During the SFT process
Super funds should plan for continuous availability of a fund Unique superannuation identifier (USI) through the super fund transfer (SFT) process. Any limited-service period should prioritise minimal impact to employers and members. It should not result in any black-out period that prevents employers from making contributions.
Significant event notices and general communications are not always sufficient to prevent employer contributions being made during the transfer period. It may not be feasible for employers to stop making such payments for their employees. This is particularly important if the transfer occurs close to a superannuation guarantee due date.
Failure to pay super to the right fund on time may disadvantage the employer.
- With the introduction of Payday Super from 1 July 2026, if employers don't pay super on time they may be assessed by the Commissioner for late payment or a failure to pay and penalties can apply.
- For quarterly periods ending on or before 30 June 2026, if employers don't pay super on time they must lodge a superannuation guarantee charge statement, and pay the super guarantee charge to us.
Funds should refer to Missed or late Payday Super payments and Missed and late super guarantee payments for the consequences for employers.
Note: Contributions made through any clearing house may be rejected back to the employer, as they cannot be redirected to a successor fund.
ATO-held contributions
For ATO-held contributions, funds should lodge an enquiry through our Super Enquiry Service to advise of the limited-service period so that we can supress ATO-held contributions.
Suppressions cannot be applied to processes such as:
- release authorities
- Departing Australia superannuation payment (DASP) applications
- early release of superannuation approval letters.
It is important that funds have the capacity to manage these during the transition period.
A limited-service period may also impact the transferring fund's ability to comply with a commutation authority.
Commutation authorities
Transferring funds:
- must ensure that commutation authorities with a due date that falls within the limited-service period are complied with before it impacts their ability to do so
- are encouraged to ensure that any excess transfer balance commutation authorities with a due date after the super fund transfer (SFT) date are complied with before the SFT.
Note: If excess transfer balance commutation authorities are not complied with, the member is likely to be in excess for longer and will pay more excess transfer balance tax. It is also likely that a commutation authority will be sent to the receiving fund. Funds should lodge an enquiry through our Super Enquiry Service for advice on commutation authorities issued to them which need to be complied within the 60 days before the SFT date.