaver scheme.

In some circumstances, we can also transfer USM directly to the bank account of a New Zealand resident.

Eligible individuals can apply any time to transfer their ATO-held USM to their nominated KiwiSaver scheme.

KiwiSaver schemes need to be registered before they can participate in the program.

If your scheme is participating, your members can apply to have their ATO-held USM transferred by nominating you as their registered KiwiSaver scheme.

If your scheme is not participating, we will not be able to transfer any ATO-held USM on behalf of your members if they select you as their nominated KiwiSaver Scheme provider.

What is unclaimed super money (USM)?

Unclaimed super is money that super funds are required to transfer to us twice a year. Generally, super will be transferred to us from providers in these cases:

unclaimed super of members 65 years or older, non-member spouses and deceased members
super of former temporary residents who have left Australia for 6 months or more and their visa has expired
small lost member accounts and insoluble lost member accounts
inactive low balance accounts
accounts held in eligible rollover funds (ERFs) that were transferred to us before they wind up
amounts super funds transfer to us on a voluntary basis.

How to register

To register, email KSPsupport@ato.gov.auThis link opens in a new window.

Directors need to be verified with POI-certified documents and registered before we can provide an ATO reference number (ARN).

Data transfer

We use the data transfer facility (DTF) to send files to and receive files from KiwiSaver scheme participants.

To lodge files using the DTF you need to obtain a user ID and password. Each user in your organisation will need a separate user ID.

To obtain a user ID and password for password resets, contact us either by:

email at ATOBulkDataTransfer@ato.gov.auThis link opens in a new window
phone on +61(02) 6216 4004 between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday AEST.

Your DTF login and password will expire after 30 days. You need to update your login and password at the beginning of each payment run.

DTF files can only be downloaded once. If you can’t download the file, check that other users within your organisation haven’t already downloaded it before contacting us.

For more on DTF, see page 26 in the Electronic reporting specificationsExternal Link.

Verification process

Payment runs begin with a verification process. If a member has applied for their USM and nominated you as their KiwiSaver scheme, we:

send a verification file to your DTF mailbox to determine that they are a member of your scheme
email you to advise that the verification file has been sent to your DTF mailbox.

You need to respond with a Y or N and date for each member within 10 business days.

If none of your members have nominated your scheme, you will not receive a verification file.

We send verification files out each year on the:

4th Monday in January
4th Monday in July.

Once you enter the required data for each member, you need to upload the file in CSV format. See details in the Electronic reporting specificationsExternal Link.

Members verified as Y will have their USM paid to their nominated KiwiSaver scheme.

When we receive an N notification, we will:

notify the individual that they have not been verified as a member of your KiwiSaver scheme
advise them to contact their scheme directly to resolve.

If you have made an error in the verification file, contact us within 10 days to correct it.

If you respond after the 10 business days, the individual’s application may be unnecessarily delayed and fall into the next payment run.

If you do not respond at all, we will be unable to process an application. This may result in clients being directed back to their KiwiSaver scheme for more information.

Payment process

We will make bi-annual payments to KiwiSaver schemes in February and August each year.

For verified members, KiwiSaver scheme participants receive a:

payment file containing member details
breakdown of the USM entitlement in Australian dollars.

This is sent 28 days after the verification file is issued.

Scheme participants also receive a:

lump sum payment in NZ dollars into their nominated bank account for all members they have verified within 14 days
payment confirmation notice with the foreign exchange rate to help calculate each member's entitlement within 14 days of receiving the payment.

Note: Your financial institution may charge additional fees. We do not charge any fee for this service.

Eligibility criteria for individuals

To be eligible to receive ATO-held USM, individuals or members must:

be New Zealand permanent residents or citizens
have worked in Australia
have received super.

USM payments can be made directly to the New Zealand resident (New Zealand bank account) if:

they are over 65 years old, or
the USM balance for any period is less than A$200.00.

How individuals apply

Eligible individuals can apply any time to transfer their ATO-held USM to either their:

nominated KiwiSaver scheme
New Zealand bank account (if they meet the criteria above).

KiwiSaver schemes cannot apply on behalf of their members. However, they may be able to help members complete the application form. The member must sign the form.

We notify individuals if their application is successful. We will also notify them if they:

don't meet the eligibility criteria
haven’t completed the application form correctly
don’t have USM.

Mutual expectations

To ensure efficient resolution of issues, we have established mutual expectations with KiwiSaver schemes.